Respond To At Least Two Colleagues On Resiliency
Response 1resiliencyrespondto At Least Two Colleagues In One Or More
Response 1: Resiliency Respond to at least two colleagues in one or more of the following ways: · Add to your colleague's suggestion for applying resiliency to Talia's case by suggesting an adaptation of the strategy. · Critique your colleague's suggested application of resiliency to social work practice, stating whether you might use the strategy in your own practice, and why. · Be sure to support your responses with specific references to the resources. If you are using additional articles, be sure to provide full APA-formatted citations for your references.
Colleague 1: B Nineteen-year-old Talia Johnson was the victim of a rape at a fraternity party (Plummer, Makris, & Brocksen, 2014). This week’s video depiction highlights Talia’s struggle with navigating her way back into the life she knew prior to the sexual assault (Laureate Education, 2013). The social worker has a glimpse into her daily life, particularly as she struggles with her parent’s understandable discomfort with their daughter remaining on campus (Laureate Education, 2013). Talia views her current situation as stagnant and not easily changeable. During these situations, the professional charged with helping the client achieve the best positive outcomes when pairing their innate resiliency with a Strengths-Based Perspective (Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman, 2016). Zastrow and Kirst-Ashman recognize the importance of emphasizing one’s resiliency, particularly when faced with undeniable adversity (Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman, 2016). While this may be proven as an effective approach, convincing a client who is experiencing consistent feelings of helplessness and hopelessness, is certainly not an easy feat.
Therefore, the focus of this approach should remain small, manageable tasks seen through to completion (Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman, 2016). In Talia’s case, perhaps suggesting she schedules agreed upon times to speak with her mother would alleviate the stress she feels by receiving the numerous phone calls (Laureate Education, 2013). The premise behind this suggestion is that when Talia starts seeing small daily success, she may start “buying in” to the fact that she, too, can come back from the trauma that has placed her where she is. Thus, her acceptance of her own resiliency, while her innate strengths are continually highlighted by the social worker, will only add to her achievement of positive outcomes (Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman, 2016).
By applying this concept of resiliency to Talia’s case, it is clear how this would be an effective approach within my own future social work practice. Every client with whom a social worker comes in contact, has some innate level of resiliency. Finding the opportunities to point out resiliency, even in its simplest form, becomes the responsibility of the professional charged with guiding the client toward the desired outcomes. For example, when a client drives a car for the first time after being involved in a car accident, this can be identified as a form of resiliency and the first step in achieving their goals. The ultimate goal would be for the client to recognize this resiliency within himself, but until this time the social worker can serve as the client’s “strength identifier.” Laureate Education (Producer). (2013). Johnson family: Episode 5 [Video file]. Retrieved from Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., & Brocksen, S. M. (Eds.). (2014). Baltimore, MD: Laureate International Universities Publishing. [Vital Source e-reader] Zastrow, C. H., & Kirst-Ashman, K. K. (2016). Understanding human behavior and the social environment (10th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
Colleague 2: J Talia is a 19-year-old college student who was sexually assaulted at a frat party. After seeking help from campus resources and the services of a counselor, she has begun to experience high levels of anxiety and stress (Plummer, Makris, & Brocksen, 2014).
While Talia has begun to resent her counselor for the coping mechanisms she has given Talia, Talia has nonetheless continued to do the things suggested for her, such as journaling, going to group meetings, and talking about her feelings (Laureate Education, 2013). As an observer, these behaviors exhibited by Talia all suggest that she is a resilient individual who refuses to let the things that have befallen her ruin her life permanently. As a social worker, it can be a very difficult task to convince a client that they are resilient, especially when they feel like their life is falling apart. As mentioned by Zastrow and Kirst-Ashman (2016), giving the individual small, manageable tasks to achieve can boost their confidence and encourage them to take on larger, more difficult tasks.
The social worker in Talia’s case already has proof that she is resilient by Talia’s compliance and adherence to journaling and going to group meetings (Laureate Education, 2013). In my own practice, using the concept of resiliency will only serve to increase my client’s self-esteem and self-worth. By giving clients small goals that they can achieve, I can build up their confidence and determination. I think it will also be important to still call clients resilient when they fail at a goal—by still coming to sessions and admitting failure, they are only improving themselves. This would also give them the chance to evaluate the goal or their performance and see what went wrong, what can be done to fix it, and when can it be tried again.
Resiliency means to be able to keep going through adversity; it also means to be able to adapt and change with the situations at hand. By instilling this in clients, they can begin the healing process. Laureate Education (Producer). (2013). Johnson family: Episode 5 [Video file]. Retrieved from Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., & Brocksen, S. M. (2013). The Johnson Family. In Sessions: Case Histories. Laureate Education, Inc. Zastrow, C. H., & Kirst-Ashman, K. K. (2016). Understanding human behavior and the social environment (10th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
Paper For Above instruction
Resiliency is a fundamental concept in social work practice, emphasizing the capacity of individuals to recover from adversity, adapt, and thrive despite challenging circumstances. Its application is particularly pertinent in cases involving trauma, such as sexual assault survivors like Talia Johnson, as discussed in the provided case studies. This paper explores how resiliency can be effectively integrated into social work interventions, critiques strategies for enhancing resilience, and considers the implications for practice. Additionally, it responds to peer perspectives, offering adaptations and reflections grounded in scholarly resources.
In the case of Talia Johnson, a 19-year-old college student who was sexually assaulted at a fraternity party, resiliency plays a crucial role in her recovery process. The social worker’s focus on pairing her innate strengths with a strengths-based perspective is aligned with the principles established by Zastrow and Kirst-Ashman (2016). This approach involves emphasizing small, manageable tasks that can serve as building blocks toward larger recovery goals, such as establishing a routine of communication with her mother to reduce feelings of helplessness and stagnation. By encouraging Talia to recognize her ability to set and accomplish small goals, the social worker promotes a sense of agency and self-efficacy, which are vital components of resilience (Masten, 2014).
Furthermore, resilience can be nurtured by facilitating small successes that help the client regain confidence in their ability to influence their circumstances. In this context, when Talia starts to perceive herself as capable of overcoming her trauma, her innate resilience is reinforced. This aligns with the research by Southwick, Bonanno, Masten, Panter-Brick, and Yehuda (2014), who highlight that resilience involves a dynamic process of positive adaptation within the context of significant adversity. The social worker, acting as a strength identifier, can help Talia see previous instances of resilience—such as her ongoing efforts to attend group meetings and engage in journaling—as evidence of her capacity to heal and rebuild her life.
The importance of resilience extends beyond individual cases. In practice, social workers should focus on fostering resilience in all clients by identifying and amplifying their existing strengths. This approach is supported by frameworks such as the Strengths-Based Perspective, which underscores the importance of recognizing innate qualities and external resources that can facilitate recovery (Saleebey, 2013). For example, in clients with mental health challenges or trauma, even minor achievements can serve as catalysts for further progress. As Brody (2012) states, “small wins are often the foundation of larger behavioral change,” illustrating the incremental nature of resilience-building in social work.
Another vital aspect of resilience is the acknowledgment that setbacks are a natural part of recovery. As seen in Talia’s case, her continued engagement despite stress and anxiety demonstrates resilience in action. It is crucial that social workers support clients by validating their efforts and reframing setbacks as opportunities for learning rather than failures (Garmezy, 1997). This perspective encourages perseverance and fosters an environment where clients feel safe to take risks and continue striving toward their goals.
In my own social work practice, I would incorporate resilience strategies by prioritizing client strengths, setting achievable goals, and providing continuous support and validation. For instance, when working with clients experiencing trauma, I would emphasize their past resilience, reinforce small accomplishments, and encourage reflection on their growth. Additionally, I would advocate for systemic changes that promote resilience at community levels, such as creating supportive environments and accessible resources for marginalized populations (Ungar, 2011). Recognizing resilience as a dynamic, multifaceted construct allows social workers to tailor interventions that foster hope and empowerment, ultimately enhancing the client’s capacity to navigate adversity successfully.
References
- Brody, G. (2012). Resilience in context: Facilitative environments and response to adversity. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 82(2-3), 187-197.
- Garmezy, N. (1997). Resilience and vulnerability: Creative calisthenics and stress-related disorders. In N. Garmezy & M. Rutter (Eds.), Stress, coping, and development in children (pp. 25-52). McGraw-Hill.
- Masten, A. S. (2014). Ordinary magic: Resilience in development. Guilford Publications.
- Saleebey, D. (2013). The strengths perspective in social work practice (6th ed.). Pearson.
- Southwick, S. M., Bonanno, G. A., Masten, A. S., Panter-Brick, C., & Yehuda, R. (2014). Resilience definitions, theory, and challenges: Interdisciplinary perspectives. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 5, 25338.
- Ungar, M. (2011). The social ecology of resilience: Addressing contextual and cultural ambiguity. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 81(1), 1-17.
- Zastrow, C. H., & Kirst-Ashman, K. K. (2016). Understanding human behavior and the social environment (10th ed.). Cengage Learning.
- Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., & Brocksen, S. M. (2014). The Johnson Family. In Sessions: Case Histories. Laureate Education.
- Laureate Education. (2013). Johnson family: Episode 5 [Video file].