Beliefs,_Values,_and_Human_Services

Beliefs, Values, and Human Services Meagan Baxter BSHS/322 October 8, 2012 Faye Flanagan Beliefs, Values, and Human Services One of the main goals of a human service professional is to help clients discover who he or she is with the help of the client’s values and beliefs. To do this correctly human service professionals must keep his or her beliefs separate from the clients and put the client’s needs first. The beliefs and values behind each professional allow him or her to help the client meet his or her needs. In this paper I will give examples of my personal beliefs, values, experiences, and family background that will help me as a human service professional. I will include information about the larger societal-and-systems and how it affects my life. I will come across many types of clients I will have to work with and remember his or her beliefs, values, and goals are very important to his or her treatment. Human service professionals have strengths but also must always be willing to learn and improve his or her techniques better to help each client. As a human service professional, I know that my values and beliefs may be challenged at times. It will be up to me to never forget my background, but to make sure I have the best interests of my client. We need to be aware of our values and how they influence responses in ways that may leave clients feeling unaccepted (Murphy & Dillon, 2011). I believe that everyone is equal to one another and deserves the same treatment as the next. No one should be singled out because of his or her race, gender, or sexual preference. Everyone has his or her own set of values and beliefs he or she may go by, and it is important not to offend him or her because of what he or she believes. Respect and trust is gained only when you prove you are trustworthy and show the same respect. I truly believe that everything happens for a reason whether it is negative or positive. We need to decide for ourselves to take what experiences we encounter and where to go from there. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength. God put us here for a reason, and it can take time before knowing what your purpose is. I believe one of my purposes in life is to help others through my experiences and the knowledge I have and will gain along my journey. Experiences and his or her background play a huge role in who a person becomes. I personally have had to hurdle my way through many obstacles in my life. Some were easily jumped over, and others I am still in the air waiting for my feet to hit the ground. My experiences have shaped me into the woman I am now. They have made me stronger, wiser, and more observant to my surroundings. I have learned that I have strength that I never knew was in me before. Some people learn from his or her mistakes while others do not. The decisions people make come from experiences and what he or she believes. My beliefs, values, and experiences are what I use to help me decide right from wrong, and help me to not to make the same mistakes again. I was taught never lie, steal, or mistreat others because it would come back to me 10 times worse. I still believe that if people do not do the correct thing, he or she will receive what they deserve in accordance to his or her wrong. Everyone deserves the right to receive help because we come from different backgrounds and lifestyles and may not have had the best life. There are expectations around the world of how people should act or look like. For example, most people believe that the same sex should not marry or parent children. I believe everyone should be able to love who they want and no one should be denied the right to parent children because of his or her sexual preference. Accepting others no matter his or her sexual preference, race, or religion is important to helping others. You may not agree with another person, but it is the duty of a human service professional to be open to others and his or her ideas. I believe strongly about my beliefs and values, but also believe everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion. Learning to accept everyone takes practice but is a necessary skill to work well with others. I will work with many people from different backgrounds, have his or her beliefs and values, and come from different cultures. The types of clients I believe I will have a challenge with are rapists and abusers. I know my duty as a human service worker will be to help whoever walks into my office. I will never turn a client down and will refer him or her to the appropriate people if I feel he or she will not get his or her needs met best by me. I know every type of individual can walk into my office and I will do what I have to do to make sure his or her needs get met. The strengths I have are important to me and how I will help my clients. I am strong and determined to finish what I started. Others have said I am a great listener and a very easy person to open up to. Working hard to achieve success and knowing that things do not always come easy is part of life. Being empathetic is a skill I am still learning and will practice it until I perfect it for my client’s benefit. Acceptance will be learned as I go along life’s journey and it is hoped I will be accepted by others as well. I will be flexible and available to my clients, but not make his or her issues personal. Another strength I have is the willingness to learn and keep learning. I am prepared to maintain my main goals to help others get through hard times, learn to meet his or her needs, and to gain knowledge along my journey. Reference Murphy, B.C., & Dillon, C. (2011). Interviewing in action in a multicultural world. (4th ed.). Belmont, CA Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning.