Instrumental Support : A Type Of Social Support

Dominique Steinburg describes mutual aid as a process through which people develop collaborative, supportive, and trustworthy relationships; identify and use existing strengths and/or to develop new ones; and work together toward individual and/or collective psychosocial goals. (Steinburg, 2010)

2.2 explain how others in social networks may provide support to individuals experiencing significant life events

In everyday life people experience difficulties and problems that they feel they are not able to deal with on their own and need help with. The help that people receive to overcome their problems can be in many different forms. People may receive help in an informal way, such as having a chat to a close friend or relative, who can offer support and advice or they may seek help in a more formal capacity from various helping professionals, such as counsellors, social workers, psychiatrists, doctors, etc. For all of these professionals it is their

Health support - whilst a child or family member is receiving support for a health issue this could possibly affect continuity of care, education, development and income.

The principles underpinning self-directed support and how it differs to traditional support is as follows:-

Social support or to maintain contact with family and friends. In general people are sociable, we will attempt to relate to other people and develop a relationship with them. Sometimes people will need support in relating to others- this can be for a range of reasons such as, illness if social circumstances may of meant that someone has lost contact with other people such as their family and friends, other may have issues in making relationship and some may have had difficult or painful experiences which have made them wary of becoming involved with others.

Every individual at some point needs support. For example: an individual has terminal cancer, she also has a hearing

Describe types of support that an individual may need in order to use communication technology aids

At times extra support can be needed to be able to have a meaningful communication with a child or adult to meet their needs. These can include:

When developing knowledge and skill of supporting the colleagues in the practice the practitioner would have to always be supportive to their colleagues during hard times and good times because when the practitioner is supportive towards the colleagues the practitioners colleagues e.g. Your colleague has just been through a rough divorce and child custody battle and is having a hard time getting back on their feet so in order for you to help you help by reducing their work load at the work place meaning helping them when you can, helping them out of the work placement as well as in the work placement when you do this for your work colleagues they would feel grateful and would also offer help when you need it and you will also gain more closeness with their work colleagues.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have a reluctance to ask for support from friends and coworkers. An intermediate stepping stone may be setting up a social network site in which to give updates and allow friends and coworkers to offer support and services. This can also be accomplished through churches or other groups the Thomas’s were previously or actively involved with. Psychologically, it allows the Thomas’s to maintain their sense of self-reliance by providing information about their situation without expectations of support. This allows people to be supportive in a variety of capacities and at various levels.

Within this assignment I will explore the ways in which I relate to others. I will identify any barriers or difficulties which could affect my ability to relate to others and therefore have an adverse effect on my role as a helper. Egan (1994) states that to be a fully developed helper, a key component is self awareness. He also suggests that there can be a “shadow side” to helping, which can adversely affect the outcome of the helping process.

Counseling skills has provided me with a valuable insight into the helping relationship and how it is both created and maintained in order to encourage growth and development in the client. The factors involved within the helping relationship include considering Roger’s core conditions, congruence, unconditional positive regard and empathy as the three main characteristics necessary in a helping relationship. In order to fully incorporate all three of Roger’s core conditions, I as the counselor must be self-aware, as a lack of self-awareness may inhibit truly listening and understanding the client; self-awareness can be enhanced through exercises such as Johari’s window. Counseling skills such as body language and active listening also

Online support groups can help someone gain a sense of control or empowerment and reduce their levels of stress, depression, or anxiety by promoting open, honest sharing of personal feelings, mutual emotional support, comfort, “virtual” hugging, sharing of practical treatment information, coping strategies, personal experiences, and “success stories” by way of e-mails and Internet group discussion boards (Wessel, K, 1996).

'Reflecting on the content of the module and drawing on your personal experiences, identify and discuss what is essential in the helping relationship’.