Empowerment Therapy

His ( Mr. Hubbard's ) powerful two-part workshop here at Loma Linda University Medical Center was an excellent series providing social workers with a unique and dynamic method on motivating clients and patients towards becoming all they can be in the Empowerment process and, thus, taking greater responsibility for their physical and mental well-being.

In addition to my own attendance of Mr. Hubbard's workshop, the results of the formal evaluations were excellent overall, citing the most impressive features of the workshop as the workshop content and the workshop leader. The workshop focuses on facilitating empowerment among clients, especially difficult "high-risk clients; that is the workshop facilitates the process of change and growth in clients to become more self aware, responsible, goal setting, solution-focused with positive attitudes, collaborative, empathic, genuine/trustworthy and growth oriented in dealing with their problems (these are the Eight Elements of Empowerment outlined in Hubbard's books).

In fact, one of my workers has indicated that she immediately applied principles of Empowerment Therapy and found it to be refreshingly successful. Brian Hubbard is also an extremely inspirational, effective speaker to consumer groups, for example he gave a dynamic, powerful talk to cancer patients here at the medical center on November 18th, 1998. (copies of the tapes and books are available through his web-site www.brianjhubbard.com).

Brian Hubbard bases his workshops and lecture series not only from his leadership role as a professional for the past 25 years, but also from his personal experiences of blindness/deafhess and being the only licensed social worker to practice with this very challenging dual disability nationwide. I understand he has been a sought after consultant, as we had, and it is no surprise, for example, that he has been asked to be the keynote speaker at the University of Texas's annual conference on Counseling Education next year.

Currently, we are relying on him heavily to prepare a grant proposal to acquire funding to make services more readily available in Southern California in light of growing social problems and diminishing human resources. I recommend his workshops, lecture series and products (including his books, home-study programs) very highly to any relevant consumer/advocacy and/or professional group. Brian J. Hubbard is truly an inspiring and brilliant professional.

Steve Bellinger, LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker)
Director, Department of Social Work
Loma Linda Medical Center Loma Linda University Loma Linda, California