Have you ever felt stuck or frustrated with a client who had a different background from you? Did they agree to a plan of action, but didn’t follow through and execute the plan? Did they outright resist your suggestions? Client’s ambivalence and resistance can be attributed to the lack of safety that they feel with their providers, particularly when they are not part of the dominant culture. This can lead to a cascade effect that will slow down the process; increase refusal to cooperate; result in poor outcomes for the professional; and discouragement and burnout are more likely.
Providers who work with a diverse population, whether it be racial identity, religion, or sexual identity, must meet the client where they are so that the client may begin to develop an intrinsic motivation that aligns with the providers expertise. Clients who feel heard, understood, and not judged are more likely to trust their provider and work through their resistance. In this workshop, we will explore interventions to help you work with a diverse population to increase trust, safety, and collaboration. We will use experiential exercises; present current understanding of diversity; and work with case study materials to enhance client engagement.
Learning Objectives:
This workshop is designed to help you:
- Describe various theoretical approaches to work through cognitive dissonance when your client’s attitude, belief, or behavior differ from your belief.
- Identify 2 strategies to create a collaborative partnership with clients to improve client motivation and enhance outcome.
- Identify 3 steps to quickly repair a relationship when there is a rupture in the relationship using role play.