A Guide to the Helping Professions

by Srebalus, David J.; Brown, Duane

• ISBN13: 9780205308446
• ISBN10: 0205308449
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-10-26
• Publisher: Pearson

Summary

This book introduces readers to the human service profession by examining the work environment, reviewing the essential skills required of human service professionals, and guiding readers with their career planning in the field.By using case studies, examples, and self-tests, this book provides students with a realistic view of the daily decisions that must be made by professional helpers. This guide provides an overview of the issues and problems that create a need forprofessional assistance increasing readers' awareness of why health and human services agencies are needed. Current treatment methods and service delivery systems that best connect clients to the assistance they need are also discussed.Potential social workers or anyone interested in learning more about Human Services and the counseling profession.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
Becoming a Helping Professional	1	(23)
Helping Defined	1	(3)
Special Challenges for Helper-Trainees	4	(5)
Client Needs	9	(2)
Helping Strategies	11	(7)
Career Paths of Helpers	18	(2)
Using This Book	20	(1)
Summary	20	(4)
Characteristics of Skilled Helpers	24	(20)
Characteristics of Skilled Helpers	26	(14)
Characteristics That Hinder Skilled Helpers	40	(1)
Summary	41	(3)
Cultural Diversity and Helping	44	(30)
Understanding Culture	44	(3)
Issues in Helping Cultural, Racial, and Ethnic Minorities	47	(5)
Racial, Cultural, and Ethnic Differences and the Helping Process	52	(13)
Helping Persons with Disabilities	65	(3)
Helping Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Individuals	68	(2)
Summary	70	(4)
Professional Helping Skills and Techniques	74	(30)
Foundational Skills	74	(25)
Return to the Pretest	99	(1)
Summary	100	(4)
Understanding and Assessing People	104	(23)
Identifying Problems and Assessing Strenghts	104	(5)
Locating the Source of Problems	109	(1)
The DSM-IV	109	(3)
How to Do and Initial Assessment	112	(4)
Illustrations of Assessment in Action	116	(7)
Standardized Assessment Techniques	123	(1)
Summary	123	(4)
Service Delivery Systems	127	(21)
Overview of the Human Services and Health Care System	128	(7)
Service Delivery Strategies	135	(5)
Work Settings for Professional Helpers	140	(4)
Evaluating Service Delivery Systems	144	(1)
Summary	145	(3)
Counseling Individuals	148	(20)
Process of Individual Counseling	149	(5)
Types of Individual Counseling	154	(10)
Comparing Counseling Approaches	164	(1)
Summary	165	(3)
Working with Families	168	(18)
Family Patterns	169	(1)
Types of Family Problems	169	(2)
Developmental Stages of Families	171	(1)
Strengths of Familites	172	(1)
Ideas to Deepen Our Understanding of Families	173	(5)
Helping Families	178	(5)
Internet Resources for Families	183	(1)
Summary	183	(3)
Helping in a Group Setting	186	(32)
Group versus Individual Helping	187	(1)
Factors That Make Groups Effective	188	(6)
Stages of Groups	194	(7)
Types of Groups	201	(3)
Skills of Effective Group Helpers	204	(9)
Factors That Keep Groups from Succeeding	213	(1)
Summary	213	(5)
Working with Communities	218	(14)
Making a Commitment to the Community	219	(1)
Assessing the Needs of a Community	220	(1)
Understanding How to Help a Community: A Behavioral Analysis	221	(4)
Advocacy as a Tool for Community Development	225	(2)
Communities in Action: Illustrations	227	(3)
Summary	230	(2)
Helping on the Internet	232	(14)
Using the Internet in Helping	235	(3)
Guidelines for Internet Use	238	(2)
Some Useful Web Sites	240	(2)
Evaluating Web Sites	242	(1)
The Internet as a Training Tool	242	(1)
Summary	243	(3)
Ethical and Legal Issues in the Helping Professions	246	(23)
Ethical Principles	248	(8)
Enforcing Codes of Ethics	256	(3)
Decision-Making in Helping: Ethical and Legal Factors	259	(2)
Legal Threats to Helpers	261	(4)
Summary	265	(4)
Becoming Employed and Advancing in a Helping Career	269	(16)
Becoming Employed: Required Professional Credentials	270	(2)
Locating Job Openings	272	(2)
After Employment: The Role of Professional Organizations	274	(4)
Getting More Education	278	(2)
Advancing in Your Field and Retirement	280	(2)
Summary	282	(3)
Maintaining Your Physical and Mental Health	285	(16)
How to Assess Stress	287	(1)
Stress, Burnout, and Becoming a Professional Helper	288	(9)
Getting in Touch with One's Spirituality	297	(1)
Summary	298	(3)
Becoming A Helper: Some Issues That Influence Practice	301	(7)
Workfare and other Welfare Reforms	301	(1)
Managed Health Care	302	(1)
Outpatient Care of People with Chronic Mental Health Problem	303	(1)
Deemphasis on Rehabilitation of Criminals	303	(1)
The Rights of the Handicapped	304	(1)
Changing Population Demographics	305	(1)
Economic Risk and Hispanics	305	(1)
Summary	306	(2)
Index	308