Exam (elaborations)
BSW3701 Assignment 1 Memo | Due 9 May
2025
Course
Case Work: Theories, Approaches and Models (BSW3701)
Institution
University Of South Africa (Unisa)
Book
Decolonizing Pathways Towards Integrative Healing in Social Work
BSW3701 Assignment 1 Memo | Due 9 May 2025. All questions fully
answered.
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. 1) How will you use empathy to build respect and
trust in a helping relationship with Faith? [2]
To build respect and trust in a helping relationship with Faith, I would use empathy by:
1. Active Listening: I would give Faith my full attention, listen attentively to her concerns
without interruption, and acknowledge her feelings. For example, saying, "It sounds like
you're going through a really tough time, and that must be incredibly overwhelming,"
shows that I understand her struggles and validate her emotional experience.
2. Non-Judgmental Support: I would approach the situation with an open and non-
judgmental attitude, showing understanding and offering support without making
assumptions. By saying something like, "It's understandable that you're feeling this way
given everything that's happened," I can create a safe space where Faith feels heard and
respected, encouraging her to trust me and feel comfortable sharing more.
Empathy helps establish a connection where Faith knows that her feelings and experiences are
acknowledged, which builds respect and trust in the 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. [5] 3) During the intervention process, social workers play multiple
roles. As an enabler, how will you assist Faith in articulating her needs? [3]
2) Five Different Types of Listening to Ensure Active Attention to Faith’s
Situation
1. Active Listening:
o Practical Example: I would fully engage with Faith by nodding, maintaining eye
contact, and using verbal cues like "I understand" or "Please, tell me more about
that." This type of listening ensures that Faith knows I am not only hearing her
words but also genuinely focusing on her emotions and underlying concerns.
2. Empathetic Listening:
o Practical Example: When Faith expresses feelings of loneliness and depression, I
would listen with empathy, reflecting her emotions by saying, "It must be really
hard to navigate everything on your own. I can hear how much this is affecting
you." This helps validate her feelings and fosters a sense of connection.
3. Reflective Listening:
o Practical Example: I would repeat or paraphrase what Faith says to ensure I
understand her correctly and show that I am paying attention. For instance, if she
says, "I'm struggling to manage everything," I might reflect, "You're feeling
overwhelmed with all the changes and responsibilities you're facing, and it's
taking a toll on you."
4. Critical Listening:
o Practical Example: While listening, I would also analyze the situation carefully
and ask follow-up questions to clarify important points. For example, after
hearing about her job loss, I might ask, "How has the loss of your job impacted
your daily routine and well-being?" This helps gather essential information for
understanding the deeper issues Faith is facing.
5. Non-Verbal Listening:
o Practical Example: Since much of communication happens through body
language, I would pay attention to Faith's non-verbal cues, like her posture, facial
expressions, and tone of voice, to gauge how she truly feels about the situation,
even when she might not explicitly say it. If she looks anxious or downcast, I
might say, "You seem to be carrying a lot of tension in your body. Is there
something specific that's weighing on you?"
By implementing these different types of listening, I ensure that Faith feels truly heard,
understood, and supported, which is essential for building trust and fostering an effective helping
relationship.
, 3) As an Enabler, How Will You Assist Faith in Articulating Her Needs?
As an enabler, my role is to help Faith express her needs clearly and confidently. Here’s how I
would assist her in this process:
1. Create a Safe and Supportive Environment:
o I would ensure Faith feels comfortable and safe in sharing her thoughts and
feelings without judgment. This means providing a confidential space, listening
attentively, and showing that her emotions and experiences are valid. For
example, I might say, "This is a space where you can express yourself freely, and
whatever you share will remain between us."
2. Ask Open-Ended Questions:
o I would use open-ended questions to prompt Faith to think deeply about her needs
and articulate them. For example, I might ask, "What do you feel would help you
manage everything you're going through right now?" This allows her to reflect
and open up about specific aspects of her situation, such as emotional, financial,
or practical needs.
3. Validate Her Experiences:
o I would acknowledge Faith’s feelings of frustration or loneliness, helping her
recognize that her struggles are normal given her circumstances. By saying,
"Given everything you've been through, it’s completely understandable to feel
overwhelmed," I can encourage her to identify what support she needs, knowing
that her emotions are valid.
4. Clarify and Prioritize Needs:
o Once Faith begins to articulate her needs, I would help her prioritize them based
on urgency. For example, if Faith is struggling financially, emotionally, and with
parenting, I might say, "Let's focus first on finding financial resources or support
systems, and then we can explore ways to cope with your emotional challenges."
This helps her gain clarity on where to focus her energy and seek help.
5. Empower Her to Take Action:
o I would help Faith feel empowered to take action on her needs. This could involve
brainstorming potential solutions or connecting her with resources like job
support, counseling, or community services. For example, "Would you be open to
looking into local job programs or support for single parents to help with your
children’s needs?" This gives her the tools and confidence to start addressing her
needs.
By assisting Faith in articulating her needs, I can help her gain a sense of control and agency
over her circumstances, leading to a more empowered and effective approach to the challenges
she faces.
4) Social workers have a variety of instruments at their disposal while
conducting family assessments. Family assessments are used to help
families understand their problems, including what is working and what isn't.
BSW3701 Assignment 1 Memo | Due 9 May
2025
Course
Case Work: Theories, Approaches and Models (BSW3701)
Institution
University Of South Africa (Unisa)
Book
Decolonizing Pathways Towards Integrative Healing in Social Work
BSW3701 Assignment 1 Memo | Due 9 May 2025. All questions fully
answered.
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. 1) How will you use empathy to build respect and
trust in a helping relationship with Faith? [2]
To build respect and trust in a helping relationship with Faith, I would use empathy by:
1. Active Listening: I would give Faith my full attention, listen attentively to her concerns
without interruption, and acknowledge her feelings. For example, saying, "It sounds like
you're going through a really tough time, and that must be incredibly overwhelming,"
shows that I understand her struggles and validate her emotional experience.
2. Non-Judgmental Support: I would approach the situation with an open and non-
judgmental attitude, showing understanding and offering support without making
assumptions. By saying something like, "It's understandable that you're feeling this way
given everything that's happened," I can create a safe space where Faith feels heard and
respected, encouraging her to trust me and feel comfortable sharing more.
Empathy helps establish a connection where Faith knows that her feelings and experiences are
acknowledged, which builds respect and trust in the 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. [5] 3) During the intervention process, social workers play multiple
roles. As an enabler, how will you assist Faith in articulating her needs? [3]
2) Five Different Types of Listening to Ensure Active Attention to Faith’s
Situation
1. Active Listening:
o Practical Example: I would fully engage with Faith by nodding, maintaining eye
contact, and using verbal cues like "I understand" or "Please, tell me more about
that." This type of listening ensures that Faith knows I am not only hearing her
words but also genuinely focusing on her emotions and underlying concerns.
2. Empathetic Listening:
o Practical Example: When Faith expresses feelings of loneliness and depression, I
would listen with empathy, reflecting her emotions by saying, "It must be really
hard to navigate everything on your own. I can hear how much this is affecting
you." This helps validate her feelings and fosters a sense of connection.
3. Reflective Listening:
o Practical Example: I would repeat or paraphrase what Faith says to ensure I
understand her correctly and show that I am paying attention. For instance, if she
says, "I'm struggling to manage everything," I might reflect, "You're feeling
overwhelmed with all the changes and responsibilities you're facing, and it's
taking a toll on you."
4. Critical Listening:
o Practical Example: While listening, I would also analyze the situation carefully
and ask follow-up questions to clarify important points. For example, after
hearing about her job loss, I might ask, "How has the loss of your job impacted
your daily routine and well-being?" This helps gather essential information for
understanding the deeper issues Faith is facing.
5. Non-Verbal Listening:
o Practical Example: Since much of communication happens through body
language, I would pay attention to Faith's non-verbal cues, like her posture, facial
expressions, and tone of voice, to gauge how she truly feels about the situation,
even when she might not explicitly say it. If she looks anxious or downcast, I
might say, "You seem to be carrying a lot of tension in your body. Is there
something specific that's weighing on you?"
By implementing these different types of listening, I ensure that Faith feels truly heard,
understood, and supported, which is essential for building trust and fostering an effective helping
relationship.
, 3) As an Enabler, How Will You Assist Faith in Articulating Her Needs?
As an enabler, my role is to help Faith express her needs clearly and confidently. Here’s how I
would assist her in this process:
1. Create a Safe and Supportive Environment:
o I would ensure Faith feels comfortable and safe in sharing her thoughts and
feelings without judgment. This means providing a confidential space, listening
attentively, and showing that her emotions and experiences are valid. For
example, I might say, "This is a space where you can express yourself freely, and
whatever you share will remain between us."
2. Ask Open-Ended Questions:
o I would use open-ended questions to prompt Faith to think deeply about her needs
and articulate them. For example, I might ask, "What do you feel would help you
manage everything you're going through right now?" This allows her to reflect
and open up about specific aspects of her situation, such as emotional, financial,
or practical needs.
3. Validate Her Experiences:
o I would acknowledge Faith’s feelings of frustration or loneliness, helping her
recognize that her struggles are normal given her circumstances. By saying,
"Given everything you've been through, it’s completely understandable to feel
overwhelmed," I can encourage her to identify what support she needs, knowing
that her emotions are valid.
4. Clarify and Prioritize Needs:
o Once Faith begins to articulate her needs, I would help her prioritize them based
on urgency. For example, if Faith is struggling financially, emotionally, and with
parenting, I might say, "Let's focus first on finding financial resources or support
systems, and then we can explore ways to cope with your emotional challenges."
This helps her gain clarity on where to focus her energy and seek help.
5. Empower Her to Take Action:
o I would help Faith feel empowered to take action on her needs. This could involve
brainstorming potential solutions or connecting her with resources like job
support, counseling, or community services. For example, "Would you be open to
looking into local job programs or support for single parents to help with your
children’s needs?" This gives her the tools and confidence to start addressing her
needs.
By assisting Faith in articulating her needs, I can help her gain a sense of control and agency
over her circumstances, leading to a more empowered and effective approach to the challenges
she faces.
4) Social workers have a variety of instruments at their disposal while
conducting family assessments. Family assessments are used to help
families understand their problems, including what is working and what isn't.
