Personalizing to Facilitate Understanding

During this transitional phase of the helping process, between responding and initiating, the helpers assist helpees in personalizing or internalizing their understanding of their experiences. The helpers go beyond communicating “interchangeable” responses. The helpers draw from their own understanding to expand the helpees’ understanding of the meaning of their experiences. The helpers facilitate the helpees in understanding and taking personal responsibility for their experiences. Personalizing also enables the helpees to define their problems and to transform their problems into goals.

HELPER PERSONALIZING HELPEE UNDERSTANDING

The helpers assist the helpees in understanding the meaning of their experiences by communicating assumptions and implications in the form of “personalized meaning” responses. Helpers formulate and communicate a personalized description of the helpees’ problems and assist the helpees in internalizing “responsibility for” or “ownership of” their problems. Helpers then formulate and communicate a personalized description of the helpees’ goals and assist them in internalizing responsibility for achieving these goals. When accurate, these personalized responses will facilitate the helpees in accurately understanding, and taking responsibility for, their role in their problems and goals.

HELPER PERSONALIZING— MEANING, PROBLEMS AND GOALS