The following worksheet contains two sets of client statements. In the first set, select the best question a human service worker might use to elicit more appropriate information. Discuss why your selection is best, as well as why the other choices may not be as helpful. Remember, more than one question might be appropriate, so your rationale for choosing the one you have is important.

In the second set of statements, you will formulate a reflection of content (and feeling, if appropriate) that responds well to the client’s concerns.

Module 02 Worksheet

Client Statements Set 1

1. Client: I can’t believe it. I’ve been doing so well, but things just don’t seem to be working out. I know that I’m about to get fired.

0. Have you been getting to work too late?

0. Are you tired at work?

0. What’s been going on that’s not working?

0. Have things been distracting you?

Rationale:

2. Client: My mother just doesn’t understand.

1. What doesn’t she understand?

1. How old are you?

1. What about your father?

1. Are other people affected by her?

Rationale:

3. Client: I keep getting in bad relationships, over and over again. It’s like I go out and look for the worst person possible, then get attached.

1. Why do you do that?

1. What was your relationship with your parents like?

1. How are these people bad for you?

1. Are you in a relationship now?

Rationale:

4. Client: I broke the window and the principal said I had to come see you.

0. What happened?

0. How do you feel about that?

0. Was anybody else involved?

0. Do you have a pass?

Rationale:

5. Client: I’ve been looking for a job for about three months now. Nothing’s out there.

1. How many interviews have you had?

1. Have you looked like this when you went to talk with people?

1. Where have you been looking?

1. How much money have you got in the bank?

Rationale:

6. Client: My boyfriend is mad at me. He says I spend too much money.

1. Does he get mad at you a lot?

1. How old is your boyfriend?

1. What’s he say about your spending?

1. Have you thought about dumping him?

Rationale:

7. Client: I got busted a couple of nights ago. My Dad got bail together for me.

1. Where’d you get arrested?

1. What happened?

1. Does your Dad do this a lot?

1. Was your Dad angry?

Rationale:

8. Client: My wife told me that I needed to come for counseling. She said she’d leave me if I didn’t do something about my drinking.

0. How do you feel about this?

0. Is she on your case a lot?

0. What is it about your drinking that she doesn’t like?

0. Why don’t you just stop drinking and keep her happy?

Rationale:

9. Client: Counseling is stupid. I don’t need to be here.

1. What’s wrong with counseling?

1. How can I help make this a good experience for you?

1. Who told you to come here?

1. Why’d you come, then?

Rationale:

10. Client: I’ve really been looking forward to meeting you. I’m ready to work on some stuff.

1. Who told you about me?

1. How long have you been waiting for an appointment?

1. What’s the hurry?

1. What kinds of things are you wanting to work on?

Rationale:

Client Statements Set 2

For each of the following client statements, formulate a reflection of content (and feeling, if appropriate) that responds well to the client’s concerns. You may recognize these client statements—they are expanded versions of the ones for which you formulated questions and prompts in Chapter 4.

1. Client: I can’t believe it. I’ve been doing so well, but things just don’t seem to be working out. I know that I’m about to get fired. All I did was mess up on one car. It’s not like it’s going to cost the company a lot of money, or anything. I’m getting to hate that place.

Reflection of content and feeling:

2. Client: My mother just doesn’t understand. She lives in another age. Kids my age are all allowed to stay out later than I am. Sometimes I think I should go live with my father.

Reflection of content and feeling:

3. Client: I keep getting in bad relationships, over and over again. It’s like I go out and look for the worst person possible, then get attached. You should see this last one. Great looking, but hasn’t held a steady job in five years. Why do I keep doing this?

Reflection of content and feeling:

4. Client: I broke the window and the principal said I had to come see you. I know, I know, this is the third time this month. I guess I haven’t been doing the stuff we talked about.

Reflection of content and feeling:

5. Client: I’ve been looking for a job for about three months now. Nothing’s out there. Maybe I’m doing something wrong, or maybe I’m turning people off when I get interviews. Money’s starting to get really tight, and my wife is getting really uptight.

Reflection of content and feeling:

6. Client: My boyfriend is mad at me. He says I spend too much money. Clothes, that’s the main thing I spend on. I like looking good, and he likes the stuff I buy when he sees me in it, but then he gets all mad when the credit card bills come in.

Reflection of content and feeling:

7. Client: I got busted a couple of nights ago. My Dad got bail together for me. He waited a long time before he came down. I had to sit in a cell with a bunch of drunks, and it was really bad. I can’t believe he left me in there so long.

Reflection of content and feeling:

8. Client: My wife told me that I needed to come for counseling. She said she’d leave me if I didn’t do something about my drinking. So, I’m here, but I’m not happy about it. I don’t think I need any counseling. She’s the one with the problem. She should be going for counseling.

Reflection of content and feeling:

9. Client: Counseling is stupid. I don’t need to be here. People should be able to solve their own problems. I can’t see that talking about anything is going to make anything better. If you ask me, the world would be a lot better off if people would just stop yapping and complaining so much, and just get on with it.

Reflection of content and feeling:

10. Client: I’ve really been looking forward to meeting you. I’m ready to work on some stuff. I see myself repeating some stupid things that I do, and I don’t want to do that anymore. I’m ready to grow up, take more responsibility for myself.

Reflection of content and feeling: