Involuntary Client Analysis

A social worker’s (SW) upbringing has a significant influence on the way he or she perceives a situation due to preconceived values, attitudes, beliefs as well as personal experience. The SW’s personal experience can be utilized in a positive way–to connect with the client, or it may cause certain challenges to the the therapeutic relationship i.e. triggers. That is a large reason why I am taking this course, to understand and challenge my background/past experiences and address concerns I may have in the field specifically working with involuntary clients. This paper will explore three lenses relating to the topic of working with involuntary clients. First, the exercice completed in class where Professor Quartz asked students to answer the

7). These terms create a “pejorative light on presumed characteristics rather than on the nature of the contact between client and practitioner” (Rooney, 1992, p. 7). This may lead to a SW’s “frustration over the lack of fit of involuntary clients with voluntary therapy concepts [which] contributes to practitioners blaming the clients” (Rooney, 1992, p. 13). Whereas, involuntary clients may choose not to participate due to a wide variety of reasons based on their upbringing or history/past experience. One example that involuntary clients may not be willing to participate may be due to the way that they view the SW’s authority/power, the fact that the SW may be “just another SW” in their eyes, or that they see the SW as a representation of the system (Quartz, 2018). Therefore, the SW has the important task of being both culturally sensitive and in tune to others people's experiences by being non-judgemental. Eddy Nolan, a former child of the foster care system,

‘Pawns’ could be described as SW’s who simply adhere to practices and policies often “at the expense of the family” (Bailey, 1980, p. 222). Whereas agitators were described as fighting for the client at the expense of perhaps losing your job (Bailey, 1980). Radical social workers are those who attend protest meetings and argue and question their role as SW’s. Bailey explained that SW’s make various rationals to excuse themselves that they are not in a position powerful to fight against policy change “I did what I was told, thus enabling me to stay in the system until I become a senior when I’ll be in a more powerful position to be able to help” (Bailey, p. 226) However, “ignoring power can be considered in itself an abuse of power” (Rooney, p. 15). This means that SW’s must realize that they are already in a powerful position and that they can make change now. Professor Quartz indicated that there are three types of social workers, one that works to please instead of being effective (power goes in the hand of the client), the control freak (power is in the hands of the SW) and is a balance of those two, balancing between the policies as well as the needs of your