Case study
Salman Wahid
SWK313Module2Week4_Theoriescontinued_Powerpoint2019.pptxEngaging with individuals and families
SWK 313 Module 2
Week 4
Module 2: Online Learning Activity
Review the theories explored in Module 2
Briefly outline two theories for practice that appeal to you, reflecting on the factors that have shaped your decision and including a critical analysis of each theory.
Week 3 Recap
We covered some theories that inform practice
We explored how and why practitioners use theory
Our journey includes…
Psychodynamic Approaches
Task Centred
Crisis Intervention
Cognitive Behavioural Practice
Humanistic, existential approaches and spirituality
Strengths, narrative & solution practice*
Systems & Ecological Approaches*
Community Development
Critical perspectives
Feminist perspectives
Anti-Oppressive & Anti-Discriminatory Practice*
Empowerment and Advocacy
4
Strengths, Narrative & Solution Practice
Strengths, Narrative & Solution Practice
Social psychology – how relationships between and within groups create/maintain social identity (roles)
Constructivist theory – how we process reality through perceptions, rational thinking and cognition (internal focus)
Social Construction theory – focus on meaning made through shared language and interactions with others (internal & external focus)
Contrast with traditional ‘problem’ oriented practice & diagnostic approaches
Post modernist – challenges “rational scientific” knowledge based on one “truth” – many perspectives & alternatives
Used in range of practice contexts – individuals, groups, community work
General Practice Issues and Concepts
Incorporates both social and psychological perspectives
Strengths-based practice (Saleeby)
Narrative Therapy (White & Epston)
Solution-focused Brief Therapy (de Shazer)
Non-judgemental, avoids blame
Client directed goals
Future-focused
Builds resilience
Change through change in understanding of social experience
Allows for broad definition of resources (e.g. social)
Attends to client’s language, interpretation and meaning-making (deconstruction)
Historical context of interactions is significant
Resources
Solution-focused Brief Therapy - http://www.briefsolutions.com.au/btis/ index.html
Narrative therapy - http://dulwichcentre.com.au /
Critical analysis
Focuses on the individual and ignores structural factors
Constraints in statutory practice contexts
Unstructured model for practice
“Strengths” defined in superficial terms and can lead to lack of resources or support for clients that address the real issues
Emphasis on worker competence and ‘manipulation of client’
Systems & Ecological Perspectives
Systems and Ecological Perspectives
1960s & 70s – grew from sociological perspectives
“Person-environment”
Ecomaps
Systems interact in complex ways
Links to social development, family therapy…
New approaches include the environmental sustainability of social work - global focus
Broadens thinking beyond the individual person to see them in context
General Practice Issues and Concepts
Psychosocial casework & assessment
Systems – open vs. closed
Identify systems which can be a target for change
Life stressors & changes in one area can affect other areas of the ‘system’
“Adaptation”, “transition”, “equilibrium”, “input/throughput/output”…
Networks – social networks, support networks, “connectedness”, resources (e.g. emotional, financial)
Family Therapy – treatment does not focus on one person, no one person is the ‘issue’ (lots of variables and complexity)
Critical analysis
More emphasis on changing environments but does not account for power
Assumes systems are interdependent – are they?
Descriptive rather than explanatory
Non prescriptive and generalist (this can be a positive too)
Slow and manageable change – focus on adaption
Complexity of system analysis can be a barrier to clear action
Resources
http://www.strongbonds.jss.org.au/workers/cultures/ ecomaps.html
Community Development
Community Development
Seeks to incorporate social progress with economic development
Community work is a practice helping people come together to identify issues and concerns and take action to resolve them.
Poverty and social exclusion are important targets of social development
Individualist strategies focus on self-actualization, self determination and self improvement
Collectivist strategies emphasize building organizations as the basis for developing new approaches to action
General Practice Issues and Concepts
Activation
Capacity building
Developing social capital
Social inclusion
Consultation, social planning, partnerships
Sustainable development
Worker as catalyst
Provides a wider focus than client-focused use of systems theory
Resources
Examples of Community Development jobs in Australia:
http://www.ethicaljobs.com.au/community-development- jobs
Critical Practice
Critical Practice
Many different strands and variations
Transformational – change rejects capitalist, economic rationalist approaches
Emancipatory – freeing people from existing social order
Radical Social Work (1970’s) has developed into the critical perspective (1990’s)
Challenges social policy and decisions based on economic rationalism
Structural focus – how power operates is important for how people experience their world
Focus on consciousness raising
Anti-Oppressive Practice is part of this tradition
General Practice Issues and Concepts
Social problems are created by social structure and culture that is shaped by dominant groups who actively oppress others
Focus on structural issues and factors (macro) rather than individual (micro)
Examines and challenges the cause of inequality and oppression
Work towards equality, social change
Raises consciousness to take collective action
Rejects neo-liberalism
Questioning practices that lead to social control and isolation
Historical context is important
Discourses – debates, dialogue
Praxis – interaction between experience, awareness that informs understanding, action
Incorporates a range of traditions – Marxism, feminism, structuralism, social construction, empowerment & postmodern ideas
Critical analysis
Overwhelming in scale – demotivating
Not guide practice with individuals
Does not address immediate needs – ethical?
Overlooks importance of emotions, personal experience
Generalisations about groups in society, and not sensitive to experiences of marginalised individuals within those groups
Contradiction of social work – agents of control, suppress social change?
Multidimensional understanding of power?
Exclude potential allies and resources
Complexity of theory, language and concepts – exclude people who are marginalised?
Something to consider…
Feminist approaches
Feminist Perspectives
Long history with many differentiated perspectives
Gender analysis and understanding
Focus on patriarchy
Gender equality
Liberal, Radical, Socialist, postmodern variations
Identifies power relations in the profession – e.g. domestic violence and sexual violence
“The personal is political”
General Practice Issues and Concepts
Identity
Deconstruction of social discourses regarding gender
Non-sexist work
Consciousness Raising
Reflexivity
Dialogic egalitarian relationship
Social and personal identity
Diversity?
Resources
Everyday Sexism Project
https ://twitter.com/EverydaySexism?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^ author
Women’s Empowerment Principles
AOP & Anti-Discriminatory Practice
AOP & Anti-Discriminatory Practice
Influential in 1980s-90s
Dalrymple & Bourke (1995) – a comprehensive and principles-based framework in which partnership is central
Provides a framework for action and intervention at the primary (prevention), secondary (early intervention) and tertiary (remediation) levels
Combats institutionalized discrimination
Concerned about racism and other forms of prejudice relating to age, gender, sexuality, disability
Personal cultural and social factors are all relevant to discrimination
Beyond culturally sensitive practice
General Practice Issues and concepts
Discrimination and oppression
Ethnicity and cultural issues
Civil rights
Human rights
Service user rights
Inclusion/exclusion
Advocates
Increase choice, minimise barriers
Awareness of worker power is central
Every day action linked to broader change
Focus is on prevention rather than excessive
and oppressive intervention (i.e. crisis point)
Resources:
Australian Human Rights Commission - https ://www.humanrights.gov.au /
Empowerment & Advocacy
General Practice Issues & Concepts
Help people gain power to make decisions over their own lives
Reduce barriers to exercising power and control over self
Service user perspectives & user-led practice
Build capacity and confidence
Safeguard rights
Policy change
Advocacy - represent the interests of the less powerful – legal foundations
Used within a range of practice contexts (e.g. mental health, disability sector, children’s rights, welfare rights)
Aligned with feminist, critical and anti-oppressive practice
Can be used in micro practice and connected to psychological-based theories
Critical Analysis
Does not necessarily lead to structural change – focused on reducing/removing barriers rather than large scale social change
Does not offer a structural understanding of disadvantage
Can use empowerment and advocacy without commitment to AOP or critical practice (case advocacy vs cause/systemic advocacy)
Modernist understanding of power (held by social groups) is limited and does not allow a multidimensional understanding of how power operates in a society at a given time
Broad definition of empowerment – contested
Different levels of empowerment?
Can we really “empower” others?
Whose interests are really represented?
Thanks!
The Cognitive Model
Provided by TherapistAid.com © 2015
Situation something happens
Thought
the situation is interpreted
Emotion
a feeling occurs as a result of the thought
Behavior
an action in response to the emotion
