Portrait of the “Ideal Portrait of the “Ideal Helper”Helper”

Is a Helping Profession One for Is a Helping Profession One for Me? Me?

It’s good to imagine the ideal helper, but most helpers It’s good to imagine the ideal helper, but most helpers don’t meet all the characteristicsdon’t meet all the characteristics

It would be frustrating to try to be the “ideal helper”It would be frustrating to try to be the “ideal helper”

You can, however, improve existing skills and learn new You can, however, improve existing skills and learn new onesones

Here’s what an “ideal helper” might look likeHere’s what an “ideal helper” might look like

The “Ideal helper”The “Ideal helper”

You honestly assess your own strengths and You honestly assess your own strengths and weaknessesweaknesses

You recognize that who you are as a person is your most You recognize that who you are as a person is your most valuable toolvaluable tool

You have an openness to learning. You have an openness to learning.

The “Ideal helper”The “Ideal helper”

You realize what you do not know, and are willing to fill You realize what you do not know, and are willing to fill these gapsthese gaps

You have the interpersonal skills needed to establish You have the interpersonal skills needed to establish good contact with other people, and you can apply these good contact with other people, and you can apply these skills in a helping relationshipskills in a helping relationship

You genuinely care for people you help, and this caring You genuinely care for people you help, and this caring is expressed by doing what is in their best interest – not is expressed by doing what is in their best interest – not your best interestyour best interest

The “Ideal helper”The “Ideal helper”

You realize that change is very hard work and you will You realize that change is very hard work and you will stay with clients through the processstay with clients through the process

You see that clients often limit themselves and you are You see that clients often limit themselves and you are able to challenge clients to dream and take steps to fulfill able to challenge clients to dream and take steps to fulfill their dreamstheir dreams

You know you cannot ask of clients what you cannot ask You know you cannot ask of clients what you cannot ask of yourselfof yourself

The “Ideal helper”The “Ideal helper”

You are willing to draw on a number of resources to You are willing to draw on a number of resources to enable clients to accomplish goalsenable clients to accomplish goals

When working with clients with cultural backgrounds When working with clients with cultural backgrounds different from yours, you show your respect for them by different from yours, you show your respect for them by not stereotypingnot stereotyping

You take care of yourself physically, mentally, You take care of yourself physically, mentally, psychologically, socially, and spiritually. You do in your psychologically, socially, and spiritually. You do in your own life what you ask for your clients. If you are own life what you ask for your clients. If you are confronted with problems – you deal with them.confronted with problems – you deal with them.

The “Ideal helper”The “Ideal helper”

You question life and self-examine your beliefs and You question life and self-examine your beliefs and values in a critical way.values in a critical way.

Your philosophy of life is your own creation – not one Your philosophy of life is your own creation – not one imposed on youimposed on you

You have established meaningful relationships with at You have established meaningful relationships with at least a few significant peopleleast a few significant people

Although you have a healthy sense of self-love and Although you have a healthy sense of self-love and pride, you are not self absorbedpride, you are not self absorbed

ConclusionConclusion

This is not to overwhelm you, but to give This is not to overwhelm you, but to give you an idea of characteristics worth you an idea of characteristics worth thinking aboutthinking about

You are encouraged to use what you learn You are encouraged to use what you learn in this course for honest self-reflectionin this course for honest self-reflection

Journal Entry 1Journal Entry 1

What does it mean to be a helper? What does it mean to be a helper?