2024.07.21 The two most important treatment factors in CarefulGiving

The two most important treatment factors in CGC:

1. Not becoming part of the client's income stream.

2. Having the client in a therapeutic, ongoing, relationship, if the client misses appointments that affect the relationship, the therapeutic relationship has been broken and a new time line will need to be established.

What does 'not becoming part of the client's income stream' mean? In practice, we give money to alleviate an otherwise psychological or tangible obstacle that restricts the client from achieving their potential. Examples are overdue traffic violation, loss of rent money, purchase of clothes for new job. Also, car repair. Sometimes even restoring electricity or internet in very specific circumstances. In essence, the CGC money is not predictably available, CGC money solves a monetary need.

Regarding a relationship and incorporating money disbursement highlights the importance of the individual therapist's personality. It may be helpful to remember we do not give money to people in need. We are Social Workers who maximize the client's potential. And if money is needed for the client to see their situation in a better light then money becomes part of the intervention. Money never is the intervention. When people ask how they can get some money because they need it, we say one of two things. The money is for clients. OR, we can start the therapeutic process and ask what is going on in their lives, focusing on starting the therapeutic relationship.