Last week in class we discussed the use of self in community practice. The chapter and class discussion centered on the importance of critical thinking and the necessary skills to be an effective community practitioner. Some of these essential skills include coordination and advocacy, active listening, counseling, assertiveness and self awareness. Chapter 8 in Community Practice, (Hardcastle & Powers, 2004, pp. 209) points out that community connections are essential to practice. Community work requires that the practitioner have vision of the communal life and the collective good. When working in a tribal community, connections are important when trying to facilitate changes. When I read this section I immediately thought about my role as an intern and how the work I do is very complex and is a huge balancing act. If I don’t practice awareness and critical thinking in the work that I am doing, I could sever my connections in the community which could lead me to not being able to not practice in the community. Interconnectedness is an important cultural value. This awareness includes how you respond to others, awareness of self, personal baggage, personal strengths, belief systems, judgments, examination of power, and public behavior (Hardcastle & Powers, 2004, pp. 209-215). Throughout my last two years of my education and internship I have focused on developing my personal awareness. Higher education and being a helper has allowed me to reexamine my beliefs, judgments, and my personal baggage.
Ann Hartman, the former editor of Social Work, reminds us that we can tune out the community and that we have trained our emotions and minds (Hardcastle & Powers, 2004, pp. 209-210). Her worry is that practitioners will use “psychic numbing to protect ourselves from the pain of seeing what is going on around us”. I agree with Ann and with Prof. Dr. Michael Yellow Bird that we will easily resort to “psychic numbing” with the amount of the world struggles and problems occurring. I see this taking place in my community. For many it is easier to not address or deal with the many social problems that we have as a tribal community. I also understand how community can use “psychic numbing” to protect themselves. For some it is just easier to turn a blind eye to a whole communal problem like alcoholism vs helping one individual with a dui. Tribal communities are dealing with generations of pain and hopelessness resulting from genocide and oppression.
Another important skill that came up in the use of self in community practice, is disclosure. As community workers it is important to think about self disclosure and its purpose in community work (Hardcastle & Powers, 2004, pp. 214). This is the sharing or personal experiences in a professional situation. I believe that self disclosure is necessary and can be beneficial. I think it is important to set limits on personal disclosure. When working in a rural or tribal community it is difficult to not share your personal experiences. Many times community members may already be aware or think that they are aware of your own personal experiences. Sharing personal experiences at the appropriate level and time can aid in developing trust and communication. It is important to know that the worker understands the issues of the community. self disclousre of a similar experience is one way of expressing understanding> From a community perspective, I have appreciated when community workers have self disclosed; it showed that the worker understood the community needs and issues. I agree that are some dangers with self disclosure.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I agree that self disclosure is important. It keeps the community worker part of the community. But, it only works when you keep working on your own baggage and your own story so that when you listen to others, your stories do not become more important than the members of the community you work with. My own experience is that self disclosure in community work is very tricky. It is hard sometimes to know when you have crossed that line, when your story becomes the most important, because you haven't been taking care of your own needs elsewhere. That's when you lose credability as a helper. That little voice inside, sometimes tells you that you aren't listening, or you realize you missed much of someone's conversation. I think we have to pick and choose our self disclosure very carefully so that it is effective in building relationhips and not destructive to those relationships. Does that make sense??
ReplyDeleteWow. That study concerning donations for one vs. two children and our propensity to even "numb" at such a low number was heavy for me. I will remember this study from now on while shuffling along the floor of Sempervirens and when walking into folks homes at campsites. Thanks for posting this and for giving me another life lesson....Know that it has meant a lot and definitely widened my "swatch."
ReplyDeleteGreat post! That study concerning donations for one child vs two and our propensity of numbing even at that low of a number was very heavy for me. I will remember this when shuffling the floor at Sempervirens or when walking into camping resident's sites to be sure. Thanks so much for another life lesson and know that it meant a lot.
ReplyDelete