Engaging the Client: The Helping Process

Vocabulary flashcards covering effective helper characteristics, the Three Stage Model of change, initial evaluation, and the stages of the helping process based on the lecture material.

Effective Helpers

Helpers who hold positive beliefs about people, have a healthy self-concept, ground interventions in a theoretical rationale, and respect cultural differences while possessing empathy, warmth, and congruence.

Ineffective Helpers

Helpers who are rigid and judgmental, tell clients how to think and solve their problems, and do not see their clients as having the means to control their own lives.

Exploration Stage

The first stage of the Three Stage Model, focused on attending to learning the client, exploring, and clarifying; therapist attunement is key and this stage is the most critical in determining outcome.

Insight Stage

The second stage of the Three Stage Model where the therapist interprets and identifies patterns and conflicts, giving the client new knowledge and a framework to understand themselves.

Action Stage

The third stage of the Three Stage Model focused on setting the groundwork for new behaviors, coping strategies, and choices.

Initial Assessment

The first opportunity during initial evaluation to establish rapport, trust, safety, attunement, and liking, while exploring how the client views themselves and frames their problem.

Clara (Initial Evaluation Case Study)

A 42-year-old Hispanic female who sought therapy following the loss of her 19-year-old daughter to gun violence, presenting with thought confusion, fatigue, dysphoria, flat affect, unwashed presentation, and social/religious withdrawal.

Stage 3: Helping Clients Create Goals

A stage in the helping process focused on assisting clients in identifying and refining specific goals collaboratively and helping clients in crisis consider options without moving too quickly into problem solving.

Stage 4: Encouraging Client Exploration and Taking Action

A stage in the helping process involving confronting clients with care and respect, using appropriate and timely self-disclosure, identifying ways to accomplish goals, and carrying out action strategies.

Stage 5: Termination

The final stage of the helping process focused on bringing closure, underscoring new insights, assisting in developing a plan for ongoing self-change, and ethically ending therapy if the client is not benefiting.