Social Work Interview (Term Paper Sample)

Social work interview
Student’s name:
Institutional affiliation:
First choice for analysis
SWker: (5) (Maintaining an encouraging body posture) Please tell me more.
Client: (5) I .... I let so many people down with what I have done...I wish I could
turn back the clock. (Looks very dejected)
SWker: (6) (Maintaining eye contact with a look of concern) I can see and sense how
upset you are about what your actions have led to.
Interview skills used by the social worker
The first technique the social worker uses in this interview is the nonverbal cues. To understand this, nonverbal communication includes body posture, facial expression, eye contact, tone of voice, and motions. With this in mind, we can see that the social worker maintains an encouraging body posture when asking the question. In one important study carried out by Kadushin and Kadushin (1997) it was observed that there one thousand different body postures. As a result, it is important to know what each body posture means. In this case, the body posture plays an important role in communication.
The second skill is the use of the open-ended question. They refer to questions which cannot be answered with just “no” or “yes”. In this case, the social worker says, “please tell me more.” From this, the client is expected to give more explanation. In his work (Thomas, 2009) found out that open-ended questions makes clients give more information and more importantly open up about the issue in discussion.
Active listening is another technique that the social worker has used effectively in this. For a social worker listening is not enough but, listening effectively and actively. (Stephen, 2009) The client feels the social worker has full interest if they are listening. When the social worker maintains eye contact with a look of concern shows they are ready to listen and follow what the client will say. Also, the statement that follows “I can see how upset…” is a reflection of what the client has said earlier. It is also called mirroring technique.
Effects of the techniques used
The first effect of the techniques used is that the client becomes more open and talks more. When the social worker gives a posture of concern, this makes the client talk about the what is affecting them more. Additionally, the client also becomes sad at the end of the explanation. As a result, this means that the client is comfortable to show what they are feeling to the social worker. To add to this, the social worker has also used reflection. The client, in this case, is able to tell the social worker is keenly listening to them. The client gains confidence to even talk more because they feel someone is listening to them.
Effectiveness of the techniques
The techniques used by the social worker seem to have worked effectively. Without any doubts, the social worker has been able to bring the client in a mood in which they can talk more openly and without fear. Importantly, the client has gained the trust of the social worker because of: active listening skills, non-verbal communication skills, and empathy.
Second choice for analysis
SWker: (15) Can I ask if you want to feel better, even if you don’t feel you deserve to
feel better?
Client: (15) Of course I want to feel better - the guilt I feel is terrible. But I don’t have
the money to undo all the losses incurred because of me.
SWker: (16) What I am hearing is that making up everyone’s losses is the only way
you think you could feel better about yourself. Is that right?
Interview skills used by the social worker
In this case of our analysis, we are introduced to a technique known as interpretation. Interpretation in this context is used by the social worker so as to get a deeper understanding of the client’s feeling. The way the social worker has used interpretation makes the client view the problem from another angle. The client is able to see, in as much as they do not deserve to be treated better, they want to feel better.
Also, there is the use of confrontation in the portion chosen above. Confrontation is where the social worker points out discrepancies between a client’s statement and their actions (Hepworth 2010), which sometimes are difficult for the client to tolerate. The social worker needs to bring out these confrontations only when something is not understandable. In our portion, the social worker says, “What am hearing…” these words clearly shows that the statement which follows next is a confrontation. The social worker has used confrontation after effectively establishing a relationship with the client and the client has trust. With this in mind, it is the reason as to why the confrontation comes much later during the interview.
Additionally, the social worker has also used clarification as a technique of interviewing. This technique is mostly used when the client is struggling to express how they feel. The social worker also is able to make a conclusion out of the response. From clarification, a lot of information is gathered as compared to when the social worker assumes. In our portion the social workers ask, “Is that right?” From this we can tell, more information is needed and so the client without hesitation gives out what the social worker wants to know.
Effects of the techniques used
In the first case, the social worker has used interpretation. As a result, the client has been able to have a chance to explain themselves even more and be understood clearly. It is important to remember that interpretation is used when a relationship has been created between the social worker and the client. From this we know the client has gained confidence and is ready to share everything with the social worker.
Confrontation is another technique that has been used effectively. From the use of confrontation the social worker is able to understand further about the client. (Cournoyer, 2008) Some information which would have otherwise been left behind out has been mentioned. More importantly, it also shows that the social worker is listening and following what the client is saying. The client feels at ease and opens up more.
Lastly clarification has been used. Mainly, clarification is used when the social worker wants to understand deeper about the feelings of the client. (Beulah and Burt 1975) The social worker has used clarification in order to avoid assumptions on anything. It follows that the client opens up more and is able to express how they feel.
Effectiveness of the techniques
The techniques used have worked well in favor of the social worker. One of the most noticeable things is how the client opens up after being asked a question. It shows that the client has started viewing the social worker as a friend and a person who is ready to walk with them. The client also becomes more confident. All this is because of the techniques that have been applied by the social worker.
Question two:
SWker: (19) (with a calm voice and concerned posture) That’s one way to view the case. Tell me more. What was your aim, when you had them join.
Client: (19) (with a sad tone) I just wanted them to make profits as I was making. I wanted the best for everyone. I just don’t know what happened.
SWker: (20) I understand how feel about the whole thing.
Client: (20) It is my greed for more that made me get all this people involved. Now I don’t know how to face the world.
SWker: (21) (leaning forward)[reflection] You don’t know how you will face the world anymore? Has anyone confronted you?
Client: (20) (nods) Yes, had a friend who came to my house this money and it was ugly.
SWker: (21) please continue.
Client (21) She accused me of stealing her hard earned money for my own benefit. I was so ashamed to even explain myself. Am not sure how my family members will react about the same.
SWker: (22) [confrontation]What am hearing is that you were not able to attend the family re-union at your parent’s house. Is it true?
Client: (22) I really wanted to attend, but the guilt of facing them could not let me. I had prepared myself in the morning, but I lacked the courage to leave the house.
SWker: (23) So, you have locked yourself indoors?[clarification]
Client: (23) Yes, I have be...