I have to admit, I didn't expect social work studies to be so full of "theoretical frameworks". At this point in time, I am incapable of articulating how these frameworks come into play, cos in my attempt to read the textbooks, I've had difficulty keeping my eyes open!
The best I've grasped is that social work is not just a heart-to-heart talk with your client (yes! that's a jargonistic term I've to get used to!). It is very much a science as well, as you have to consider how social systems and the individual interact. And you also look at research that others have done and incorporate their results into your case work, while taking into account the uniqueness of your client's situation, values and problems.
Jumble jumble jumble. It's all a blur now. I hate theories. But I guess they are important because at least they give a tried and proven method of dealing with things. And there has to be a systematic way of handling cases right?
I was talking to little miss belle on my way home from school one night, and I told her I'm so used to getting things done straight to the point that it's now hard to have to go through this mountain of history, research and theories just to set the basic foundation for my future practice.
In journalism, you interview, structure your story and vomit the facts out point-blank. No frills please, thank you very much. Is it just the Singaporean in me? Or do I just have to get used to the idea of in-depth study again?
I've realised too, that I've changed. I'm not as focused as I used to be. Or is it that my classmates are now mature individuals who cherish every second they spend in class after having rushed there from work?
There are now others who buy textbooks faster than I do, prepare their lessons better than I do, and reach class earlier than I do. I actually got one class mixed up with another the other day and I ended up being half an hour late for it. Leo said it was so uncharacteristic of me to be so, well, "tardy".
I don't know. Have I changed? Loosened up? Take things easier?
A lesson on "knowing yourself" has also got me thinking. There are basically four types of selves:
(1) open self (what you and your friends know about you)
(2) blind self (what your friends know about you that you don't know)
(3) hidden self (what you know about yourself that your friends don't know
(4) unknown self (what you and your friends both don't know about you, which is of cos, something you can never answer!)
The idea is to broaden your open self, so that you are aware of the values and beliefs you hold, as these affect how you interact with the client. I think I should name my blind self "the self I deny", because seriously, I know there are traits about myself that I'm aware of, but that I try to deny are present.
This lesson also got me thinking about experiences that still haunt me, and may affect my practice in future. Namely, my grandpa's unnatural death. I'm still plagued by guilt. I think maybe I need some therapy?
One lecturer actually mentioned that if a person has suicidal tendencies, he should never be left alone for 24hours. If no one can take care of him, he should be admitted to a hospital. I wasn't aware of this, I thought my grandpa was joking, and now he's dead.
Then again, what could I have done? He would never admit himself into a hospital, I know for sure. And here comes the other dilemma I hate to face - what do you do when someone you love doesn't want to help himself?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
what do you do when someone you love doesn't want to help himself?
Very little, I'm afraid. Ultimately, it's his life and the responsibility to do something about it lies with him, not you. You can advise, prod and nag and whatever, but at the end of the day, if he doesn't want others to help him, nor does he want to help himself, there's nothing you can do about it.
One of the things that I learnt in counselling was that at the end of the day, the final decision lies in the client/patient/whatever.
And I guess suicidal intentions are often very difficult (especially for the people close to the person) to gauge, because we often perceive others through our own history and experience with them, and if that person had said something like that before but didn't go through it, chances are that it'd be the same next time. But it's very difficult to tell, so nowadays most doctors err on the side of caution and dump into hospital anyone who says that he is feeling suicidal.
But I don't think that's something you could have known then. Not many people knew (or know) about such things, most prefer to sweep it under the carpet and pretend that it doesn't exist. I guess the lack of awareness made things more difficult. It's better nowadays, given all the 'publicity', and there's more help and awareness. Even so, if a person is intent on ending his life, nothing short of a miracle can stop him.
*hug*
aime: hey thnks :)
yar i know that there's nothing you can do if someone doesn't wanna help himself. but i guess it's jus frustrating. extremely frustrating. i should just learn to leave it in God's hands yar?
It's darn frustrating, I agree. But yes, we have to learn to leave it to God's hands. :) We are finite, but He's infinite.
Prayer can move mountains, and if they won't listen, God will. I feel for your pain for your granddad, but don't get saddled by guilt. Ultimately, we choose life or death.
my grandpa chose to end his life too, despite the fact that we tried to be with him as much as we could.
he was juz too grievened by the fact that my granny had gone off first, without him. he loved her juz too much.
it's a hard decision that we had come to accept after all these years. even though i would still feel the guilt and remorse now and then, for not being able to anything to prevent it from happening.
Post a Comment