KIN 366 - FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
COMPLETE ANSWERS
Reluctance - ANSWER •clients' hesitancy to engage in the work demanded by the stages
and steps of the helping process.
Resistance - ANSWER •the push-back coming from clients when they feel they are being
coerced.
What is important to remember about reluctance and resistance? - ANSWER It takes a
LOT of courage to seek help!
Reluctance and resistance are a normal part of the process.
Ways clients exercise reluctance - ANSWER ±Clients might:
°talk about only safe or low-priority issues
°seem unsure of what they want
°set unrealistic goals and then use them as an excuse for not moving forward
°not work very hard at changing their behavior
°be slow to take responsibility for themselves
±They tend to blame others or the social settings and systems of their lives for their
troubles
,±They don't keep appointments or engage in counseling.
±Clients come "armored" against change to a greater or lesser degree.
Reasons for reluctance - ANSWER - Fear of intensity: Could be a lot of emotional
engagement if they do not have many other people in their circle. May not want to
engage in the emotional environment.
- Lack of trust: Clients do not want to share because they are afraid you may share.
- Fear of disorganization: Sharing can disorganize a person. Change hurts - there needs
to be some discomfort for change. Could be worried to share and learn about
themselves.
- Shame: May not want to admit things to themselves or others.
- Stigma: Based on perception.
- The cost of change: Might have to sever relationships which can be very painful.
- A loss of hope: To mitigate this, celebrating small wins may be best bet (i.e. chronic
pain).
"[The client] may feel that the façade he or she has constructed, no matter how much
,energy must be expended to keep it propped up, is still less... - ANSWER burdensome
than exploring the unknown."
When would we see resistance? - ANSWER - Reacting to feeling forced to do something
- Reacting to perceived mistreatment
- Feel cultural beliefs, values, norms are being violated.
- Involuntary or mandated clients.
What is healthy resistance? - ANSWER •REFRAME—resistance means client is standing
up for themselves and fighting back
- Clients have a backbone
Unhelpful responses to reluctance and resistance? - ANSWER •They accept their guilt
and try to appease the client.
•They become impatient and hostile and manifest these feelings either verbally or
nonverbally.
•They do nothing in the hope that the reluctance or the resistance will disappear.
•They lower their expectations of themselves and proceed with the helping process, but
in a halfhearted way.
•They try to become warmer and more accepting, hoping to win the client over by love.
•They allow themselves to be abused by clients, playing the role of a scapegoat.
•They hand the direction of the helping process over to the client.
•They give up.
, Helpers sometimes refer to reluctant or resistant as "difficult" clients and may even see
them as bad clients. When a helper uses the word 'difficult' to describe a client, what he
or she really means is: - ANSWER "I am having difficulty working with this person due to
either my own emotional issues or a lack of experience working with clients like this."
First step in working with resistance: - ANSWER Roll with it
**Focus on the change in behaviour rather than the person themselves
Principles in working with reluctance and resistance - ANSWER ±Explore your own
reluctance and resistance
±See some reluctance and resistance as normal - display of values
±Accept and work with the reluctance and resistance
±See reluctance as avoidance
±Examine the quality of your interventions
±Be realistic and flexible
±Establish a 'just society' with your client
±Help clients search for incentives for change
±Tap significant others as resources
±Employ clients as helpers
Strategies for reaching clients: - ANSWER •Avoid imposing a barrier between client and
helper
COMPLETE ANSWERS
Reluctance - ANSWER •clients' hesitancy to engage in the work demanded by the stages
and steps of the helping process.
Resistance - ANSWER •the push-back coming from clients when they feel they are being
coerced.
What is important to remember about reluctance and resistance? - ANSWER It takes a
LOT of courage to seek help!
Reluctance and resistance are a normal part of the process.
Ways clients exercise reluctance - ANSWER ±Clients might:
°talk about only safe or low-priority issues
°seem unsure of what they want
°set unrealistic goals and then use them as an excuse for not moving forward
°not work very hard at changing their behavior
°be slow to take responsibility for themselves
±They tend to blame others or the social settings and systems of their lives for their
troubles
,±They don't keep appointments or engage in counseling.
±Clients come "armored" against change to a greater or lesser degree.
Reasons for reluctance - ANSWER - Fear of intensity: Could be a lot of emotional
engagement if they do not have many other people in their circle. May not want to
engage in the emotional environment.
- Lack of trust: Clients do not want to share because they are afraid you may share.
- Fear of disorganization: Sharing can disorganize a person. Change hurts - there needs
to be some discomfort for change. Could be worried to share and learn about
themselves.
- Shame: May not want to admit things to themselves or others.
- Stigma: Based on perception.
- The cost of change: Might have to sever relationships which can be very painful.
- A loss of hope: To mitigate this, celebrating small wins may be best bet (i.e. chronic
pain).
"[The client] may feel that the façade he or she has constructed, no matter how much
,energy must be expended to keep it propped up, is still less... - ANSWER burdensome
than exploring the unknown."
When would we see resistance? - ANSWER - Reacting to feeling forced to do something
- Reacting to perceived mistreatment
- Feel cultural beliefs, values, norms are being violated.
- Involuntary or mandated clients.
What is healthy resistance? - ANSWER •REFRAME—resistance means client is standing
up for themselves and fighting back
- Clients have a backbone
Unhelpful responses to reluctance and resistance? - ANSWER •They accept their guilt
and try to appease the client.
•They become impatient and hostile and manifest these feelings either verbally or
nonverbally.
•They do nothing in the hope that the reluctance or the resistance will disappear.
•They lower their expectations of themselves and proceed with the helping process, but
in a halfhearted way.
•They try to become warmer and more accepting, hoping to win the client over by love.
•They allow themselves to be abused by clients, playing the role of a scapegoat.
•They hand the direction of the helping process over to the client.
•They give up.
, Helpers sometimes refer to reluctant or resistant as "difficult" clients and may even see
them as bad clients. When a helper uses the word 'difficult' to describe a client, what he
or she really means is: - ANSWER "I am having difficulty working with this person due to
either my own emotional issues or a lack of experience working with clients like this."
First step in working with resistance: - ANSWER Roll with it
**Focus on the change in behaviour rather than the person themselves
Principles in working with reluctance and resistance - ANSWER ±Explore your own
reluctance and resistance
±See some reluctance and resistance as normal - display of values
±Accept and work with the reluctance and resistance
±See reluctance as avoidance
±Examine the quality of your interventions
±Be realistic and flexible
±Establish a 'just society' with your client
±Help clients search for incentives for change
±Tap significant others as resources
±Employ clients as helpers
Strategies for reaching clients: - ANSWER •Avoid imposing a barrier between client and
helper
