Common Practice Models in Social Work PDF

Common Practice Models in Social Work Model - definition: A thing used as an example to follow or to imitate. While social workers integrate various clinical theories into their practice, they can also implement specific therapeutic models. The theories above may explain the causes of a person's str...

Common Practice Models in Social Work Model - definition: A thing used as an example to follow or to imitate. While social workers integrate various clinical theories into their practice, they can also implement specific therapeutic models. The theories above may explain the causes of a person's struggles; however, practice models allow social workers to carry out specific approaches to treat those struggles. The section below outlines some of the most common practice models, including: a. cognitive behavioral therapy, b. crisis intervention model, c. narrative therapy, d. problem-solving model, e. solution-focused therapy, and f. task-centered therapy. N.B: Some of these methods overlap or share characteristics with each other, but each serves a purpose for specific clients and circumstances. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) identifies unhealthy patterns of thinking and attempts to rewrite these patterns. People often convince themselves that their frequently distorted thoughts are true. CBT forces individuals to question and confront these distortions. For instance, somebody might find themselves in fear of social situations, because they imagine a worst-case scenario that they will humiliate themselves. CBT pushes that person to examine these assumptions and instead consider new scenarios and outlooks. People who struggle with anxiety and depression often find CBT helpful, and many clinical social workers incorporate CBT into their therapeutic practice. Crisis intervention model Crisis intervention model is much what it sounds like: in times of acute psychological strain or distress, social workers and mental health professionals intervene before that crisis turns into harm. Albert Roberts and Allen Ottens propose seven steps to crisis intervention. These include: a. conducting a safety assessment, b. establishing psychological contact, c. identifying the major problems, d. helping the patient explore their feelings, e. looking for new coping mechanisms, f. creating an action plan, and g. planning follow-ups. Social workers can use the crisis intervention model for 1. clients suffering from major trauma, 2. post-traumatic stress disorder, or 3. suicidal thoughts, among others. This model of crisis intervention works in a voluntary manner, which means that clients must be open to the process. Narrative therapy Narrative therapy is based on the theory that individuals turn their personal experiences into stories. In other words, they create narratives of their own lives. This type of therapy relies on four major principles: "objective truth" does not exist; reality is a social construct; language can influence how we view reality; and narratives help us organize our personal realities. Narrative therapy encourages clients to distance themselves from their personal experiences by taking on the role of a narrator and rewriting the script. This can help them change harmful and disruptive thinking patterns, especially those shaped by trauma. The problem-solving model Helen Harris Perlman proposed the problem-solving model in the 1950s specifically for the field of social work. At the time, many social work theories and therapies relied on psychotherapy; Perlman instead argued that social workers could more effectively help clients by focusing on one problem at a time. Focusing on smaller problems allows clients to develop and follow through with action plans to confront those issues in a manageable way. This method -- also called "partializing" -- would make therapies more manageable for social workers and clients alike, and professionals still use Perlman's proposals. Solution-focused therapy Solution-focused therapy, or solution focused brief therapy, concentrates on an individual's present and future situations. This therapy involves a departure from psychodynamic-influenced theories that focus on a person's past and childhood. Solution-focused therapy proposes immediate, manageable solutions that allow patients to better cope with their problems. A mental health professional or social worker employing this type of therapy might challenge a client to imagine their future life without their problem, or they might help individuals recognize and better harness copy mechanisms that they already use. Social workers might implement solution-focused therapy for adolescents with behavioral problems or families with conflicts, to name a couple of examples. Task-centered practice Task-centered practice shares many principles with the problem-solving model and solution-focused therapy, but it tends to follow an even more focused and quick approach. Task-centered practice usually only lasts 8-12 sessions, and clients concentrate on achieving measurable goals. Clients and social workers create action plans with specific tasks, and then clients carry out those tasks. Social workers can integrate this type of therapy into many different types of settings. They might work with students with d isruptive behavioral issues, soon-to-be-discharged hospital patients, or older clients at nursing homes. Important Social Work Theories & Practice Models | SocialWorkGuide.org