, PLEASE USE THIS DOCUMENT AS A GUIDE TO ANSWER YOUR ASSIGNMENT
Case Study
Faith (a pseudonym) is 35 years old and has recently undergone significant life changes. She has faced
a divorce, after 12 years of marriage (husband is 40), lost her job because the company is downsizing,
and is grappling with feelings of loneliness and depression. These changes also impact her two
children, aged 8 (son) and 10 (daughter). The maternal grandparents have passed away. The father is
employed, but he is not contributing financially to meeting the needs of the children. The dynamics
within the family have changed profoundly, resulting in heightened stress for Faith and her children.
Assignment Introduction
This assignment focuses on the case study of Faith, a 35-year-old woman navigating significant life
changes, including a recent divorce, job loss, and the emotional toll of these events on herself and
her two children. Faith's situation is complicated by her ex-husband's lack of financial contribution to
their children's well-being, as well as her struggles with loneliness and depression. The impact of
these circumstances on Faith's family dynamics and the broader implications of legal and social
frameworks, such as the Maintenance Act 99 of 1998, will be examined in this assignment. The
empowerment approach will also be discussed as a potential method for helping Faith address her
challenges, focusing on her strengths, fostering independence, and building support networks to
improve her family’s overall well-being.
1. How will you use empathy to build respect and trust in a helping relationship with Faith?
To build respect and trust with Faith, I will use empathy by actively listening to her experiences of
divorce, job loss, and loneliness, giving her my full, undivided attention. I will reflect her feelings
back to her to show understanding, using verbal and non-verbal communication to convey genuine
care. By distinguishing empathy from sympathy, I will validate her emotions without pity. Adopting
a person-centered approach, I will see her world through her eyes, without judgment. Through these
efforts, I aim to create a safe, respectful, and trusting helping relationship.
2. Which (any five) different types of listening can you implement to ensure that you actively
pay attention to Faith’s situation during the helping process? Provide practical examples of how
each type of listening will be used.
Active Listening
Active listening involves showing interest and encouraging Faith to continue speaking. I will use
verbal and non-verbal cues such as saying, "That sounds really difficult," while maintaining eye
contact, nodding, and keeping an open posture. If Faith hesitates to share her feelings of loneliness, I
might gently encourage her by saying, "It's okay to talk about feeling lonely. What has that been like
for you?"
Empathetic Listening
Empathetic listening focuses on understanding Faith’s feelings and demonstrating empathy. When
Faith shares her sadness about the divorce, I would respond, "I can only imagine how painful it must
be to go through a divorce after 12 years," acknowledging not just her words but her emotional
experience.
Case Study
Faith (a pseudonym) is 35 years old and has recently undergone significant life changes. She has faced
a divorce, after 12 years of marriage (husband is 40), lost her job because the company is downsizing,
and is grappling with feelings of loneliness and depression. These changes also impact her two
children, aged 8 (son) and 10 (daughter). The maternal grandparents have passed away. The father is
employed, but he is not contributing financially to meeting the needs of the children. The dynamics
within the family have changed profoundly, resulting in heightened stress for Faith and her children.
Assignment Introduction
This assignment focuses on the case study of Faith, a 35-year-old woman navigating significant life
changes, including a recent divorce, job loss, and the emotional toll of these events on herself and
her two children. Faith's situation is complicated by her ex-husband's lack of financial contribution to
their children's well-being, as well as her struggles with loneliness and depression. The impact of
these circumstances on Faith's family dynamics and the broader implications of legal and social
frameworks, such as the Maintenance Act 99 of 1998, will be examined in this assignment. The
empowerment approach will also be discussed as a potential method for helping Faith address her
challenges, focusing on her strengths, fostering independence, and building support networks to
improve her family’s overall well-being.
1. How will you use empathy to build respect and trust in a helping relationship with Faith?
To build respect and trust with Faith, I will use empathy by actively listening to her experiences of
divorce, job loss, and loneliness, giving her my full, undivided attention. I will reflect her feelings
back to her to show understanding, using verbal and non-verbal communication to convey genuine
care. By distinguishing empathy from sympathy, I will validate her emotions without pity. Adopting
a person-centered approach, I will see her world through her eyes, without judgment. Through these
efforts, I aim to create a safe, respectful, and trusting helping relationship.
2. Which (any five) different types of listening can you implement to ensure that you actively
pay attention to Faith’s situation during the helping process? Provide practical examples of how
each type of listening will be used.
Active Listening
Active listening involves showing interest and encouraging Faith to continue speaking. I will use
verbal and non-verbal cues such as saying, "That sounds really difficult," while maintaining eye
contact, nodding, and keeping an open posture. If Faith hesitates to share her feelings of loneliness, I
might gently encourage her by saying, "It's okay to talk about feeling lonely. What has that been like
for you?"
Empathetic Listening
Empathetic listening focuses on understanding Faith’s feelings and demonstrating empathy. When
Faith shares her sadness about the divorce, I would respond, "I can only imagine how painful it must
be to go through a divorce after 12 years," acknowledging not just her words but her emotional
experience.
