Human Services Worker


    HOW WORKERS AND CLIENTS INFLUENCE ONE ANOTHER

       WORKER'S TOOLS                               CLIENT'S TOOLS

Observation skills                                     Observation skills
Relationship with client over time             Relationship with worker over time
Experience in dealing with different          Experience in dealing with different
 types of clients                                           types of workers and other authortiy
                                                                     figures
Knowledge of history of client                   Knowledge of reputation of worker
Worker's expectations of client role         Client's expectations of worker role
Punishments or rewards for desired         Success or failure for worker
 client performance
Managing emotional distance                   Managing emotional distance
Giving and withholding information          Giving and withholding information
Patience and determination                      Resistance (patience by another
                                                                    name)
Knowing the rules of the agency              Knowing the rules of the agency
Case discussions with staff                     Discussions with other clients and
                                                                   other individuals
Exclusion from program                            Leaving program, refusing to
                                                                    cooperate
Setting limits                                             Challenging limits
Access to resources                                  Developing own resources, in-
                                                                    cluding illegal ones
Knowledge of psychology, group              Living and learning from life 
 dynamics, tested approaches
A little distance from the problem that       Deep commitment to succeeding
 allows the worker to be more objective        on her own terms
Appealing to the client's own interests
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