With a married woman whose husband is a compulsive gambler and who describes her husband's behavior in a way that centers the discussion on him, the social worker should...

• A. confront the husband about gambling
• B. focus solely on the wife's relationship with her husband
• C. clarify with the woman how their work can focus on her own feelings and behavior
• D. refer to domestic violence services immediately

Answer: (C)

When a client describes a problem by centering someone else’s behavior, the work should orient toward her own experiences, feelings, and responses. The best approach is to help her explore how the situation with her husband’s gambling affects her and what changes she can make in her own life. This centers her agency, supports self-awareness, and guides practical steps such as identifying coping strategies, setting boundaries, and seeking resources or support systems. It’s a strengths-based, client-centered approach that avoids trying to fix the other person, which can overlook the client’s needs and autonomy.

Confronting the husband directly shifts focus away from the client’s experience and can create defensiveness or conflict, which is not the most helpful starting point when the client presents for support. Jumping to domestic violence services immediately would be appropriate only if there is clear abuse and safety risks; otherwise, first examining the client’s feelings, coping, and boundaries is more appropriate to determine what services, if any, she wants.