I think shepherding is kind of a little like being a social worker...
In social work, you empower the person to help himself/herself... in shepherding, you empower the person to be able to walk the path himself/herself (with God). You teach, nurture and generally guide from the side as the person grows older.
In social work, you respect and accept unique characteristics. Same in shepherding.
In social work, you have the willingness to transmit knowledge and skills to others. Same in shepherding. You hate the sinful nature in the person, but you love the person. There really is a difference, trust me.
In social work, there's a commitment to a high standard of personal and professional conduct. In shepherding, there isn't a sort of professional conduct, but we do our best in planning for the person, and do our best for the person to aid in nurturing the person to be the best that he/she can be. And we are committed to a high standard of personal conduct because we follow the standards of God (though as sinful human beings, we fall frequently.)
We believe in self-determination - clients' freedom to make choices and decisions. In shepherding, we don't want the person to just follow what we say. We get our sheep to think, to consider and make choices for himself or herself. Ultimately, it is his/her own life.
hehe.
Of course, as a shepherd, you lead the person not just to himself/herself, but rather to God as well. So that's a very obvious difference I suppose.