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Step 1
Read the following three scenarios, which are based on the scenarios and characters in West 47th Street, the film that you watched in Module 1. The time stamp for each scenario is provided so that you can go back and review the relevant section of the film, if needed.
Scenario 1 (7:42)
Frances (whose gender identity is female) is attending a meeting in which participants are asked to introduce themselves at the beginning. The meeting facilitator, seeing that Frances’ first name is Kenneth, nominates “Kenneth” to speak. After Frances’ explanation of address (Frances), the facilitator persists in using “Kenneth”, and Frances finally explains that the name Kenneth was “a mistake.” Imagine that Frances has later related this humiliating incident to you, her new social worker. How would you use empathy to build a stronger relationship with Frances?
Scenario 2 (9:25)
Zeinab (a depressed woman with a significant trauma history) is overjoyed yet a bit teary when being shown her new home, after a period of being homeless. She comments: “A place to live is too much…to make a person…be clean…and be happy. And it’s too hard for people living in the street. Very hard.” If you were the social worker present in this interaction, how would you express empathy while still returning the focus to the hopeful prospect of better times on the horizon?
Scenario 3 (15.42)
Fitzroy (a Jamaican man with schizophrenia) has ongoing ambivalence about taking psychiatric medications to control his symptoms. He suggests to his worker an alternative a folk remedy that is commonly used in Jamaica. He becomes increasingly irritated as he explains to the social worker that the pamphlet accompanying the folk medicine indicates that it can be used for “nerve” problems. How would you show cultural sensitivity and empathy for his perspective while still maintaining your own opinion that psychiatric medication is your preferred treatment option?
Step 2
From the scenarios presented in Step 1:
Select one of the clients.
Using Walsh (2013) Chapter 5 (attached) and other readings listed in Readings and Resources as a guide, post to the discussion thread a video recorded 30–60 second empathic response that you think might help engage and build a stronger relationship with that client
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