Clinical Practice in SW

Question 1

What is the purpose of clinical practice in social work?

Answer 1

seeks to improve internalized negative effects on:

• health
• vocational
• family
• interpersonal problems

help individuals, couples, and families

both agency and private

goals (improve social functioning)

• help individuals change
• facilitate personal adjustment
• tx of emotional disorders and mental illness
• enhance intrapsychic / interpersonal functioning

assessment is psychosocial (person in environment)

Question 2

Name 4 theoretical approaches to social work practice

Answer 2

Psychosocial - focuses on intrapsychic and interpersonal change

Problem-solving - solve distinct problems

Behavior Modification - reduce problem behaviors, while learning alternative positive behaviors

Cognitive - reducing negative thoughts, distorted thinking, and dysfunctional beliefs

Question 3

What is the knowledge base necessary for clinical practice?

Answer 3

• individual behavior, growth, and development result from complex interaction of psychological and environmental factors
• know theories of personality development
• understand systems theory
• DSM-5
• understand influences (ethnicity, immigration status, occupation, race, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic class)

Question 4

What is included in the assessment process in clinical practice?

Answer 4

• identify the presenting problem?
• is there a match between the problem and available services?
• continuous data collection, and reassessment to help understand client’s problems
• making a clinical dx
• identify other sources of information (family interviews, home visits, teachers, clergy, doctors, social agencies, and friends)

clinical dx should include:

• an understanding of the client’s problems based on collected data
• determines client’s functioning
• identifies relevant medical / physical condition and its influence on emotional life/functioning

Question 5

Describe the purpose of contract/goal setting?

Answer 5

it is not limited to an initial working agreement, but part of the total tx process

can facilitate the client’s action in problem solving, staying focused, and the continuation in tx

an explicit agreement between client and worker

identify targets and goals
strategies for intervention
identify tasks of the client and worker

it should be explicit, realistic, and flexible