The Stepping Stone Of Theory

Shanell Bathersfield conducted a self-assessment. She initially determined that the systems theory was one that she was not comfortable with. Through the last few course weeks, she was able to gain an in-depth perspective on several theories that are impactful in the social work field. The coursework and utilizing Juana and Adelina as case studies, truly gave an exclusive insight on how theories are used to understand the client’s circumstances and improve their well-being.

As a result of applying appropriate theory the organisation and structure of social work practice may be enhanced (Howe 1999:104). Social workers use theory to inform practice and provide a sense of direction and guidance in their professional engagement with service users

Psychodynamic Theory. This theory is what social workers implement when working with a client who has suffered prior abuse or past trauma. By concentrating on how the ego works as a facilitator of the individual and their environment. Social workers can implement healing by helping the client halting their use of defense mechanisms. This intervention is used to protect clients from experiencing a crisis.

Evidence has linked a strong relationship between spirituality and medicine. There is a positive correlation between a patient’s spirituality or religious commitment and health outcomes. A spiritual assessment as a part of a health assessment is a practical step to incorporating patient’s spiritual needs into practice. The FICA Tool and HOPE Questions provide serve to assist clinicians in the spiritual assessment process. By examining the research done using these tools, it has been determined that the FICA Tool is easy to use and provides basic data on a patient’s spirituality. The FICA tool is both reliable and valid. The HOPE Questions are

Social workers must strive “for a full understanding of the complex interactions between the client and all levels of the social and physical system as well as meaning that the client assigns to each of these interactions” (Andreae, 1996, p. 605).

In the professional field of Social Work, there are many terminologies that individuals outside of this group may not understand. During the process of assessing a problem in a family, there are different theoretical perspectives that helps social workers understand different aspects of family situations. There are eight theoretical perspectives that helps social workers understand family’s dynamic and situations. These theoretical perspectives are; system perspective, conflict perspective, exchange and choice perspective, social constructionist perspective, psychodynamic perspective, developmental perspective, social behavior perspective and humanistic perspective.

Individuals’ mental status or physical/ behavioral recovery or medical treatment cannot persist in a healthy phase if their social roles in relationships are unaccounted or if their family is homeless, or they are living in a toxic social environment. I believe, even with the integration, of healthcare professional, the primary focus of social work should not only encompass psychological forces, the environment, or the social structure but on the boundary or the relationship between the person and the social

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.

The other theory that I selected was the strengths perspective theory. The strengths perspective and strengths-based approaches offer service providers ways of working that focus on strengths, abilities and potential rather than problems, deficits and pathologies (Stuart and →, 2017). The strength perspective teaches us that we should recognize the human capacity and self determination to work hard to achieve their goals. In this perspective the social worker helps the client find their own abilities to deal with their current situations.

Utilizing strengths based perspective with clients enables social workers to focus on the client and family strengths and abilities instead of focusing on the client and family’s problems, bad behaviors and pathologies. The strengths based perspective applies six principles that guide the social worker professional in assisting client’s with the strengths based model; we all have areas of strength, but sometimes it takes an unbiased third party to notice and help others clearly see what they are capable of achieving, even in the midst of their crisis.

One of the most useful models for social workers to implement is the generalist model. Since the goal of social work is to work with individuals and assist them in solving their problems, the generalist model seeks to create three levels of practice to better aide the individuals in direct practice service (Farley, Smith, & Boyle, 2011). These three levels are the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. The micro level refers to the systems that directly impact a single individual, whereas the mezzo level refers to the small groups (such as marriages and families) that impact the individual. Furthermore, the macro level refers to the large systems, such as cultures and large organizations, which can influence the person. With the establishment of the generalist model, the social worker can better aide the client and work directly with him to help him solve any problems or concerns he may have, and this model has become the most common operational model in social work, though it does have both advantages and disadvantages.

This paper is divided into three parts and sub parts. The first part is developing theoretical orientation to assist helping social worker in the process of finding a theoretical orientation agreement with their own personal values. The second part is exploring your theoretical orientation which is the basic guiding principles in organizing a treatment and applying theories, (with sub-parts).

Some barriers that may inhibit one’s ability to complete a spiritual assessment are: poor timing, lack of training, discomfort with the subject matter (patient or provider), provider’s uncertainty of own spirituality, concepts of spirituality differ among all, and a lack of clues and/or cues by the patient that may open the doors to initiate a genuine conversation (Dameron, 2005; Joint Commission, 2005). It is important the health care provider maintains a non-judgmental approach and must be careful not to impose his or her

There is always a learning curve when developing a new theory. There is the uncertainty of its efficacy and acceptance. One would believe as these theories continue to evolve and is practiced with clients this will no longer be an issue. I believe if a counselor knows the importance of the spiritual beliefs of the clients they are able to have a thorough understanding of their views and feeling towards the issues in their lives. I also believe that then they are able to help client's determine that they are loved, accepted and have a purpose.

According to Daley, 2015 that it is appropriate for the social workers to understand the approach to problem solving used by the people whom they are attempting to empower and they have to incorporating Afrocentric perspective into practice because this kind of perspective is built on African history, culture, and worldviews. Thus, the social worker would take advantage of the systems perspective which guide him to identify each system and its influence on the client live. Moreover, the problem-solving model in social work assists people with the problem-solving process; rather than tell clients what to do, social workers teach clients how to apply a problem-solving method so they can develop their own solutions (Simmons School of Social Work, 2014). Therefore, the social worker has benefited from this model in dealing with the client Sharease.