Journal Entry Quana John
BSHS/322 Communication Skills Human Services Professional
December 2, 20012
Tracy Newman

Exercise 11.1: Examining the Moment
In small groups, practice the skill of examining the moment with clients in the following scenarios. Think of as many ways to express yourselves as you can. Jermaine, an excellent 19-year-old college basketball player, has come to see the campus counselor to mull over whether to graduate or to drop out now and join a pro team. As you comment on how hard the decision is and review potential options, he begins to glaze over and stare out the window. Cookie, a depressed, often silent 14-year-old, comes into the session looking unusually bright and animated, although not saying anything. Edgar, an 80-year-old man seeking to have his wife arrested for physically abusing him, frowns and huffs as you explain that there needs to be a home investigation before further action can be taken. When you have completed the exercise, talk together in a large group about the usefulness and the complications of examining the moment.
I feel the college student should stay in school graduate and the join a pro team. What if it does not work out then what? You have to start all over with no college degree. What if you get hurt then what? All your hard work goes down the drain and you still have nothing to show for it. I would go to college because at least you have a backup plan and not be disappointed in yourself. Why would you throw your future down the drain to just play sports that may or may not work out for you? I disappointed that you are thinking about not going to college first, don’t waste your knowledge on just sports. Who does that a lot of basketball players. Go head in first and not knowing what they are up against when it comes down to pro team. I can tell something is worried with the 14 year old do I go over and ask a question? Or stay silent like nothing never happen. She will not trust me she do not know me, should I tell her something personal about me and may she will open up to me? I am hurt and sad I do not know how to help. Oh well what do I have to lose I am going over to talk with her this is a cry out for help without saying a word. Hey my name is Tiffany and I just find out my mother is sick with cancer. See the point I am trying to make here is to let the 14 years old female know we all go through things and it is ok to talk about it and if I tell her something personal about me just maybe she will tell me what’s wrong. Edgar you are having problems with your wife because she is abusing you. I just you call the abuse hot line and press charges on her to get her arrested. Everybody here has different issues going on and some need guides and advice. If we role play your situation to and see how everybody will handle situation. The point of this is to get everybody to relax and express how they feel and how we can move forward.

Exercise 11.3: Power
In your journal, record your answers to the following questions.
Have you seen a professional use power over a client? The responsibility to manage boundaries, your own and your client’s is vested in you, the professional. As the professional in a professional/client relationship, you have power over clients, because you know things that your clients don't know. Clients, many of whom are vulnerable and frightened, trust you to use this professional knowledge in their best interest. In any professional relationship there is an inherent power imbalance. The therapist’s power arises from the client’s trust that the therapist has the expertise to help with his or her problems, and the client’s disclosure of personal information that would not normally be revealed. The fact that services cannot be provided unless clients are willing to cooperate, does not change the fundamental power imbalance. Therefore, the therapist has a duty to act in the best interest of the client, and is ultimately responsible for managing