what does it mean to be authentic?

8/22/2023

What does it mean to be authentic, and do we have the same expectations of others that we have of ourselves? To me, authenticity means being genuine - at times, transparent. Some folks think it’s also about always being true to ourselves. So, as a clinician that doesn’t necessarily mean I’m going to “tell it like it is” with my clients. However, that doesn’t mean I’m not being genuine. It just means that I’m choosing my words carefully. Sometimes, my knowledge of something - or an interpretation, and understanding - is not ripe to be shared. Sometimes, my thoughts may not be beneficial to my client; I’ve had to learn to refrain from saying anything that just comes to mind. That’s part of the art of being a therapist. As I always say, who exactly is it serving to share what I’m thinking? Well, what if we put that philosophy into action in our personal lives. Why does that feel so much harder to do? Imagine refraining from sharing your true feelings with your partner, your friend, your aquaintance all the time. Isn’t there “a time and a place” where your words will be better received? Is there “a time” to keep some thoughts to yourself? Consider this: do you really want folks to be transparent with you? That means not only the positive feedback but the negative. It means uncensored feelings and responses. Being authentic is a catch-all. Yes, be true to yourself, but not at the cost of someone else.
Can you also imagine being freer/authentic with your positive feelings? Being able to offer compliments as you see them. Being able to offer genuine support and validation. Being able to align yourself with someone’s pain rather than refute it? Caring authentically.
I think being authentic is about being as genuine as we can - pure-hearted. Well-meaninged. Kind. Honest. Adhering to the fundamental values of humanity. To. The. Best. of. Our. Ability.

If you want to hear more on this subject, check out podcast episode #35 Being Your Authentic Self

8 Comments

Adriana Sevilla

9/26/2023 11:02:38 am

This week's post reminded me of a conversation I had with my supervisor when asking her what is an appropriate way to deal with clients who ask personal questions. She reminded me of the tool "use of self" and only sharing information that will help guide the conversation. This post also made me think about how we no longer live in a world where we truly can be our authentic selves. We are always in constant fear of being judged by others. When working with vulnerable populations it is important to keep in mind how you show up to a meeting and be genuine while doing so. Setting boundaries and knowing what lines not to cross is something we constantly have to keep in mind for our safety. As professional social workers, we are expected to show up as our authentic selves in a way that preserves our professionalism.

Samantha Barcia

9/26/2023 01:53:28 pm

When I read the first sentence nothing came to my mind about what being authentic is. I feel that it is hard to be vulnerable and we tend to mask our emotions and thoughts. It can be very hard for our clients to show vulnerability. This made me think of the importance of being present and showing empathy. Without this we would not be showing our authentic selves. In social work practice most of our skills depend on ourselves and how we display professionalism.

Leora Keehn

9/26/2023 03:29:43 pm

I think many times people can get confused between being authentic and genuine. This blog post really puts these concepts in simple terms. Often times, one may want to share everything with their clients. However, it is important to take a step back and think what information is best for the client. I love telling stories, especially when it relates to the client or the topic being discussed. Starting my field work, I need to take a step back and think is that really necessary for my client. I always try to be genuine and be a decent human being. I like to think that I am an authentic person, but I am excited to see how that can be challenged throughout my time at field.

Alyssa Trousdell

9/27/2023 01:54:12 pm

I really enjoyed reading this blog post. As growing social workers, I feel like a lot of times we struggle with being confident in our professional authenticity. I personally second guess myself sometimes because I want to present myself as a professional but don’t always know the right words to say. I can relate to this article because even from starting my field placement, there have already been occasions where I’ve noticed it’s appropriate to refrain from showing my whole authenticity for the sake of the other person (s). For example, I’ve sat in on a few group discussions to just observe. At times it was difficult for me to not want to comment or make an emotion but I knew that was not the time or place. However as a social worker, it’s also important we are authentic to our clients in a way because authenticity shows our genuineness but it’s important to choose our words carefully. Our field will allow us to grow and gain experience on how to communicate and connect with different clients.

Leila Fatscher

9/27/2023 09:53:54 pm

I appreciated this blog post because it helped me to define this more complicated concept of authenticity, especially within the social work context. Authenticity is complicated because it can imply that we be 100% honest however, as Dr. Meyers wrote, sometimes that is not always the best way to care for someone. I find that when having a conversation with a friend I tend to always say the first thing that comes to mind whether thats a story or opinion, I like to be entirely open in my friendships because that is how I prefer people to act towards me. I recognize that this preference was shaped because of my own personal experiences. This 100% honesty is in my opinion what is best for me. However, when practicing what is best for others, it is important to reflect on what we are about to share and ask if it would be beneficial to the person. When caring for others there are boundaries to what we should share. My first thought will probably not be the most empathetic, productive thing for the client to perceive. This is where I think authenticity in social work encapsulates skills like emotional intelligence, compassion, empathy, and communication.

Diana

9/28/2023 01:43:25 pm

Reading this post reminds me how important authenticity is but there have to be boundaries in the social work profession when working with clients. This is something that I have heard a lot in my social work classes. I highly value authenticity. I want to be authentic with anyone I encounter. I want them to feel me being genuine and they matter to me. I know that at the beginning of my work with clients, it will be hard for me to completely demonstrate my authenticity. I want them to feel that I am being congruent, giving them unconditional positive regard, and demonstrating empathy. I know I will be able to but I know my anxiety at first will get in the way of completely being authentic. I understand that self-disclosure and my belief systems are both something I need to be very aware of. I believe that I am capable of avoiding them both with my future clients.

Amanda Budhram

9/29/2023 05:44:54 pm

In the blog post, “What Does It Mean To Be Authentic?”, I found it very helpful and I will remember this in my work with clients that I will be doing soon. When working with clients it is important to know what to share and what not to share because we do not want to take away from the client either. It may not be beneficial to the client to say what you are really thinking and decide how much of our authentic self we choose to bring into each session. We can also bring the authentic parts of us like showing our genuine concern for the client and showing empathy and kindness. I will definitely think about this when working with a client because it is about what works best for the client.

Angelina Sanchez

10/2/2023 12:13:55 am

Authenticity is a quality I value in others. I delight in knowing others are being honest and transparent because I too am one who is very upfront about what I have to say. However, appreciating authenticity also means accepting that sometimes what others say will hurt. This is something I am currently working through now. Like I mentioned I am very upfront, I had a habit of being a bit too honest and words often came out harsh or very blunt. And the irony of this is that I hated it when people were very blunt with me! I would often think "well If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." When it finally struck me about how I didn't like when others were loose with their words, I started to be more careful with mine. So now more than ever do I agree with Dr. Meyers advice: "authentic is about being as genuine as we can - pure-hearted."

what does it mean to be authentic?

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