When doing clinical social work, it is critical to explore the various identities of the patient. This is vital as it helps the social worker have a better understanding of the patient ’ s mental processes and how they interact with their surroundings. According to Wheeler (2017), gender, race, religion, nationality, class, and sexuality are some of the factors that create identity for people. As a social worker, it is critical to understand the identity of the clients in order to effectively address any issues, intersections, or biases that may arise as a result of those identities (Denby & Bowmer, 2013). Identity an assist a social worker in determining which tactics, treatments, or therapy styles are most appropriate for their client (Harlow, 2017). This reflection will look at the potential interactions and conflicts that may occur as a result of my personal identities and that of Gerry Kelly, my patient for the simulation.
Identities of the Client
Gerry Kelly is a 50-year-old African American man. Gerry used to work as a technician for the local transportation system, but he has been unemployed and homeless for the past ten years. He became a divorcee after parting from his wife owing to the death of their little daughter. During his periods of homelessness, he has been lived with his twin sister and her daughters on and off, and he has spoken about his persistent alcoholism. Gerry's identities according to the client information are male, black, middle-aged, unemployed, divorced, single, alcoholic, recovering addict, brother, and uncle.
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My identity
My name is (INSERT YOUR NAME) and I am 30-year-old Caucasian woman. I am a full-time graduate student at (INSERT UNIVERSITY NAME) and I work as a mental health counselor on an adolescent psychiatric ward. I am unmarried and have two sisters. My identities can be identified as being female, white, young, employed, unmarried, graduate student, daughter, and sister.
Perception of Identities
The way a certain characteristic is viewed or perceived by the patient, others, or society standards is referred to as identity perception. When I consider the various identities that Gerry and I have, there are a few stigmas and prejudices that instantly come to me based on society and cultural perspectives. To connect with and create trust with my client, Gerry, I need to be aware of the stigmas and prejudices that come with various identities as this will help to know how to treat and interact with the client so that they will not feel stigmatized or discriminated. This will increase the trust between me and the client and the client will be more open to share information with me which will go a long way in forming a therapeutic relationship. For instance, the age gap between Gerry and myself could result in an odd power dynamic because Gerry is much older than I am. Personally, I am still working on dispelling the notion that somebody older than me automatically possesses all of the power and authority. I can also understand Gerry struggling with taking direction or opening up to someone he considers to be younger than himself. Understanding his identity will provide me with better options on how to assist him.
Potential Conflicts in Differing Identities
Disparities in Race
As a social worker, I must not only pay special attention to the identities of my client and I but also to the possible conflicts that may occur as a result. As a white female, for example, I must be ready to understand the privileges that come with such identity an d be prepared for potential confrontation or Gerry's initial skepticism. As a black person, there is a potential that Gerry will not want to work with me because of previous unfavorable contacts he might have had with white people. Gerry may believe that because I am of a different race, I will be unable to connect with or understand him in the way that he requires in order to feel totally supported and capable of overcoming his alcoholism. Based on the racial injustice that black people have had at the hands of white people, I understand that Gerry may see me as a "white savior" type, which may deter him from working with me in any capacity.
Gerry may also be hesitant to get help because of the racial disparities that present in the health-care system. Even when access-related factors such as insurance status and money are controlled, racial minorities tend to receive lower-quality care. Cultural barriers and provider stereotypes are two of the many causes of racial health care disparities, thus, they should be eliminated by all means possible (Ayanian & Williams, 2007). Therefore, Gerry might feel that he will not get quality care from a non-black social worker and this race identity will build mistrust in Gerry ’ s pursuit for assistance.
I previously worked as a social worker in some elementary schools and I saw this kind of racial identity conflict on a daily basis. Almost all of the students I worked with were of color, and I was a white girl from the suburbs trying to teach non-violent and de-escalation techniques. Several students approached me and said I did not understand their feelings because I was a white girl who did not grow up in the same violent, abusive households as them. They assumed that because I am white, I could not possibly share their experiences. I knew this was not the case, but in many ways I understood their perceptions were fueled by my identity.
During that time, I understood how critical it was for me to not only accept all of my own identities, but also recognize the stigmas that each of them might have depending on the client I was dealing with at the moment. As a social worker, I need to understand my identities as well as those of my clients, in order to identify potential conflicts and alignments. Doing so will make my work easier and help me provide the best quality assistance to my clients.
Treatment Alternatives
After learning more about Gerry from the information presented, I believe that outpatient, therapy-based treatment is the best option. Gerry's life has been marked by tremendous losses, including the death of his daughter, divorce from his wife, and job loss. Because Gerry uses alcohol to dull his feelings, these losses can be traced back to his alcohol misuse. This would lead me to suggest that Gerry seek mental health counseling, as these underlying feelings are the root causes of his substance abuse. I would also suggest that Gerry join local AA meetings and alcoholism support organizations so that he may begin to build support networks outside of his sister's home and develop connections with people going through similar situations. I do not believe Gerry needs intensive rehab at this time because he can wean himself off heroin on his own, but I would continue to check his alcohol intake each time we meet and evaluate how these early treatment choices work for him.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I believe this was a really instructive and essential exercise. I feel that as social workers, we sometimes lose sight of our own personal identities because we are so focused on learning about the client as a patient that we overlook the importance of our own identities in the client-social worker interaction. If we wish to deliver effective therapy and non-biased services, we must realize the possible influence our identities can have on clients. I am much more aware of my identities and how they are, or can be, seen by others as a result of my experiences living overseas and working with people from different walks of life on a regular basis.
References
Ayanian, J. Z., & Williams, R. A. (2007). Principles for eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare. Eliminating Healthcare Disparities in America , 377-389. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-485-8_18
Denby, R. W., & Bowmer, A. (2013). Culture and identity in generic social work. Encyclopedia of Social Work . https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.013.890
Harlow, E. (2017). Constructing the social, constructing social work. Professional Identity and Social Work , 62-75. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315306957-5
Wheeler, J. (2017). Shaping identity? The professional socialisation of social work students. Professional Identity and Social Work , 183-196. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315306957-13
