Characteristics of an Effective Helper

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There are many attributes to being an effective helper. An effective helper, in essence, should be genuinely caring, have a calm manner, have a sense of humor, be a clear thinker, be highly dependable, honest, use common sense, be objective and not subjective, be self-confident, be self-aware, have a positive attitude toward life, have respect for others, exhume warmth, show flexibility and openness (Mental Health of Refugees, 1996). These are the basic characteristics of an effective helper. Above all, an effective helper must completely respect the persons they are trying to help, no matter what their values and beliefs are (Burger, 2011). You must recognize the differences between you and the person you are helping, and you must respect these differences (Mental Health of Refugees, 1996). An effective helper should not be the judge of another person’s life, but think of it as being invited to or asked to help a person. The helper should empathize with the person they are helping and not assume that they know how a person feels. The helper should understand that each person is u...

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