Six Aspects Of Professionalism Analysis

Six aspects of professionalism will be discussed here: integrity, knowledge, self-efficacy, self-understanding, self-control, and social support (Cournoyer, 2011). The important key to note is that all of the factors of professionalism must transcend beyond the boundaries of the profession of social work to be incorporated into personal life as well. Integrity is foundational to all trust and credibility. Cournoyer (2011) involves honesty and commitment to fulfill promises as two components of integrity. In this way, integrity implies that social workers need to think before they speak, and must carefully consider commitments before making them. No trusting relationship can be established without trust. Cournoyer (2011) goes even further …show more content…
This involves self-awareness of one’s own biases and assumptions. Genograms, eco-maps, timelines, and personality tests can help in providing social workers with a foundation of self, in relation to family, environment, and personality (Cournoyer, 2011). Self-understanding involves reflecting on one’s own past experiences and thinking about how they may affect practice. For example, if a social worker has experienced personal trauma, such as abuse, he or she needs to know how that experience may affect working with a client who has experienced abuse. In addition, self-understanding involves knowing personal values and beliefs in relation to social work practice. A social worker with strong beliefs regarding abortion, for example, needs to know whether he or she can ethically work with a client who wants to seek an abortion. They would also need to figure out how to prevent their own feelings about abortion to infiltrate the client’s situation. On a less sensitive note, self-understanding involves awareness of behaviors and mannerisms (Cournoyer, 2011). If a client is very soft-spoken, it is not beneficial to speak loudly in …show more content…
Cournoyer (2011) suggests that genograms and eco-maps may be helpful indicators of social support (see Appendices A and B). These graphic illustrations provide contexts of interaction for the social worker. They also illustrate relationships within a social worker’s life that may provide or withhold social support. Social support reflects professionalism because it involves an understanding that social workers are not isolated (Cournoyer, 2011). Social support involves seeking social interactions that can help buffer the stress and demands that come with social work, whether it is through talking with a friend, or doing a fun activity with others. Social support can also involve a social worker recognizing personal issues as they come up and the need for support from friends, coworkers, supervisors, and even other professionals. Social work can be stressful and demanding, especially because of the type of experiences clients may face; therefore, it is crucial and essential that social workers have a solid social support