Effective Treatment In Social Work

In this paper I will explore each of these areas in order to define my own personal practice framework, as well as looking at how the elements I have chosen fit within the social work field.

Social work professions need to understand the importance of how individuals interact both with other people and their environment, to have an understanding how individuals are affected by these interactions (Rogers, p. 2). According to Rogers (2016), “Social workers are knowledgeable about human behavior across the life course; the range of social systems in which people live; and the ways social systems promote or deter people in maintaining or achieving health and well-being. Social workers apply theories and knowledge from the liberal arts to understand biological, social, cultural, psychological, and spiritual development (p. 2). Their work with clients begins with assessments to evaluations of intervention and is based in and supports of the core value system of the profession.

In social work practice, client assessments are important because they allow social workers to gather information from clients. This information helps the acting social worker better understand clients presenting problems. The assessment also helps social workers evaluate a client’s progress and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions used. In this paper, a multidimensional assessment will be performed on a client I have been working with at my internship placement, Urban Ministries of Durham. Once all relevant information is presented, and intervention and treatment plan will be discussed.

As social workers, it is our responsibility to use the most effective method of practice to engage our clients, assess their situation, and help them create goals that will produce positive outcomes. Every client will present a unique set of challenges; therefore, the social worker must be careful in choosing an approach that will meet the client’s needs, compliment the skills of the therapist and are in line with the agency’s mission. According to Robert and Watkins (2009), psychotherapy is a therapeutic interaction between a trained therapist and a client that is

With a master 's level education in social work, I see myself envisioning clients’ health and well-being. As a student, I will study and practice techniques, beyond a generalist perspective, that will allow me to give clients hope and the ability to see something greater than what they are facing. Upon completion of a Master of Social Work direct practice degree and certificates in gerontology and mental health programs, I intend to become a licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I will competently incorporate specialized skills in different professional settings while developing my knowledge of a wide range of social issues and professional standards. With commitment, I wish to develop skills that will enable me to create or find hidden resources and services for my future clients, create platforms through counselling for victims of trauma.

As social workers, it is important to study the entire aspect of the individual. We must examine the individual past and see if their condition is trauma-related. It is the job of the social worker to identify the issue, in this case it would be a person who suffers from a mental illness and is placed in isolation when in jail or person and find the best solution for that issue. The solution to the issue may not be what’s written in a handbook or what we were thought, but sometimes we must find alternate resolutions. While we may not have the answers to combat the issue; if as social workers we could find the root cause of the issue that may help in the intervention process.

For this paper, I have decided to research two social work theories and how those theories apply to residents in long term care facilities. The primary focus will be those residents who are alert, oriented, and showing minimal symptoms of dementia.

Self-awareness and the use of self is a key component in social work practice. Depending upon how one integrates their personal being and accompanying thoughts, experiences, emotions, and consciousness into the helping profession has a profound impact on whether that integration is positive or negative, particularly when it comes to that of one’s relationships with their clients. While remaining impartial is often critical to effective social work practice, the complete separation of self from one’s professional practice is not only impossible to realize, but would arguably have less of a meaningful impact with one’s relations with clients as well as self. Understanding the use of self and the importance of self-awareness in the social work profession is the first step in establishing a healthy means of practicing and the impact that our own individuality has when interacting with clients. In this paper I will analyze, and further critically reflect upon, four academic journals on the topic of the use of self in social work; later applying this learning to an experience from my field placement.

The psychodynamic approach in social work is still relevant and is important for its humanizing qualities, for understanding and working with people with severe problems and for, perhaps, helping us to locate the position of social work as it relates to the mental health professions. According to Deal (2007), “Current trends in psychodynamic theory include a vibrant interest in theory development, including cultural considerations, an emphasis on a relational paradigm, and increasing support for research, all of which have implications for social work"(pg 192). Social workers employ the theory of psychodynamic when dealing with a client who has suffered past trauma or abuse and are better able to facilitate healing by placing attention on a client’s ego defense mechanisms to protect individuals from becoming overwhelmed by impulses and threats. Social work practice primary focus in psychodynamic theory are utilized to analyze emotions that play a key role in human behavior and concerned with how these internal needs, drives, and emotions motivate human behavior. It assumes that both conscious and unconscious mental activity motivate human behavior, and that internalized experiences. Social work theories are general explanations that are supported by evidence obtained through the scientific method. A psychodynamic theory may explain human behavior, by describing how humans interact or how humans react to certain stimuli. Social work practice models describe how social workers can implement psychodynamic theories. While a psychodynamic theory explains the conscious and unconscious thoughts of human beings behaviors, a social worker can use the theory to create change. Psychodynamic theory can be relevancy to social workers to assist in identifying concepts, such as the role of drives in human motivation, stages of psychosexual development, and ego defense mechanisms

It may seem as if nothing is neutral or apolitical about the world, however; where or to whom a political answer to a problem is applied swings the direction the public perceives of the result. Incarceration applies a political question, does segregation or alienation work to reform, to the failings of one individual in a community. That individual is a product of a community, the short comings of that person were fostered by that environment. While social work incorporates medical and therapy diagnoses to describe a set of problems experienced by individuals and groups, it can create its own stigmas within the community. For example, “clinical depression” that leads a person to act violently cannot be fully addressed within that individual

The predominant theory which has informed my clinical social work practice during my concentration year has been person-centered theory, also known as Rogerian theory. Thyr and Ebooks (2008) state that “congruence, unconditional positive regard, and accurate empathic understanding” are the cornerstones of person-centered theory (pg. 308, para. 2). Coming from a Rogerian perspective, I have sought to provide a congruent place and interaction with clients so they can work towards self-actualization and self-acceptance within their lives. In addition, I have worked to provide unconditional positive regard for my clients while coming from a place of empathy and understanding for them. The best example of how Rogerian theory benefitted my practice

In the 1980’s Insoo Berg and Steve de Shazer developed steps into the practice of solution focused therapy in Milwaukee, USA. Solution focused therapy is a practice framework for social workers and other therapists. Solution focused therapy is a framework that primarily focuses on solution development. Other Frameworks lead therapy to focus on the past history of the problem that the client brings to therapy, and ending their sessions with a solution to the problem, or when the problem in no longer an issue for them.

At my site I felt like I was more babysitting rather than doing social work interventions or assessments. At my site I did have to be culturally competent. The children and their different races, ethnicities, and cultures were eye opening for me. I had to understand that everyone was different and this could intersect with how they behave and interact. I had to engage in the proper way so that these children would listen and understand rather than just trying to discipline or correct. I used a lot of open-ended questions and often times found myself using techniques we learned in class at my site. I also found myself repeating what each child said before I answered because, by doing this I made sure that what I was hearing and what the child

During my undergraduate studies, a professor once told me a story that was similar to the one that was used in the introduction. I learned that the story of the two social workers standing by the river and rescuing the people, is a metaphor for social workers to focus more on prevention techniques than treatment. I liked the story so much, that I even used it as an opener for some of my social work presentations, because it helps the audience obtain a better understanding of how people are always trying to treat and fix a problem, but sometimes forget the importance of preventing the problem. Whenever I hear that story, I immediately think of prevention, and how cost effective it is than treating a problem that may occur more than once.

What is an intervention? An intervention is interposition or interference in the affairs of another to accomplish a goal or end (“Intervention,” 2012). There are numerous theories being used to help guide social work practice. There are also a number of different practice interventions associated with each of these theories. The purpose of this study is to be able to understand the social, emotional and behavioral needs of siblings of children with autism. The human behavior theories that have been selected to help guide this study are the systems theory and the social learning theory. There are different practice interventions related to each of these theories.