Student Social Worker Observation

This process recording will reflect an observation that the student social worker discover while working with a client. The student social worker has been visiting with this client for the past seven weeks and has been attempting to establish trust and build rapport with this client to get her to open up more. Specifically, this week the student social worker was successful in executing her strategies to allow the client to feel comfort enough to express her true emotions.

This client is an African American female, 90, diagnosed with cancer; the doctors have not found a point of origin for her type of cancer but have referred her to hospice services. This client has been on services since the end of August and has been through many changes; she left her home and has been placed in a facility for safety precautions and has had difficulties with the nursing staff since her arrival. Although, the student social worker visits weekly with this client she always seems to complain when asked about the events of her day.

Particularly, this visit intent was to just offer support to the client to offer conversation and companionship. Intentionally, the student social worker wanted to discuss with the client about her meals and to see if she would like to get up into her chair

to ride throughout the building for a change of scenery. But, at arrival the client was asleep; the student social worker waited a few moments and the client woke up and she acknowledged her. The client expressed that she had just received a bath and wanted to take a nap because she was tired, the student social worker expressed that she could rest and that she would not interrupt her sleep.
After attempting to fall asleep, the client opened her eyes and ask the student social worker if she would like to read to her. As the student social worker agreed to read to the client, asking what she would like for her to read and she responded a few bible scriptures. However, the student social worker didn’t physically have her bible with her so she expressed to the client about an application on her cellular phone that she could use to read to her. As she proceeded to read a few scriptures to the client she noticed a change in the client’s mood.
At the beginning of the session the client was not in the best mood, she complained about not feeling well but didn’t emphasis to having any pain. But, one the student social began to read scriptures the client’s mood change drastically. Instead of complaining like she normally would the client seem to be a peace and resting, even asking the student social worker to read more scriptures. This allowed the student social worker to draw a conclusion that religious beliefs in this case study can have a positive impact on a client’s mood.
As an assessment for this client, the student social worker was able to use the bio-psycho-social-spiritual model to better identify this client strengths.

Since this emphasized strong Christian she was able alter the client’s mood by reading bible scripture. Through this process it allowed the client reflect on her relationship with Christ and gave her a sense of hope in the strength of their relationship. As for my personal experience with this client I am a Christian so when asked to read a few scriptures I did not feel any discomfort in this situation. I understand that a future social worker it will be my responsible to remain open-minded to future client that may have different religious

beliefs.
For my next session, I plan on continuing to build a closer relationship with client. While interning with hospice it my responsible to ensure that the client comfort during this stage in her life so if reading bible scriptures make her comfortable I will continue with that. In doing so, I will continue to learn more about client and her life experiences, it will be interesting to hear her life story and compare the differences she experienced the ninety years of her life.