Description
Book SynopsisThis book outlines a clear map for dealing with the complex and often ambiguous situations encountered by those working in supportive services. Drawing from numerous interviews with frontline helpers and people seeking help, this resource uses stories to introduce and illustrate core ideas and practices.
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments vii
Introduction xi
About the Authors xix
Chapter 1 Helping: What, How, and Why 1
Stories of Helping Relationships 1
Walking and Talking 8
Helping Activities—The What of Helping 9
Relational Connection—The How of Helping 12
Experience and Stories—The Why of Helping 14
Placing Collaborative Helping in a Broader Context 17
Moving Collaborative Helping into the Future 20
Chapter 2 Cornerstones of Collaborative Helping 23
Collaborative Helping as a Principle-Based Approach 23
Collaborative Helping and Relational Stance 26
Collaborative Helping and a Focus on Life Stories 33
Collaborative Helping and Inquiry 40
The Cornerstones in Plain English 46
Chapter 3 A Map to Guide Helping Efforts 49
Introducing Collaborative Helping Maps 50
The Collaborative Helping Map in Action 52
Organizing Vision and Preferred Directions in Life 53
Obstacles and Supports 58
The Plan 64
The Usefulness of a Map 68
Chapter 4 Collaborative Helping Maps in Different Contexts 69
Using Collaborative Helping Maps in Residential Programs 69
Using Collaborative Helping Maps to Enhance Conversations in Child Protective Services 78
Using Collaborative Helping Maps in the Changing World of Health Care 91
Current and Potential Uses for Collaborative Helping Maps 96
Chapter 5 Engaging People to Envision New Lives 99
Engagement—Who Are You and What Is Important to You? 99
Vision—Where Would You Like to Be Headed in Your Life? 102
Engagement Difficulties 108
Engaging a Youth with a No Problem Stance 111
Engaging a Woman with a No Control Stance 115
Difficulties Developing a Vision 118
Connecting to Build Desired Futures 123
Chapter 6 Rethinking Problems and Strengths 125
Rethinking Strengths and Needs 126
Conversations about Problems as Obstacles Separate from People 127
A Map for Externalizing Conversations about Problems 135
Conversations about Strengths as Intentional Practices of Living 139
A Map for Conversations about Strengths 142
Applications of Conversations about Strengths 144
New Conversations about Problems and Strengths 148
Chapter 7 Dilemmas in Home and Community Services 151
Concrete Help, Boundaries, and the Terrain of Home and Community Work 152
The Contribution of Family Partners to Collaborative Helping 159
Relational Stance and Advocacy Efforts 161
Power Dynamics in Working with the Larger Helping System 162
Dilemmas in Advocacy Efforts 166
Helping People More Effectively Advocate for Themselves 173
In the End, It’s Still Walking and Talking 174
Chapter 8 Sustainable Helping 177
Using Collaborative Helping Maps to Enhance Supervision 177
Building Institutional Structures that Support Collaboration 183
Building Organizational Cultures that Support Collaboration 190
A Brief Look Back 199
References 203
Index 209
