Working with clients

It is important as counsel or case worker to learn how to talk to mentally ill or what some would call"crazy" people. People who suffer from delusions, are manic, or overall mistrustful of speaking with social workers. Creating and maintaining that rapport with the clients will lead to discovery of valuable information and overall trust. With more trust between client and provider, the entire process is easier and faster.

To build rapport  the client must feel that they trust the social worker and that they have their best interests in mind. The social worker has to master the art of listening to the client's concerns and understanding the basis of what they say. Too often I hear clinicians say to their clients "thats crazy talk", "that doesn't make sense", or even "if you say that shit the public conservator will conserve you" [true conversation]. That doesn't seem too in line with supporting their client. The art of working with mental illness is to know how to couch saying "that is crazy" and rather drive the client to reveal to you through information only that what they perceive is a delusion.

As a investigator you should also strive to gain a clear understanding of the facts. If someone is talking about their body being stolen from them or believing people are out to get them, make an effort to find out "why" they believe that their body is being possessed. Learn the meat of their delusion. If they believe something, there must be facts behind why they believe it. Even if those facts are illogical, it at least lets you know what the person believes is the reason behind their beliefs and this is far better than a blanket statement without any facts. When probing for more, ask "When you wake up, what do you notice that makes you believe that people are stealing from your body. How much is missing? Do you feel them taking such from your body at night or do you wake up and find parts missing mysteriously?" All of these questions show the client that you care about their perspective and take an interest in how they view what happened. Rather than just immediately dismissing their claims as crazy or lies, the social worker shows the client that they have an open mind to believe the client. The client in turn may offer explanations that give light to why they believe such. It also gives the clinician a chance to explain to the court why the client's line of thought without portraying them as too crazy. With more facts in the court report, it will make the client seem a little less crazy as the client will have had a chance to explain them in a manner logical to them. In the rare case you may even find out that the client was not lying and through careful investigative questioning and work the client was telling the truth and the previous investigator had missed some facts.