The Petrakis Family Helen Petrakis Is A 52-Year-Old Heterose
The Petrakis Familyhelen Petrakis Is A 52 Year Old Heterosexual Marrie
The Petrakis Familyhelen Petrakis Is A 52 Year Old Heterosexual Marrie
The assignment asks to review the Geller & Greenberg (2012) article, the case study of the Petrakis family, and the corresponding video. It requires an explanation of the importance of identifying internal and external barriers faced by clients and social workers. Additionally, it asks to describe the specific barriers encountered by Helen and the social work intern from the case, and to suggest strategies the intern could use to overcome these barriers. The response should be supported with references to the Learning Resources and APA citations.
Paper For Above instruction
Understanding and identifying barriers is fundamental to effective social work practice, as it allows practitioners to develop tailored interventions that address the specific challenges faced by clients and improve therapeutic outcomes. Barriers can be internal—stemming from clients' beliefs, emotions, or psychological states—or external, related to environmental, social, or systemic factors (Geller & Greenberg, 2012). Recognizing these barriers enables social workers to foster a trusting therapeutic relationship, navigate resistance, and implement strategies that reduce obstacles to change.
Internal barriers refer to issues within the client, such as denial, shame, low self-esteem, or mental health issues that impede engagement or progress in therapy (Geller & Greenberg, 2012). External barriers involve factors outside the client’s immediate control, such as socioeconomic status, cultural differences, family dynamics, or systemic limitations like lack of resources or support systems (Kadushin & Harkness, 2014). For social workers, internally, barriers could include their own biases, emotional responses, or perceived limitations in interventions. Externally, systemic constraints such as policies, caseloads, or limited access to community resources can hinder service delivery.
Focusing on the case of Helen Petrakis illuminates these barriers vividly. Internally, Helen exhibits feelings of guilt, self-blame, and reluctance to seek help, which function as internal barriers. Her cultural values emphasizing family caregiving and roles assigned to women may also contribute to her difficulty in delegating responsibilities or accepting assistance. Her internal conflict about Alec’s role in caring for Magda and her emotional reactions to stressful situations reflect internal barriers rooted in her beliefs and emotions.
Externally, Helen faces systemic and resource-based barriers. Her limited financial resources restrict her ability to hire sufficient caregiving help for Magda, adding to her stress. The family’s cultural expectations about family caregiving and gender roles serve as external systemic barriers that influence decision-making. Additionally, her work schedule and the systemic lack of formal support services for elder care limit her options for relief or external help, intensifying her caregiving burden.
The social work intern encountered barriers similar in nature, primarily related to their level of experience and the emotional complexity of Helen’s case. Internally, the intern may experience difficulties managing emotional reactions to Helen’s distress or lack confidence in providing appropriate interventions (Geller & Greenberg, 2012). Their limited clinical experience might hinder their ability to recognize nuanced internal barriers or systemic issues. Externally, as a trainee, the intern faces institutional constraints such as supervision limitations, ethical responsibilities, and potential role restrictions which may restrict their scope of action.
To overcome these barriers, the intern could employ several strategies. First, developing cultural competence and self-awareness would enable the intern to better understand Helen's cultural values and internal struggles, reducing bias and building rapport. Engaging in reflective practice and seeking supervision can enhance the intern’s capacity to recognize their own emotional responses and limitations, enabling more effective support (Kadushin & Harkness, 2014). Additionally, connecting Helen to external resources such as community agencies or eldercare support programs can mitigate systemic barriers related to resource scarcity.
Furthermore, the intern should focus on strengthening advocacy skills to help Helen navigate systemic challenges—such as limited financial resources—by facilitating access to public programs or support groups. Building Helen’s problem-solving skills and empowering her with information about available resources can facilitate her autonomy and reduce feelings of helplessness (Geller & Greenberg, 2012). Establishing a partnership based on mutual respect and understanding will also help Helen feel more supported in her decision-making process, ultimately overcoming internal and external obstacles effectively.
In conclusion, both clients and social workers face significant internal and external barriers that can impede progress. Recognizing and addressing these barriers through cultural competence, supervision, advocacy, and resource linkage are essential strategies that promote effective intervention. The case of Helen illustrates how intertwined internal and external barriers can be, and the importance of a holistic approach in social work practice to overcome these challenges and foster resilience and positive change.
References
Geller, S. M., & Greenberg, L. S. (2012). The ever-evolving therapeutic relationship: Active ingredients for change. The Psychotherapy Networker, 36(2), 38–45.
Kadushin, A., & Harkness, D. (2014). Supervision in social work (5th ed.). Columbia University Press.
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of the article or book chapter. Title of the source, volume(issue), page range. [Add other references as needed following APA format].
[Additional references with proper APA citations, e.g., peer-reviewed articles, authoritative texts, relevant case studies, etc.]