Meeting Clients Where They Are

It was a common expression in social work school to "meet a client where they are" or "start where they client is". What does that really mean though? I used to think it refer to our language and how we spoke to those we worked with. We want to avoid professional jargon and use words that are readily understood. It also meant something else that I am struggling to find words to explain. This seemed to be an idea that was more assumed than practically taught. Over the years, I believe I've developed a more practical understanding of what it means to meet a client where they are. 

Home

This seems to be the most logical place, but it didn't dawn on me until I was in training supervision with a social worker who really believed in and practice home-based therapy. She explained that a client's home was really the place to get a better understanding of the client in their environment. It also cuts down on transportation issues which always seems to be mentioned as a top barrier to treatment. We can meet a client where they are by physically going to their home (however they define it). 

At least in my community, we seem to have a philosophy of build it and they will come. As we now see this does not work when their is a national pandemic. We need to be more mobile and flexible in how and where we meet clients. Telehealth has been great, but it's not for everyone. There are accessibility issues around technology that 

Then there is the ongoing issue of social workers just not wanting to do home-based. We need better advocacy and attention in getting social workers out into the community. 

Office 

Sometimes the home is not a space place for clients so they need to go to the office for services. We need places where we have control so we can make them safe for our clients. Not everyone client will feel comfortable with a social worker in their home. There is definitely a balance of home-based and office-based that needs to be made. 

But, can our offices meet clients where they are? I believe so. 

Include things in your office that reflects an element of the personal. Your office shouldn't be cold and sterile, but should help a client connect with you. It doesn't have to be a complete disclosure of your life, but some element that helps reflect who you are as a person. 

There are some cultural considerations to make here as well. If you work with a lot of Latinx clients, consider having some cultural elements reflected in your office. If you work with a lot of LGBTQ folx, consider having elements that reflect this group. Having elements in your office can help clients connect with the space and with you. 

Presentation

Recently in a supervision group I lead, a social worker said that we need need to present how the client feels comfortable. This makes total sense, but I don't think we often consider that in meeting a client where they are. Obviously, well maybe obviously, presentation includes our body language and attitude. We want to present in a way that is open and warm, and gives our full attention to the client in the moment; really to be present with that client. However, it could include the clothes we wear. Wearing clothing that reflects the client's comfort. If the majority of your clients are business professionals and wear that type of clothing then a social worker may do better in a suit and tie, but if the clients a social worker is working with are not wearing what society deems as professional attire then the clothes social workers wear should be more reflective of what the clients they are seeing wear. 

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Starting where a client is and meeting them where they are has to be more than lip-service. It is a multi-faceted approach. Social workers need to consider all they ways this can be done. I've listed a few here that just gives a deeper perspective than the often overused phrases. Social work schools need to consider how they are preparing the workforce to go out into the community and see clients in their homes. Insurances need more robust reimbursement so social workers can go out into the communities where their clients live. We have to move beyond office-based and utilize all the ways to meet the client where they are. 

Identifying as a Professional Social Worker

The Counsel on Social Work Education has developed Advanced Social Work Practice in Clinical Settings. I find this super helpful when providing supervision for those working on their independent license because it helps differentiate between advanced social work competencies and basic ones. 

Under Educational Policy 2.1.1- Identify as a professional social worker and conduct oneself accordingly, the first advanced competency is to readily identify as a social work professional. I've been thinking about this for some time because on first glance, the competency seems to repeat the educational policy. The clear distinction between the two is the word readily. 

I didn't want to take the time to define readily because I think that often times it is used to add some length without adding content. In this case however, a simple Google search defines readily as without hesitation or reluctance. This provides more depth into this competency of readily identifying as a social work professional. 

Often times, I see social workers identify themselves as anything but a social worker. I often hear the terms therapist or clinical therapist for social workers in private practice or other mental health settings. Some social workers tend define themselves by their role or job description such as case manager or discharge planner. This begs the question, why? Why do social workers not say they are social workers? There are probably a few reasons. 

1. Describing Role

    Let's be honest, the public can be very confused by what social workers are and what they do. Sharing the primary job function may be helpful for someone a social worker is working with to understand what they are doing. A social worker may enter a patient's room and identify as a discharge planner to allow that person to know that they are there to to plan for discharge. It can also help a person understand the difference between their case manager and therapist who may both be social workers. 

2. Stigma

    Another reason social workers may not readily identify as a social worker is because there is some stigma within the profession. Perhaps people do not want to associate with the profession or know that some people do not think highly of social workers, so they say they are something else. Social workers often get a bad reputation by some who misrepresent themselves as social workers. Some people believe that social workers just take kids away or refer people to resources. To not associate with the negative views toward the profession, some may feel it's better to say something along the lines of what they do. 

Readily Identifying...

As someone who provides training supervision, this is a topic I like to bring up with those I supervise. It is an advanced competency, but as a professional social workers who do quality work I want those I supervise to be proud of being a social worker. I challenge them to say "I'm a social worker who provides therapy" rather than just identifying as a therapist. Even in my personal life I tell people I am a social worker knowing they will automatically think I work directly with clients. I want to help the public understand the depth and breadth of social work so I explain that not all social workers work with clients and that I work in administration. In all of my roles I am a social worker first. Some jobs we take as social workers may be appropriate for many different types of professional backgrounds, however if you have a social work education you bring that with you to any job. 

As professionals, we have a responsibility educate the public and other professionals on the profession of social worker. I am an ambassador for the profession and need to conduct myself accordingly. We can help reduce stigma against the profession when professional, competent social workers readily identify as such.