Assignment #1 Engagement Strategy When first meeting with a client, it is imperative to establish rapport, as well as engaging the client. In order to build rapport, a social worker must create a safe and welcoming environment in which the client feels accepted, understood, and respected. The most important moments of the relationship between the social worker and the client often happens at the beginning of the relationship, the initial contact (Birkenmaier, Berg-Weger, & Dewess, 2013, p. 68). One way a social worker can develop rapport with a client is by identifying the client’s unique attributes such as their social economic status, race, and gender, in addition to recognizing the obstacles in engaging the client, and the potential
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LaShonda had overdosed on pills and has been diagnosed with depression. She was diagnosed with depression after losing her job due to her racial identity. LaShonda is certain that being African American will never allow her to obtain and maintain employment resulting in her wanting to die.
Obstacles
An obstacle in engaging LaShonda would be her past experience of being oppressed due to her racial identity. Having been oppressed due to her skin color might have caused LaShonda to feel that she is constantly being judged and undermined. Additionally, another consequence could be thinking that only someone who is both African American and female who has faced the same discrimination can understand her emotions and struggles compared to someone with different identity markers, such as a Hispanic male. Lastly, another obstacle might be lack of comfortableness with meeting someone for the first time, which might result in a lack of communication. Fr example, LaShonda was diagnosed with depression six months ago, however, she recently disclosed to her group therapist the reason why she was fired from her job. This might be an indication that it might take time for LaShonda to feel comfortable and open up to the social worker assigned to
LaShonda had overdosed on pills and has been diagnosed with depression. She was diagnosed with depression after losing her job due to her racial identity. LaShonda is certain that being African American will never allow her to obtain and maintain employment resulting in her wanting to die.
Obstacles
An obstacle in engaging LaShonda would be her past experience of being oppressed due to her racial identity. Having been oppressed due to her skin color might have caused LaShonda to feel that she is constantly being judged and undermined. Additionally, another consequence could be thinking that only someone who is both African American and female who has faced the same discrimination can understand her emotions and struggles compared to someone with different identity markers, such as a Hispanic male. Lastly, another obstacle might be lack of comfortableness with meeting someone for the first time, which might result in a lack of communication. Fr example, LaShonda was diagnosed with depression six months ago, however, she recently disclosed to her group therapist the reason why she was fired from her job. This might be an indication that it might take time for LaShonda to feel comfortable and open up to the social worker assigned to