What are complex reflections? Describe at least one situation in which a social worker might use a complex reflection

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Complex reflections often involve responding to more than one conflicting message. They are adapted from motivational interviewing in which the goal is often one of assisting clients in resolving ambivalence and taking action. Complex reflections go beyond what the client has directly stated or implied, adding substantial meaning or emphasis to convey a more complex picture. These reflections may add content that focuses on meanings or feelings that the client did not directly express (Moyers et al., 2003). For example, when a teenaged client said, "My mother really expects a lot from me," a social worker made a response that added implied content by saying, "She has high expectations for you; she thinks that you have a lot of ability." Verbalizing an unspoken emotion is a form of reflection that names an emotion that the client has implied but not stated. When a teenaged client reflects on what it feels like to be new to her school by saying, "I'm new here. I don't know anyone. I just try to stick to myself and stay out of trouble," the social worker could verbalize, "That sounds to me as if it could be a little lonely," to tune in to the unspoken emotion of sadness. Sometimes, the reflection can use a metaphor or simile to paint a picture of what the client has stated.