Clientele and Audiences in Social Work

CLIENTELE AND
AUDIENCES IN SOCIAL
WORK
Characteristics and needs of Various Types of
Clientele
The common types of clients is mainly classified
into three types, these are;
1. Individuals
2. Groups and Organization
3. Communities
Working with individuals
The individual is the principal client and effort of helping are focused on him/her.
De Guzman (1992) explains that the person’s inability to manage stress which
may have been a result of a distressful situation or problem caused her/him or
those concerned with her/him to seek professional help.
The worker needs to understand that the person’s present behavior is a

manifestation of her/his own mode of adaptation to his/her current condition
that has caused her/ him stress.
Sample of Modes of Adaptation
1. Fight- means physical or verbal projection of angry feelings on others
especially when encountering difficult circumstances, frustration,
disappointment, or even anxiety.
2. Flight- this is manifested when the person physically moves away from
the problem like resorting to drugs, alcohol, or substances that will make
one forget the current stressful situation.
3. Pairing- it entails the entry into a relationship with another person who
is perceived to be stronger, stable, or who has the capacity to provide help

Some of the clients who may need the social worker
i. Children who are either abandoned, neglected, orphaned, abused, or
exploited
ii. Children in conflict with the law, street children living with or affected
by HIV
iii. Out-of-school youth
iv. Socially disadvantage women
v. Solo parents
vi. Persons with disability, physically, and mentally challenged
individuals
vii. Elderly
viii. Indigenous People
ix. Internally displaced persons
x. Survivors of natural calamities and disasters, or those affected by
armed conflicts.
Typology of Clients
1. Voluntary Clients- are those persons who opted to voluntarily seek assistance of
the worker or the services of agency due to problem or difficulty which s/he think
s/he cannot do anything by her/himself. This is also referred to as walk-in clients.
2. Involuntary Clients- types of individuals in need who may not even consider
asking help because they think that they are doing fine and will survived
somehow or they are unaware of the agencies that can provide with them some
assistance. These persons, often referred to as reach-out clients.
3. Referred Clients- types of clients that are being assisted by another person,
group/organization, or community leaders/workers who are concerned about the

Relationship between the Client and the worker
There are three (3) relationship components or factors
1. Transference- This means that s/he responds to and relates to
the worker unconsciously in the manner that s/he used to react to
that familiar figure and sometimes the client becomes unaware
that s/he is already re-enacting some of her/his early behavior.
This is often associated to some mechanisms such as projection
and identification.
2. Counter-transference- are the worker’s relationship reactions
that s/he may project on the client and usually it is the worker
who transfer previously experience feeling on the client.
3. Reality- is the realistic and objective perception of existing
condition or situation. It is the state of what is actual, what is, and
is true.
Biestek (1957) put together seven (7) ethical consideration or situation
that govern the client-worker relationship.
I. Acceptance- the worker’s recognition of the individual’s worth as human
being imbued with inherent worth and dignity.
II. Nonjudgmental attitude- this means with out labeling, no stereotyping and
noncondemnatory act that refrains from assigning blame, guilt, or failure to
the client.
III. Individualization- this characterizes that every individual in unique and
possesses certain traits or attributes specific only to her/himself.
IV. Purposeful expression of feeling- this means the free sharing with a
Biestek (1957) put together seven (7) ethical consideration or situation
that govern the client-worker relationship.
V. Controlled emotional involvement- it means that the worker must keep her/his
own emotions under control and should emphasize but not over-identify with the
client as the latter would pour out her/his woes of troubles. It must involved
sensitivity, understanding, and responding.
VI. Confidentiality- refers to the preservation of secret information concerning the
client which is disclosed in the professional relationship.
VII. Self-determination- it is derivative of the beliefs I the inherent worth and dignity of
a person- that s/he endowed with a reason and a free will and is capable of making
her/his own choices. It also refers to the client’s right and need to make her/his
Performance Task
Instruction: Pretend that your are a social worker, act-
out/dramatized how will you provide help the following
clients with the given situation.
Group 1: Voluntary client (a solo parent seek for a
material assistance.)
Group 2: Involuntary client (street children or working
children)
Group 3: Referred Clients (abandoned child or elderly
with out any family)
Rubrics
5 points: Cooperation and organization
5 points: Clarity of voice
10 points: Delivery (involves appropriate actions
and facial expression)
10 points: Overall presentation
Total of 30 points!
Kudos Everyone!

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CLIENTELE AND

The worker needs to understand that the person’s present behavior is a

especially when encountering difficult circumstances, frustration,

disappointment, or even anxiety.

one forget the current stressful situation.

is perceived to be stronger, stable, or who has the capacity to provide help

s/he cannot do anything by her/himself. This is also referred to as walk-in clients.

assistance. These persons, often referred to as reach-out clients.

group/organization, or community leaders/workers who are concerned about the

I. Acceptance- the worker’s recognition of the individual’s worth as human

being imbued with inherent worth and dignity.

noncondemnatory act that refrains from assigning blame, guilt, or failure to

III. Individualization- this characterizes that every individual in unique and

possesses certain traits or attributes specific only to her/himself.

sensitivity, understanding, and responding.

VI. Confidentiality- refers to the preservation of secret information concerning the

client which is disclosed in the professional relationship.

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