1

Quarter 3 – Module 4
CLIENTELE & AUDIENCES IN
COUNSELING

(HUMSS_DIASS12-Id-11)

CLIENTELE & AUDIENCES IN COUNSELING

Every part of this module contains activities that will help you in developing your cognitive,
affective and psychomotor skills.
In this module, you are expected to:
1. Describe the clientele of counseling (HUMSS_DIASS12-Id-11)

Pretest
Matching Type: Match the items in column A with items in column B. Write the answers in
your notebook. (2 points each)

1. Rehabilitation counselor A. Employees who need to determine

business related issues or concerns

B. Individuals who need assistance in

conquering their issues or alleviate the
negative impacts of medication misuse

C. Individuals who need assistance in

coping with loss
2. Bereavement counselor

D. Students who need to determine

individual conflicts or upsetting
circumstances

E. Individuals who need assistance in

3. School counselor discovering essential data to get work

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 4. Human resource personnel appropriate for them
5. Job hunting coach
6. Marriage counselor
7. Conflict manager provider F. Individuals who need assistance in
managing conflict to deescalate it, if
not resolve it decidedly

G. Individuals (for example couples and

youngsters) who need assistance in
managing family-related issues that
compromise their solidarity

In the previous chapter, you have learned the role of the professionals and practitioners
of counseling. Their roles and functions in various settings, such as community and
educational institutions with different concerns and issues. These professionals and
practitioners are the ones who deals directly with the clientele and audiences that will be
discussed in the succeeding components of this module.

Attributes of Clientele and Audiences of Counseling

 Neurotic - is a long-term tendency to be in a negative emotional state. Individuals with

neuroticism tend to have more depressed moods- they experience the ill effects of
sentiments of blame, jealousy, outrage and uneasiness more much of the time and more
seriously than others. Neuroticism is the state of being neurotic.

 Psychotic-Psychotic Disorders are serious mental issue that cause abnormal thinking
and perceptions. Individuals with psychoses puts some distance between the real world.
Two of the fundamental manifestations are delusions and hallucinations.

 Personality Disorder- it includes long haul examples of considerations and practices that
are unhealthy and inflexible. The practices cause significant issues with connections and
work. Individuals with character issue have trouble managing with everyday stress.

The clientele and audiences of the counseling profession come from different settings.
Counselors deal with a mixture of people with different concerns and issues.

- People who abuse drugs – drug abuse is not just harmful to our physical health but to
our mental health as well. It cannot be denied that the drug addiction creates more social
problems and contribute to social disintegration. Consequently, more youth victims cry
for help and seek for counselors’ attention.
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 - People who use Tobacco – slowly our population recognizes the bad effects of tobacco
to our health. However, many people still use and continue use tobacco even if it is
deadly. Users find it difficult to stop smoking. Hence, smokers who desire to quit tobacco
were added to the list of the counselor’s audiences.
- People who abuse alcohol – alcoholism is seen as a disease alcoholic find it difficult to
stop drinking on their own. This requires help from a professional as it requires
appropriate treatment. However, an equally important paradigm is to look at alcoholism
as a weakness of self – control and self –discipline. therefore, this requires intervention
other than treatment.
- Women – most men still have less participation in household responsibilities and
childcare. In this case, women’s advancement is constrained. What complicates this
situation is the women’s perception about themselves and the society’s expectations.
Counselors are responsible in helping women appreciate their own values, abilities,
aptitudes, and interests and to utilize these to develop their full potential. (Gibson and
Mitchel ,2003)
- Older Adults – a transition from a busy life to retirement stage must be instituted. This is
a challenge to the counseling profession. other issues that require attention of
counseling include loss of a partner, decline of mental capacity and mobility, increased
loneliness, decline in financial security etc.
- People with AIDS –acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) has been labeled as
the most feared disease due to its incurability. Victims of this disease are seeking help to
improve their quality of life and to handle their emotional stress and low self-esteem.
Counseling’s approach requires sensitivity and appreciation of the intricacies of the
disease. Counselors may also help in assisting and educating the victims’ support
system.
- Victims of Abuse – this population represents victims of domestic violence
characterized by spouse and child abuses. Spouse abuse is often associated with
poverty, drug abuse and career disappointments. The abuse has also become rampant
and has caused psychological damage to the victims. The counselors are increasingly
utilized to help the victims.
- Gay Men and Lesbian Women- they are usually the victims of harassment, violence,
discrimination, and isolation. Gays and lesbians, like other sectors of the society, suffer
from peer denial, family clash, health uncertainties and prejudgment. Counseling will
focus on self-awareness, self- acceptance and understanding.

ACTIVITY 3!
Prepared Questions:
Directions: React to the inquiries relating to the customers and crowds in guiding.
1. State the factors affecting depression form individuals that needs counselling.
2. Why is it relevant to identify the clients and audience of counseling?

3. In your perspective what is the most critical phase of counselling and why?

4. As a student what is the importance of studying the different behavior of an individual who
needs counselling?

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 Quarter 1 – Module 5
Settings, Processes, Methods and
Tools in Counseling
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 Lesson 4 COUNSELLING AND ITS WORK
SETTINGS
(HUMSS_DIASS12-Id-14)/ (HUMSS_DIASS12-Id-15)

Every part of this module contains activities that will help you in developing your
cognitive, affective and psychomotor skills.

In this module, you are expected to:

2. Illustrate the different processes and methods involved in counseling
(HUMSS_DIASS12-Id-14)

3. Distinguish the needs of individuals, groups, organizations and communities

(HUMSS_DIASS12-Id-15)

In previous chapter you learned the relevance of counseling needs of the clientele that the
clientele and audiences of the counseling profession come from different settings with a mixture
of people with different concerns and issues. How these needs can be effectively addressed
through different processes and methods is the salient point in this part of the lesson.

Counseling and Its Work settings

1. Counselors in Schools – has grown rapidly. According to Gibson and Mitchell (2003),
counselors are recognized especially in the preventive interventions and developmental
stage. There are elementary school counselors, junior high school counselors, secondary
school counselors, counselors in vocational schools, counselors in higher education, and
counselors in community and junior colleges. The counseling service in the schools is
usually located under the student affairs program. It is under the supervision of the Dean
of Students Affairs.

2. Counselors in the Community Setting – refers to employment in community, agency, and

other non-school professional situations. Counselors can be found in community and
mental health agencies, employment and rehabilitation agencies, correctional settings, and
marriage and family practice. (Gibson and Mitchell , 2003)

3. Counselors in the Private Sector – refers to counselors who decided to do full time work
as private practitioners or engage in part – time private practice while employed by
community agencies. This is feasible if the counselors expertise and specialization matches
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 or relevant to an adequate client population in the geographic area. (Gibson and Mitchell ,
2003)

4. Counselors in the Government - counselors are also present in various agencies of

government or institutions supported by the government that are into social welfare, health,
and education. Relevant agencies or institutions include public schools, public social
welfare agencies such as that for the youth, children, and the aging.

Directions: Fill in the table below according to the work settings of counselors. The choices are
cited below to identify the needs of individual, groups, organizations and community. Answers
should be written in your notebook.

Counselors in Counselors in the Counselors in the Counselors in the

Schools Community Setting Private Sector Government

THE CHOICES
1. Marital issues
2. Abused woman
3. Abandoned children and elderly
4. Bullied students
5. Mental health counseling on veterans
6. Counseling services of non-government organizations
7. Mental and foster homes
8. Rehabilitation centers
9. Guidance counseling for student’s at risks
10. Social welfare counseling services of DSWD
11. Stress debriefing council for victims of calamities
12. Private Psycho-counseling services for drug addicts & other related
delinquencies
13. Rendering counseling program for victims of Woman’s violence
14. Counseling programs welfare for Out of school youth
15.Counseling services in Bureau of Corrections

Lesson COUNSELLING ITS PROCESSES,

METHODS AND TOOLS
5 (HUMSS_DIASS12-Id-14)/ (HUMSS_DIASS12-Id-15)
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 Every part of this module contains activities that will help you in developing your
cognitive, affective and psychomotor skills.

In this module, you are expected to:

1. Illustrate the different processes and methods involved in counseling
(HUMSS_DIASS12-Id-14)

2. Distinguish the needs of individuals, groups, organizations and communities

(HUMSS_DIASS12-Id-15)

There are six stages of the counseling process, namely, relationship building, assessment
and diagnosis, formulation of the counseling goals, intervention and problem solving,
termination and follow –up, and research and evaluation.

1. Stage One: Relationship Building

 This is the heart of counselling process because it provides the force and foundation
for the counselling to succeed.
 This stage involves establishing rapport,
 promote acceptance of the client as a person with worth,
 establishing genuine interaction,
 promote direct mutual communication
 helping clients understand themselves,
 helping client focus and
 Slowly promote counselling relevant communication, from the client.

2. Stage Two: Assessment and Diagnosis

 One of the most crucial stages.
 This serves as the window for the counsellor to have a thorough appreciation of the
client’s condition.
 It entails analysis of the root causes of problems.
 The data that will be gathered in diagnosis will be utilized in the formulation of goals.

3. Stage Three: Formulation of Counseling Goals

 Goals are important as it sets the direction of the counselling process.
 It shall serve as the parameter of work and the client-counsellor relationship.
 Counselling goals may be treated as a process goal or outcome goal.
 The client and counsellor must agree on the counselling goals.

4. Stage Four: Intervention and Problem Solving Guidelines:

A. The counselor has to provide a mapping of the different approaches offered.
B. Describe the role of the counselor and client for each procedure.
C. Identify possible risks and benefits that may come.
D. Estimate the time and cost of each procedure.

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 Kafner and Busemeyer identified the six-stage model for problem solving
 Problem detection
 Problem definition
 Identification of alternative solutions
 Decision-making
 Execution
 Verification

5. Stage Five: Termination and Follow –up

The essential goal in counselling is to witness a client progress on his/her own without
the assistance of the counselor.

There are four components of termination which were identified by Quintan and
Holahan:
1. Discussion of the end of counselling
2. Review of the course of counselling
3. Closure of the counsellor-client relationship
4. Discussion of the client’s future and post-counselling plan

6. Stage Six: Research and Evaluation

 This stage can be undertaken at any point in the counselling stage.
 Research and evaluation are fundamental part of the evaluation.
 Results of the research provide a scientific appreciation of the counselling situation.

Methods in Counseling
1. CLASSIC THEORIES - The psychological theories developed by Sigmund Freud, Alfred
Adler, and Carl Jung are considered as the classic schools for the reason that they primed
the underpinning of clinical practice.
a. FREUD’S PSYCHOANALYTIC THEORY - The approach of Freud in counselling and
psychotherapy is popularly known as psychoanalysis which is an analysis of the mind.
Its objective is to restructure the personality by resolution of intrapsychic conflict,
which focuses in the internal forces such as unconscious processes .It focuses on
personal adjustment through reorganization of internal forces within the person to
help him/her become aware of the unconscious aspect of his/her personality. It
focuses on personal adjustment through reorganization of internal forces within the
person to help him/her become aware of the unconscious aspect of his/her
personality.

Psychoanalysis has three goals:

1. To help clients gain insights about themselves
2. To help clients work unstuck issues
3. To help clients cope with the stresses of the society.

The following techniques may be used:

 FREE ASSOCIATION - a method to encourage the patient to discuss whatever
comes to his mind in order to release suppressed emotions.
 DREAM ANALYSIS - a method to explore unconscious process using dreams.

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  CONFRONTATION AND CLARIFICATION - a form of feedback procedure for
patients to become aware of what is happening to him/her and to determine
areas for further analysis.
 INTERPRETATION - a process of giving insights to patients about their inner
conflicts which can be reflected in resistance, transference, and other
processes.

b. ADLER’S INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOLOGY - The approach of Adler in counseling and

psychotherapy focuses on the role of cognition is psychological functioning. Its
objective is to gain an understanding of the clients and assess why clients behave and
think in certain ways.

Adlerian counselling focuses on four goals:

 Establishment and maintenance of egalitarian relationship
 Analysis of client’s lifestyle
 Interpretation of client’s lifestyle in a way that promotes insight
 Reorientation and re-education of the client with accompanying behavior
change.

Adlerian techniques can be explained in four phases of Adlerian Psychotherapy.

First Phase: ESTABLISHING THE RELATIONSHIP

 Use of listening skills
 Winning respect and offering hope
 Encouragement

Second Phase: PERFORMING ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT

 Lifestyle Analysis
 Dream analysis may be used to conduct lifestyle analysis

Third Phase: PROMOTING INSIGHT

 Insight Process

Fourth Phase: REORIENTATION

 Spitting in the Client’s Soup
 The push-button techniques
 Catching oneself
 Acting as-if
 Task setting and commitment

c. JUNG’S ANALYTIC PSYCHOLOGY - The counselling and psychology approach of

Jung is referred to as psychotherapy. Jung’s approach highlights the task of the
unconscious processes in “psychological functioning”. The approach applies dreams
and other procedures to determine the unconscious processes to utilize the result to
boost the functioning of personality and to enhance mental health and wellness.

2. EXPERIENTIAL THEORIES
It falls under the affective theories which are concerned about generating impact on the
emotions of clients to effect change. The well-known experiential theorists include Rogers
and Perls
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 a. Roger’s Person-Centered Counselling - It has been described as the “if-then”
approach. The following conditions were formulated by Rogers:
 Counsellor Congruence
 Empathic Understanding
 Unconditional Positive Regard

b. Pearl’s Gestalt Therapy - It focuses on the here and now. It refers to the dialogue
between the therapist and the client wherein the client experiences from the inside
what the therapist observes from the outside. The goal of the approach is
awareness on the environment, of responsibility for choices, of self, and self-
acceptance. Gestalt’s technique include the following:
 ASSUMING RESPONSIBILITY - rephrase the statement and add “I take
responsibility for it”.
 USING PERSONAL PRONOUNS - take personal responsibility by saying “I or
me “instead of “us or us”
 NOW I AM AWARE - assists the clients to get in touch with himself/herself.
 THE EMPTY CHAIR TECHNIQUE - helps client work through conflicting parts
of personality.

3. COGNITIVE-BEHAVIOURAL THEORIES
a. ELLIS RATIONAL EMOTIVE BEHAVIOR THERAPY - REBT highlights the role of
cognitions on emotions with assertion that persons can be best appreciated in terms of
internal cognitive dialogue or self-talk. REBT views the emotional disorder is
associated with cognitive processes that are not rational.

REBT TECHNIQUES:
 COGNITIVE - reforming ideas that are reasonable and irrational. Focus on
“defeating cognitions”.
 EMOTIVE TECHNIQUES - focus on the client’s “affective or emotional domain”

BEHAVIOURAL TECHNIQUES - Focus on the full array of behavioural methods such

as assertiveness training, relaxation therapy, self-management, self-monitoring, and
homework assignments.

b. BECK’S COGNITIVE THERAPY

TECHNIQUES:
 DECATASTROPHIZING - referred to as “what if”.
 REDEFINING - rearticulating an obstacle to something that may be useful.
 DECENTERING - This will help the client apprehend that they are not the “center of
attention”.
 BEHAVIORAL TECHNIQUES – this method applies a broad selection of methods to
assist clients obtaining ‘essential skills, relaxing preparing for difficult situations,
and exposing them to feared, preparing for difficult situations, and exposing them
to feared situations”.

c. BERNE’S TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS - Refers to examining and dissecting

transactions between people. It includes evaluating the “three ego state of parent,

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 adult, and child of each person”. The fundamental goal is for the client to be
“autonomous, self-aware, spontaneous and have the capacity for intimacy.”

TECHNIQUES:
 STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS - assists clients to be conscious of their “three ego”.
 TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS - assists clients to “learn to communicate with
complementary transactions.”
 SCRIPT ANALYSIS - looks into the “type of life script the client has developed and
how it can be re-written.”
 ANALYSIS OF GAMES - comprise of determining “what games the clients play and
how the games interfere with interpersonal functioning.”

Activity 4: Reflective Essay:

Directions: Answer the following series of questions to test you if you had transpired in the
lesson.
1. What is the importance of studying the methods of counselling?
2. How did you apply one of the processes of counselling in your personal life? Is it effective
and beneficial why or why not?
3. Can you state at least three important contributions of methods and tools of counselling
in individual, groups and in a society as a whole?
4. For you what is the most important stage of counseling and why?
5. As a student what is the significance of studying the processes of counseling and how can
you apply it?

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 Quarter 1 – Module 6
Disciplines of
Social Work
What I Kn What I Know
ow

QUARTER 1 - LESSON 7
Disciplines of Social Work
(HUMSS_DIASS12-Ie-16 - 18)

What I Need To Know

This module demonstrate a high level of understanding of the basic concepts of social work through
a group presentation of a situation in which practitioners of social work collaborate to assist individuals,
groups, or communities involved in difficult situations (e.g., post disaster, court hearing about separation of
celebrity couple, cyberbullying).

In this lesson, you are expected to:

1. define social work;
2. explain the context and the basic concepts of the social work;
3. describe the goals and scope of social work;
4. discuss the principles of social work; and
5. explain the core values of social work.

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What I Know
Pretest

14
Activity 1: Think and Share:

This activity encourages social sharing to express social understanding on beliefs and point of viiew
concerns on participation in primary and secondary group of socialization. What comes to your mind when
you hear the phrase “social work”?

What’s In
Review

In previous chapter you learned the clientele and audiences in counseling, settings, processes,
methods, and tools in counseling.

What is it
Discussion

Discipline of Social Work

Discipline of social work is
closely associated with government
welfare and social programs aimed
at achieving social justice, fairness
and attainment of social
equilibrium. “The social work
porfession promotes social change, problem solving in human relationships and the
empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well-being. Utilizing theories of human
behavior and social systems, social works intervenes at the points where people
interactwith their environments. Principles of human rights and social justice are
fundamnetal to social work. “(International Federation of Social Workers 2013).

Aims to protect vulnerable people from abuse, neglect, or self harm and to help
enhance their well being and quailty of life. Operates within legal frameworks for
protecting ans suppoting vulnerable people. Work closely with other professional, often
known as inter-professional working.

From Social Care to Social work

Social work has evolved from being a domestic common sense care to professional
service. A wide variety of people in the community, from friends to parents, relatives,
volunteers to all people of goodwill participate in providing social care. This includes

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providing personal care, supporting individuals with daily living, and supporting people
to engage with their communities and involve more direct contact with people.

Definition of Social work

The policy, ethics, and human rights committee of the British association of social
workers (2012) provides the definition of social work: “The social world profession
promotes social change, problem solving in human relationship and the empowerment
and liberation of people to enhance well-being. Utilizing theories of human behavior and
social systems, social work intervenes at points were people interact with their
environments. Principles of human right and social justice and fundamental to social
work.”
It is understood here the social work is a profession that fulfills the social work
mandate to promote well-being and quality of life. As such, it encompasses activities
directed in improving human and social conditions and alleviating human distress and
social problems through enhancing people’s competence and functioning, ability to
access social support and resources, creating human responsive social services, and
expansion of the structures of the society that provide opportunities for all citizens
(DuBois & Miley 2008)

Context and the basic concepts of social works

To appreciate the context and the basic concept of social work, one has to look
into its professional history (Segal, Gerdes, & Steiner 2005). The aim of social work is to
help individuals fit better into their environment and change concept, Segal, Gerdes, &
Steiner (2005) Locate the history of social work in the history of social welfare in
America. They particularly link social work history to the charity organization societies
founder 1877 with the aim of discovering the causes of poverty among individuals,
eliminate the causes, and eliminate poverty from society. Poverty was then seen as a
character defect of an individual. This perspective is half true, as evidence of social
science showed that there are multiple external forces and structures that account for
poverty and individuals.
The next movement that emerged as if to complement the first wave of social work
was called settlement movement which began 1877 (Segal, Gerdes, & Steiner 2005). The
settlement movement operated on the assumption that an individual’s well-being was
directly linked to his or her external surroundings therefore, that to help and individual
changing the environment where that the individual lives. Such include advocating for
better neighborhood services, public health programs, and employment conditions. This
two movement efforts of solving poverty of individuals by helping the individuals fit
better in their environment and changing that environment serve as today’s basic
concept of social work and its all various forms and services.

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 The context of social work is a place that requires professionals to direct their
service on needs of empowerment of people who experience some forms of vulnerability,
oppression, and living in poverty.

Goals and scope of social works

DeBois and Miley(2008) highlight the following goals and sculp of social works and
calling them tenets.

 Empower people, individually and collectively, to utilize their own problem-solving

and coping capabilities more effectively.
 Support a proactive position with regard to social and economic policy
development to prevent problems for individuals and society from occurring
period.
 Uphold the integrity of the profession in all aspects of social work practice.
 Establish linkages between people and societal resources to further social
functioning and enhance the quality of life.
 Develop cooperative networks within the institutional resources systems.
 Facilitate the responsiveness of the institutional resource systems to meet help
and human service needs.
 Promote social justice and equality of all people with regard of full participation
and society.
 Contribute to the development of knowledge for social work preofession through
research and evaluation.
 Encourage exchange of information in those institutional systems in which both
problems and resources opportunities are produced.
 Enhance communication through an appreciation of diversity and through
ethnically sensitive, non-sexist social work practice.
 Employ educational strategies for the prevention and resolution of problems.
 Embrace a world view of human issues and solutions.

The goal and scope of social work has laid down here is a noble and broad-to help
and individual being included in society and to transform the very society that creates
structures the marginalize individuals from full participation in the enjoyment of
social services and resources of community. Change sought is one that makes and
individual and the community a better place for everyone.
Principles of social work
The policy, ethics, and human rights committee of the British association of social
workers (2012) has the following principles that apply in general to all the
professionals in the social work profession
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 Principles
Relative to
1. Upholding and promoting human rights and well-being Respect for
Human
2. Respecting the right to self-determination Rights

3. Promoting the right to participation

4. Creating each perso as a whole

5. Identifying and developing strengths

Principles Relative to Respect for Justice

1. Challenging discrimination - Social works have a responsibility to challenge
discrimination on the basis of characteristics such as ability, age, culture, gender
or sex, marital status, socio-economic status, political opinions, racial or other
physical characteristics, sexual orientation, or spiritual beliefs.

2. Recognizing diversity . Social workers should recognize and respect the diversity
of the societies in which they practice, taking into account individual, family,
group, and community differences.

3. Distributing resources. Social works should ensure that resources at the

disposal are distributed fairly ,accordingly to need.

4. Challenging unjust policies and practices. Social workers have a duty to bring
attention to their employers, policy makers, politicians, and the general public the
situations where resources are inadequate or where distribution of resources,
polocies, and practices are oppressive, unfair, harmful or illegal
5. Working in solidarity. Social workers, individually, collectively, and with others
have a duty to challenge social conditions that contribute to social exclusion,
stigmatization or subjugation, and work toward and inclusive socity .

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 Principles Relative to Personal Integrity

Upholding the values and

Being trustworthy
reputation of the profession

Maintaining professional Making considered

bounderies professional judgement

Being professional
accountability

Core Values of Social Work

The core values of social work serve to provide consistency in the fulfillment of the social welfare
delivery and in the general promotion of the well-being and quality of life of all people. However, special
attention or priority is given to those who supper some forms of exclusions from receiving social services.
Therefore , the core values in the pursuit of social work include compassion, service, social justice, dignity
and worth of the person, importance of human relationship, integrity, and competence (Du Bois & Miley,
2008; Segal, Gerdes & Steiner,2005).

1. Compassion can be considered as an important values for all humankind but in social work,
it occupies a special impetus to the functioning of the profession. It is the basis
for someone to go out and become a voice to the voiceless and a friend to the
people who need it most
2. Service as a value, direct social workers to go beyond performing a service for a pay and
allow them to be generous with their time. Their work borders on charity and
professional service. Without a special interest in pure service, much of the
social work could not be properly accomplished.
3. Social justice as a value for social workers, is a basis of their understanding of the need to
ensure that everyone get serviced and that everone get a share of what the
community possesses in material and non-material assests.
4. Dignity and Is a value that provides the determination and drive for social workers to seek
worth of the the marginalized in all forms without much regard as to whethere such problem
person is self-inflicted or socially imposed.At the heart of social work is the belief that
all human have dignity and worth regardless their acts and status in life.
5. Importance of as a value, makes it possible for soc workers do their job as most human
human situation they seek to address require collaborating with so many others
relationships professionals and individuals with a stake the issue. It is about relationships.
After all, it is in the context of relationship is the context of social
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 marginalization and inclusion.

6. Integrity is necessary in all human endeavors. In social work, nothing can be

accomplished without integrity. A social worker will have difficulties to be
accepted by the people to receive services and by those he/she needs to
collaborate with facilitate problem solving and empowerment of an individual
or a group.

7. Competence is a very important value for social work because it separates social care giving
from social work professional practice. Through special training, a social worker
becomes separated from all common sense, culture and religious-based care.

What I can do?

Post-test

Fill out the chart below with at least three principles of social work relative to
different aspects.

Principles of Social Work

Respect for Human Social Justice Professional Integrity

Rights
1. 1.
1.

2. 2.
2.

3. 3.
3.

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 Quarter 1 – Module 7
The Professionals and
Practitioners of Social Work

LESSON PROPER

In the previous chapters, you have developed an understanding as to what social work is,
the context and the basic concepts of social work, the goals and scope of the field, principles and
core values.
Social work as a profession has evolved over time but its enduring feature as a helping
profession is “the dual aims of helping individuals fit better into their environments, typically
known as micro practice, and changing the environment so that it works better for individuals,
referred to as the macro practice” (Segal, Gerdes, & Steiner 2005).

In this chapter, you will learn about the roles and functions and the competencies of
professionals and the practitioners in the discipline of social work.

Defining the Roles, Functions and Competencies of Social Work

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What is a Social Worker?
Cambridge Dictionary defines a social worker as a person who works for the social services or for
a private organization providing help and support for people who need it. But what or better yet
who is really a social worker.
The social work professionals and practitioners are aware that their profession is based on the
principles of human rights and social justice that serve to empower individual, groups and
communities to develop their full potential and well-being. The focus of intervention in social
work is the relationship between the individual and their immediate and wider social
environment. Particular emphasis is placed on meeting the needs of vulnerable and marginalized
individuals and groups (Social Workers Registration Board).
There are two main types of social workers: direct-service social workers, who help people solve
and cope with problems in their everyday lives, and clinical social workers, who diagnose and
treat mental, behavioural, and emotional issues. A social worker can work in a variety of
settings, including mental health clinics, schools, hospitals, and private practices.

A social worker working for the

government at Ground Zero,
Marawi City, Lanao del Norte, Phils.

DSWD social workers giving aid in Davao

(above). A social worker during inmate
counseling (below). - www.dswd.gov.ph

The Role of the Social Worker

Social workers work with a number of people at any one time. This is often referred to as a
caseload. Day-to-day work involves assessing people’s needs, strengths and wishes, working with
individuals and families directly to help them make changes and solve problems, organizing
support, making recommendations or referrals to other services and agencies, and keeping
detailed records.

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The problems social workers deal with are often rooted in social or emotional disadvantage,
discrimination, poverty or trauma. Social workers recognize the bigger picture affecting people’s
lives and work for a more equal and just society where human rights are respected and
protected.
In all roles, they are trained and skilled to bring about change. They are skilled in using relevant
legal powers to protect people’s rights and sometime balance the rights of everyone involved. This
combination of skills is unique to the social work profession.
The Functions of a Social Worker
These speak of main activities professionally performed by social workers:
1. Counsel with individuals, facilitate groups, work with families, refine agency procedures,
initiate new programs, lobby for legislative changes, organize community action, educate the
public, conduct needs assessments and evaluate practice and programs at various system levels
and targets of change or social transformation (counselor, initiator, facilitator, researcher,
speaker)
2. Enhance social functioning of individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities
(enabler)
3. Link clients systems with needed resources (broker)
4. Improve the operations of the social service delivery network (initiator/facilitator)
5. Promote social justice through development of social policy (advocate)
Competencies of Social Work
1. Handle case management with various clients and population groups
2. Perform direct practice depending on the needs of the client and the environment in which the
social worker operate
3. Conduct mediations among parties especially where one party is socially disadvantaged.
4. Make referrals to appropriate agencies and service sectors needed by the client.
5. In gerontological context, perform program planning and administration in numerous
settings. Gerontology is the scientific study of old age, the process of aging, and the particular
problems of old people.
6. In mental health setting, function as case managers, advocates, administrators, therapists
and to use research as basis for problem-solving and choice of intervention in empirically based
practice.
7. In school system, analyze the transactions between students, teachers, parents and the
school system.
8. In the judicial system, make the system more fair and beneficial to the convicted criminals
and their victims.
9. Pursue social change on behalf of vulnerable and oppressed individuals, eliminating economic
inequality and poverty.
Skills and personality qualities needed by social workers to perform their various roles:
1. Think critically
2. Build and sustain relationships

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3. Execute empowering processes
4. Use practical methods
5. Analyze policies
6. Communicate effectively
7. Strong cultural and intercultural competence
8. Good computer literacy
9. Conduct research
10. Do social planning
11. Perform crisis intervention
12. Sound time management

Test your knowledge.

In three sentences, give the difference between the roles and the functions of social workers.

List down the skills and competencies that a social worker needs to have in order to perform his
or her duties and responsibilities. You may shorten them into words or phrases to fit the spaces
below.

Skills

Competencies

MULTIPLE CHOICE:
Choose the best answer to the following questions. Encircle the letter of your answer.

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1. In the dual aims of social work, this is the practice which involves changing the environment
so that it works better for individuals.
a. Macro practice c. Social work
b. Micro practice d. Social worker
2. In the dual aims of social work, this is the practice which involves helping individuals fit
better into their environments.
a. Macro practice c. Social work
b. Micro practice d. Social worker
3. This is a person who works for the social services or for a private organization providing help
and support for people who need it.
a. Macro practice c. Social work
b. Micro practice d. Social worker
4. This professional’s role includes being enabler – enhance social functioning of individuals,
families, groups and organization and communities.
a. Macro practice c. Social work
b. Micro practice d. Social worker
5. This person performs several roles and functions in his profession in social work.
a. Macro practice c. Social work
b. Micro practice d. Social worker
6. Being a counsellor – able to counsel individuals and groups, work families and organizations
and assisting them to make better decisions – is one of the ____ of a social worker.
a. Role c. Skills
b. Function d. Competency
7. Being an enabler – enhance social functioning of individuals, families, groups and
organization and communities – is one of the ____ of a social worker.
a. Role c. Skills
b. Function d. Competency
8. Being a broker to link clients systems with needed resources is one of the ____ of a social
worker.
a. Role c. Skills
b. Function d. Competency

9. Being an initiator and coordinator to improve the operations of the social service delivery
network is one of the ____ of a social worker.
a. Role c. Skills
b. Function d. Competency
10. Being able to think critically is one of the ____ of a social worker.
a. Role c. Skills
b. Function d. Competency
11. Being able to build and sustain relationships is one of the ____ of a social worker.
a. Role c. Skills
b. Function d. Competency
12. Being able to communicate effectively is one of the ____ of a social worker
a. Role c. Skills
b. Function d. Competency
13. Being able to handle case management with various clients is one of the ____ of a social
worker
a. Role c. Skills
b. Function d. Competency

14. Being able to conduct mediation among parties is one of the ____ of a social worker
a. Role c. Skills
b. Function d. Competency
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15. Being able to perform program planning and administration for management of old people’s
needs is one of the ____ of a social worker
a. Role c. Skills
b. Function d. Competency

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