Volunteer Client Observation

This week, I had the opportunity to practice my personal helping approach with a volunteer client. For me, the role of helping individuals experiencing problems relating to their physical, emotional, psychological, or social health is constant facet of my daily life. My work as a mental health behavioral aide with adolescents ages twelve through twenty-one, who have co-occurring conditions, Autism Spectrum Disorder as well as a Mental Health Condition has allowed me to help students develop more socially acceptable behaviors, academic, social, emotional, and transitional skills. My role as a mental health behavioral aide within a therapeutic environment has given me the opportunity to develop a repertoire of skills for interacting with individuals
Specifically, I had the ability to analyze my interaction with the volunteer client and assess my strong and weak points regarding personal demeanor as well as approach. The personal demeanor of a helper is essential for creating an environment that allows the client to feel comfortable expressing his or her concerns. For me, personal demeanor is always a fine balance of presenting a sincere, honest, and approachable disposition and at the same time remaining professional. For me, developing a relationship with whomever I am assuming a helping role allows me the ability to respond effectively to the client. It is through a relationship I can gauge whether my demeanor needs to be neutral, friendly, or professional. Additionally, it allows me the ability to decide the best approach to address the client’s needs. Developing a relationship with a client takes time, once a connection is present it is easy for me to intuitively know the right balance of
It is not a question of whether I can relate with individuals whose lives have been very different than my own, how do I convey a genuine empathy or even try to truly understand something I have never myself experienced? Furthermore, how do I remain true the values, beliefs, and customs of my own culture yet still help individuals whose way of life may completely contradict everything I am. I am a Christian who believes every life is a gift from God, yet I may have a client who seeks out counseling after having an abortion. Or how do I deal with a client whose views on individuals of different racial backgrounds are discriminatory and perpetuate hate. I know that there must be an objectivity and rational detachment between my own beliefs, ideas, values, and attitudes and those of my clients. It would be unethical for me to insert or allow my own feelings, views, or beliefs to influence the guidance I provide to a client. However, knowledge and application are very different from each other therefore I must continually allow myself time to reflect on how who I am personally impact who I am professionally. I think supervision from a seasoned veteran in the field of mental health is one way we can receive