Approaches To Social Casework Flashcards
Concern with both the internal and external causes of dysfunction this approach is a systems approach. The primary system of interest is the person-in- environment. That is this approach focuses on the person and interaction with his or her social situation. Treatment attempts to modify the individual and/or his environment and/or the exchanges between them. It is an organismic view of the person-in-situation system. Therefore a change in one part of the system will result in changes in other parts of the system.
The psychosocial approach
THE PSYCHOSOCIAL APPROACH
- This social worker’s acceptance of the client as reflected by his or her respect for the client and commitment to the clients welfare.
- The use of a client or other-centered approach.
- This social workers respect for client self-determination
- The social workers commitment to understanding the clients problem with scientific objectivity.
The therapeutic relationship is an important component of this model. It is guided by several values and characteristics.
Values and characteristics of psychosocial approach
THE PSYCHOSOCIAL APPROACH
- Developing an understanding with the client of why contact has been made
- Establishing a relationship that helps the client use the social workers help
- Engaging the client in treatment
- Beginning treatment
- Gathering data so that the social worker can make a psychosocial diagnoses
Five tasks of treatment for the psycho social approach
The process and importance of the therapeutic relationship is central to this Approach. Human growth is defined as expressing purpose and as “constituting process.” That is the this model uses a drive toward fulfillment as a primary aspect of human nature and believes the individuals are capable throughout their lives of modifying themselves and the environment to achieve their purpose. The potential for growth is key. This constitutes the psychological base of the approach. The social base of the approach is the component that views the social agency as a place where the interests of society join the interest of the individual. The process base of the approach recognizes that all phenomena (individuals, groups, communities ) represent process
The functional approach
THE FUNCTIONAL APPROACH
- Diagnosis
- The use of time phases
- Agency function
- They use of structure
- The client-social worker relationship
Five principles of treatment for the functional approach
The critical principle underlying this approach is that deficiencies in an individuals problem-solving abilities are due to a lack of motivation capacity and opportunity.
The problem-solving approach
The assumptions underlying the problem-solving approach are:
- All human-living is a problem-solving process
- The process of problem solving relies on the use of such ego functions as perception, cognition, memory, impulse control and judgment.
Problem-solving casework attempts to correct deficits in a persons problem-solving abilities by:
- Releasing, energizing and giving direction to a clients motivation
- Releasing and exercising a clients mental, emotional and action capacities for coping with problems, and thereby, releasing the ego functions required for the problem
- Finding and making accessible to the client the resources need to solve problems
Problem-solving casework involves the four P’s:
1) Person= A product in the process of becoming (an open-ended system that reacts and interacts continuously with the environment)
2) Problem= A problem causes discomfort. It arises from a person to person or a person to task relationship.
3) Place= The agency(Function,service and area of concern)
4) Process= Stimulating and supporting a clients exercise of ego functioning
The hallmark of this approach is that the clients own view of the problem must be emphasized. Problems stem from unfulfilled desires and are an inherent part of living. The client must collaborate in this process. This is a highly-structured approach. They are generally only 8 to 12 sessions.
Brief task-centered treatment
Characteristics to brief task-centered treatment:
- That assessment is made. It is problem centered. Remember that the clients view of the problem is the majority of the assessment.
- The situational and psychological aspects of the problem are explored.
- The clients resources are delineated.
- A contract is formulated (usually by the end of the first session)
- Problem-solving task are outlined.
- Termination begins in the first session (The client and social worker decide the length of therapy sessions)
This perspective is the study of the relationship between an organism and its environment. This approach is based on a transactional view of the relationship. Transactions between a person’s coping patterns and the quality of his or her environment constitute a person- situation duality. The premise underlying this approach is that people’s needs and predicaments results from organism: Environment exchanges, not from personality or environment alone.
The ecological perspective
The concepts of the ecological perspectives approach are:
- adaptedness= Goodness of fit with the environment. This refers to an adaptive balance of an individual rights, needs, capacities and goals with his physical and social environment.
- Stress= Can either be a positive or negative person: Environment relationship. It encompasses the environmental demand and the accompanying subjective experience of physiological and psychological stress.
- Coping = The psychological, physiological and behavioral response that is set in motion as a result of stress. The major functions of coping are problem-solving, managing negative feelings and maintaining self-esteem.
- Niche and habitat = Niche refers to the status occupied by an individual or group within a given social structure and is related to issues of power and oppression. Habitats are places where organisms are found. A habitat must support life.
- Relatedness, competence, self-direction and self-esteem/identity= these concepts help the practitioner focus on the transactional nature of the person:environment relationship.
