Yearning for strength, wisdom, confidence, inspiration, soothing, calming, stability

A sense of alikeness with the other, shared humanity, sameness

Client: "At dinner last night after the graduation ceremony, my Mom just kept talking about all of her worries about me getting a job and not making enough money. I barely got a word in!."

Social Worker: “What you wanted was for them to be proud of you, to be able to set all that aside and pay attention to you for once on your special day.”

What selfobject need is being addressed in SW'er's response?

Client: "I really need your perspective and some tools to deal with my partner when I'm in these situations. I don't know what to do anymore."

Social Worker: “You're really looking for some guidance, especially in those moments when it feels too much and overwhelming. I'd be happy to help collaborate on some tools. Let's explore that further.”

What selfobject need is being addressed in SW'er's response?

Client: "I went to see the new minecraft movie last weekend. It was sort of a hate-watch thing with my friends. Are you planning to go see it or do you know about it?"

Social Worker: “That sounds like fun! I haven't seen it yet but I watched the trailer.”

What selfobject need is being addressed in SW'er's response?

Client is de-escalating from a panic-attack in your school office with hyperventilation, tears, and distress

Social Worker takes a deep breath/sigh and says: "what you're experiencing is a little panic attack. let's notice a few things in my office right now. we'll get through this together and the wave will pass."

Social worker at a conference for training in a particular theory reflects on their experience and says to a fellow social worker: “I feel like I have been studying a foreign language in a language laboratory and I have suddenly traveled to the country where they speak the language. I feel like I found my theoretical home!”

Your client shows up and says he made a significant discovery over the weekend that he is so excited to share with you (social worker). The client said he realized that if someone close to him tells him he will never do it, he ends up not doing it, a self-fulfilling prophecy. The client said he felt great inside knowing this. The therapist listened closely, smiled, and nodded and said, "Yeah! Absolutely!"

The client immediately launches into their recent publication of their poem in the high school magazine, that their relationship is going really well, and that they received a really high score on the SAT

The therapist respond: "Wow, you have accomplished so much this week and I'd imagine you're feeling proud of yourself for achieving this after all of the hard work you've put in. Am I getting that right at all?"