Use An Example From Your Internship Or Employment That Demon

Use An Example From Your Internship Or Employment That Demonstrates

Use an example from your internship (or employment) that demonstrates how social workers can help clients discover their access to power. What makes communication with clients empowering? Consider the relationships of social workers with clients. What can social workers do to ensure that conversations with clients help clients discover their domains of access to power? What specific social worker skills lead to a client's experience of power?

Paper For Above instruction

Empowerment in social work practice is a fundamental principle that emphasizes facilitating clients' capacity to recognize and utilize their inherent power to achieve positive change in their lives. An illustrative example from my internship involved a case where I worked with a young adult client facing unemployment and social marginalization. The client initially exhibited feelings of helplessness and a belief that their circumstances were beyond control. Through deliberate, empowering communication strategies, I aimed to help the client rediscover their access to personal and social power.

The intervention began with active listening, ensuring that the client felt heard and respected. This approach established a trusting relationship, crucial for effective empowerment. By asking open-ended questions such as, "What strengths have you demonstrated in the past?" and "Can you identify resources or support networks that you've used before?" I encouraged the client to reflect on their abilities and previous successes. This process helped shift the focus from victimization to agency, reinforcing their capability to influence their circumstances.

Communication that is empowering hinges on several key elements: validation, collaborative dialogue, and the facilitation of self-knowledge. Validating the client's experiences affirms their reality and fosters confidence, while a collaborative approach positions the client as an active participant in the change process rather than a passive recipient of aid. Through such communication, clients are more likely to recognize their domains of access to power—be it personal resilience, social connections, or community resources. In my case, the client realized their past involvement in community projects and leadership roles, which indicated existing sources of empowerment they could leverage.

To ensure that conversations contribute to clients discovering their domains of power, social workers must adopt specific relational skills such as cultural competence, empathy, and reflective listening. These skills create a safe space for clients to explore their identities, strengths, and resources without fear of judgment or disempowerment. Additionally, social workers can employ strengths-based approaches, emphasizing clients’ capabilities rather than deficits. For instance, by highlighting previous successes, clients often expand their perception of what is possible, fostering a sense of control and agency.

Furthermore, the social worker's skill in framing questions positively—focusing on possibilities—can inspire clients to envision potential actions within their domains of power. Establishing a collaborative partnership also entails transparency about the goals and processes, which enhances clients’ sense of ownership over their development. In my example, I used motivational interviewing techniques to evoke intrinsic motivation, which increased the client’s confidence in their ability to navigate employment challenges.

Ultimately, the experience of power for clients emerges from a combination of interpersonal skills and strategic communication techniques. These foster a sense of agency, resilience, and hope—key components for sustainable change. The social worker’s role is to serve as a facilitator of this process, guiding clients to recognize and mobilize their existing resources and strengths.

References

• Adamson, C. (2013). Strengths-based social work assessment: Case examples. Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics, 10(2), 42–55.
• Herber, R., & Harold, J. (2015). Power and empowerment in social work. Social Work Journal, 27(3), 145–160.
• Miller, W. R., & Rollnick, S. (2013). Motivational interviewing: Helping people change. Guilford Publications.
• Saleebey, D. (2013). The strengths perspective in social work practice. [Book]. Pearson.
• Craig, S. L., & Webb, S. A. (2018). Communicative competence and empowerment in social work. International Journal of Social Welfare, 27(3), 250–259.
• Fook, J. (2016). Critical reflection and the importance of relational skills in social work. British Journal of Social Work, 46(7), 2060–2073.
• Rappaport, J. (1984). Studies in empowerment: Introduction to the issue. Pacific Grove, CA: Center for Developmental Studies.
• Lewis, J. A. (2014). Developing effective communication skills for social work practice. Social Work Practice, 22(4), 336–347.
• Schmid, H. B., & Hedberg, B. (2019). Empowerment theories in social work: An analysis. Advances in Social Work, 20(3), 678–695.
• Bogo, M. (2010). Becoming and being a social work educator: A relational perspective. Journal of Social Work Education, 46(2), 170–180.