Building Rapportwith Involuntary or Skeptical Clients

Why they are Involuntary or skeptical

Our clients have been encouraged or ordered to attend the Program

This makes them somewhat involuntary

This can also make them skeptical.

Why they are involuntary or skeptical

This type of client may be difficult to deal with in the early stages of the relationship. Normally, they will be skeptical or resentful about the program, and may not acknowledge any need to participate.

It is important for the treatment specialist to gain rapport with the client. Then use that rapport to establish trust. Once rapport and trust have been established it is easier to move forward with a plan of action.

Common strategies to gain respect and have good engagement from

the client

Outline the process of the program: what is required of them (what happens next or over the next few months)

Explain the structure of the relationship with the treatment specialist (I am an advocate and am here to help)

Describe the expected positive outcomes (remember they are evaluating us and they totally know if we are genuine)

Common strategies to gain respect and have good engagement from the client

Establish the type of parenting style they have

Distinguish between effective and ineffective VS good and bad parenting (release them from judgment here…this is huge)

Solution-focused strategies are a good way to create a sense of accountability and need for change (what do they want to accomplish)

 Rapport Strategies with the parent

Listening first to the client’s story

Use (not too much) self-disclosure to relate to the client's situation

Creating goals and accountability in order to encourage action from the client

Providing transparency and positivity through communication (communication is key…ask them how they communicate when they are angry and follow up with “is that effective”)

Building rapport with the adolescent

Establish rapport through genuine interest and concern (it is a given that we have a generation gap so just focus on being genuine)

Engaging in activities such as games (I use worksheets too)

Using self-disclosure (tell stories they can relate to, i.e. DR. JOE)

Role-playing (this is especially good to use to teach them appropriate behavior toward PO’s, teachers, judges and anyone in authority)

SummeryBuild rapport

Encouraging accountability

Managing expectations and establishing well-planned goals with the client.

Both the parent and adolescent should be encouraged to realize change can only occur from within (continually using “catch them doing something right”)

Be eclectic in your approach, role-playing, narrative therapy (story telling), solution-focused (make a plan), cognitive behavioral (change your thinking) (Match your approach to your client)

The goal is to empower and encourage the client show them you believe in them and support the plan they create to get the results they choose

SummerySometimes uncommitted clients can be a challenging

problem. Normally, a client with little or no commitment has a specific agenda, which justifies their attendance or reason for compliance at a session (just get through it and get the kid off probation).

Sometimes we need to re-model the way the client perceives the relationship: shifting from the ‘helping' mode to the collaborative approach. When the client feels they are creating the goals and structuring the plan they will be more motivated to go through the necessary stages for change. Hopefully, seeing the reward as an improved family structure and a youth who can follow the rules of home school and community.

SUMMERY

Hopefully, the above strategies assist with providing a firm foundation to establish the client-treatment specialist relationship.