George-- as another (now retired) social worker I can echo your list of "crisis signs", and would have added the one which someone else did about giving away one's possessions. I also agree that we professionals are not as powerful as we might wish to be, in any situation where a client is bent on any kind of self-destructive or just plain counterproductive behavior! :-( {Of course, had we chosen to become doctors, folks would THINK we were Almighty, but I'm not sure it would become a self-fulfilling prophecy!} However, I do wish at times we as a "listfamily" could be more accepting of the positions taken by others, even when we reject them for ourselves or our loved ones. Case in point would be, for example, someone who because of strong negative feelings about nursing homes was critical of others who made a thoughtful and for them appropriate choice to use such a resource. I might add that I have found a lot less of the "judgemental" type of reaction on CARE--don't know why, but it seems to be the case---go figure? George L. wrote: SNIPPED > I'm big on self determination which seems, some times, at odds with >my profession but when I see my job as helping people make the best >decision for THEM then there is little >internal conflict for me. SNIPPED > One other thought. You certainly have a strange idea about who is >powerful; " social workers >and family crisis workers and religious leaders." I don't know about the >latter but the only power I have as a social worker is the power granted me >by my clients and the little bit I "borrowed from the system " > All in all I wish you hadn't reposted that story but it is your >right to do what you please. >See what I mean by choices? > george Camilla Flintermann, CG for Peter 79/8 Oxford, OH [log in to unmask] * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Ask me about the CARE list for* * Parkinson's caregivers ! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *