Sometimes in my work with helping people prepare for their licensure exam, I will see how some are confused with this term. They are confusing this term with what we think of "confrontation" in society. Please note, confrontation in SW has a different meaning...
What is confrontation? When using the technique of confrontation (also called challenge), you engage in respectful and gentle efforts to help a client recognize that he is using distortions, deceptions, denials, avoidance, or manipulations that are getting in the way  of desired change (Sheafor & Horejsi, 2003). You challenge and invite the client to examine a thought or behavior that is self-defeating or harmful to others and to take action to change it. Here’s an example:
Client: “He goes out every weekend and gets drunk. When he’s home, he’s hung-over. I really don’t mind, he deserves some fun, but I feel that our relationship should mean more to him than it does.”
Social worker: “First you said you don’t mind his behavior, then you said you feel your relationship is not as important to him as it is to you.”
Confrontation may be used in a similar manner to help a client see his role in a problem or to point out patterns in a client’s behavior. Behavioral patterns often emerge gradually during the course of your work with a client (e.g., patterns of impulsive or fearful behavior). If you notice a pattern, you should call it to a client’s attention if it is interfering with his problem-solving ability.
Guidelines for Using Confrontation Effectively:Â
- Use confrontation in an atmosphere of warmth, caring, and concern: (a) Do not use confrontation until you and the client have a good working relationship. Confrontation will be effective only if a client feels respected by you and has similar feelings toward you. (b) Do not confront or challenge a client when you are feeling angry. Confrontation must come from a place of genuine concern for a client; it should never be an expression of anger or frustration.
- For confrontation to be effective, it must be used at a time when a client seems ready to hear and consider your message. Avoid using confrontation when a client is emotionally upset. For example, if you challenge a client who is feeling depressed, he may feel criticized and withdraw from the relationship.
- Pair a challenging message with a positive observation about the client (e.g., one that recognizes his strengths) and follow it with empathic responsiveness.
- A challenging message should be descriptive and nonjudgmental. When confronting a client, include a detailed description of his self-defeating or negative behavior and concrete examples of how it creates problems for him.
Come back on Friday for a question related to using confrontation as social workers!