The Helping Process

The Helping Process

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The Helping Process

Often it happens that I am perceived as an oppressor to an interviewee while working as a human service professional. This is not a mission of my job as a professional. This is due to the common perception of the human services fields. This oppressive image stays in mind until the human service professional gains the trust of the client through relationship building.

Oppression can be considered a form of injustice that is a result of one social group subordinated while the other enjoys all the advantages. It is maintained by adopting various ways of social norms, institutional rules, and stereotypes. In my opinion, the oppressor is the one who uses means of power to abduct the rights of others ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"n6zSfCqA","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(\\uc0\\u8220{}Oppression,\\uc0\\u8221{} 2019)","plainCitation":"(“Oppression,” 2019)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":1922,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/KZl8ZL3A/items/AE6T9TEI"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/KZl8ZL3A/items/AE6T9TEI"],"itemData":{"id":1922,"type":"entry-encyclopedia","title":"Oppression","container-title":"Wikipedia","source":"Wikipedia","abstract":"Oppression can refer to an authoritarian regime controlling its citizens via state control of politics, the monetary system, media, and the military; denying people any meaningful human or civil rights; and terrorizing the populace through harsh, unjust punishment, and a hidden network of obsequious informants reporting to a vicious secret police force.\nOppression also refers to a less overtly malicious pattern of subjugation, although in many ways this social oppression represents a particularly insidious and ruthlessly effective form of manipulation and control. In this instance, the subordination and injustices do not afflict everyone—instead it targets specific groups of people for restrictions, ridicule, and marginalization. No universally accepted term has yet emerged to describe this variety of oppression, although some scholars will parse the multiplicity of factors into a handful of categories, e.g., social (or sociocultural) oppression; institutional (or legal) oppression; and economic oppression.","URL":"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Oppression&oldid=890884851","note":"Page Version ID: 890884851","language":"en","issued":{"date-parts":[["2019",4,4]]},"accessed":{"date-parts":[["2019",4,20]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (“Oppression,” 2019). I never want my interviewee to see me as someone with authority and power as it will create an image in my mind that I am an oppressor, as it will result into them not feeling comfortable with me which can create a problem for me in revealing their issues. When people start to consider a human service worker as a person of power they communicate according to what worker will like to hear, but they hide the actual story and problem due to fear of judgment from an oppressor ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"0Q6VOBRO","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Deutsch, 2006)","plainCitation":"(Deutsch, 2006)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":1919,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/KZl8ZL3A/items/M4PH9NFV"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/KZl8ZL3A/items/M4PH9NFV"],"itemData":{"id":1919,"type":"article-journal","title":"A Framework for Thinking About Oppression and Its Change","container-title":"Social Justice Research","page":"7-41","volume":"19","issue":"1","source":"Springer Link","abstract":"This paper provides a framework for thinking about oppression and how to overcome it. It considers the value premise underlying the use of the term “oppression.” It then discusses the nature of oppression, the forms it takes, and what keeps it in place. In its final two sections, it focuses on awakening the sense of injustice and the strategies and tactics for overcoming injustice.","DOI":"10.1007/s11211-006-9998-3","ISSN":"1573-6725","journalAbbreviation":"Soc Just Res","language":"en","author":[{"family":"Deutsch","given":"Morton"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2006",3,1]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Deutsch, 2006).

People start to view me as “skilled capital”, someone who is intelligent, knowledgeable, with a high degree in education. This view can be true in some cases and false in the others but I always want my clients to view simply as a person, who is simply here to help them resolve their issue, not as someone one ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"rFiCmERj","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(McClam, 2012)","plainCitation":"(McClam, 2012)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":1920,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/KZl8ZL3A/items/J6QR73JV"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/KZl8ZL3A/items/J6QR73JV"],"itemData":{"id":1920,"type":"book","title":"The helping process : assessment to termination","publisher":"Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning","publisher-place":"Belmont CA","event-place":"Belmont CA","ISBN":"978-1-111-29843-2","shortTitle":"The helping process","author":[{"family":"McClam","given":"Tricia"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2012"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (McClam, 2012)

All this misconception can be built on a simple basis of my professional attire and job description. The judgment of oppressor can be built on mere the similarity between my name and the building where the office is located or just on the basis on my gender or race. Judgment can be built on any factor based on personal perception. .

In order to avoid judgment, I always try to be my true self and explain the client my values and mission to show the authenticity and virtue of my profession. I also set my boundaries and never allow others to ruin my comfort zone. When clients see the true me, they show their trust in me and respect me through referrals.

In short social helper will always be viewed as oppressor till he builds trust and a good reputation with people. I think it is okay if interactions start with judgment because this judgment will fade eventually if one stays true to himself and his profession. Also being in power is not a wrong thing, it's the use of it that makes it good or bad. It is essential for interviewer to stay true to himself and his mission as clients always respect the one who is authentic and real.

References

Deutsch, M. (2006). A Framework for Thinking About Oppression and Its Change. Social Justice Research, 19(1), 7-41. doi: 10.1007/s11211-006-9998-3

ADDIN ZOTERO_BIBL {"uncited":[],"omitted":[],"custom":[]} CSL_BIBLIOGRAPHY Deutsch, M. (2006). A Framework for Thinking About Oppression and Its Change. Social Justice Research, 19(1), 7–41. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11211-006-9998-3

McClam, T. (2012). The helping process : assessment to termination. Belmont CA: Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning.

Oppression. (2019). In Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Oppression&oldid=890884851