A client reports to a social worker that she is thinking of ending her marriage and would like to get guidance from her priest about her desire. In response to the client’s request, the social worker should first _________.

Cultural competence involves working in conjunction with natural, informal support, as well as helping networks (i.e., neighborhoods, churches, spiritual leaders, healers). The social worker should help prepare the client for the meeting and provide other support as needed. The social worker should not be evaluating the client’s reasons for seeking guidance from her priest. In addition, the biopsychosocial–spiritual– cultural functioning of the client is the focus of treatment; the client should not feel that the social worker is not interested or able to address and consider her religious/spiritual concerns.