Foundations of Interpersonal Practice in Social Work

Associate Professor Emeritus Brett Seabury has a primary interest in interpersonal practice and has practiced social work in mental health and child welfare settings, as well as in the U.S. Army. His current research and teaching interests are social work education, time-limited practice, using metaphors in social work practice, and indigenous (alternative) healing systems. His most current interests involve the use of information technology in the classroom, and the use of the Internet to deliver interactive video simulations designed to teach social work practice skills. Another area of research/scholarly interest is mental health. He retired in June 2009.

This is a core text for one of the most important courses social work students take in any BSW and MSW program: Direct Practice. This course teaches the fundamental values, knowledge and actions that constitutes the practice of social work. It is the skills they learn in their various direct practice courses that become directly relevant to their work as social workers. This text offers basic generalist practice methods which emphasize the common elements in working with individuals, families and groups. The goal upon completion of this course is for students to become efficient in enhancing an individual's social functioning by helping them become more proficient in examining and resolving their problems. The authors break the book into distinct parts that first focus on laying a foundation of the profession of social work: ethics, values, and knowledge base. It then goes in to the sequence of events in the helping process by addressing the beginning, middle and ending stages of working with a client or family. The last group of chapters identitifies skills that are necessary when working with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities and finally looks at the task of termination.

PrefaceAcknowledgments1. Interpersonal Practice in Social Work: Nature and Scope Definition of Social Work Interpersonal Practice Use of Ecological Concepts The Scope of Practice The Bases of Interpersonal Practice Summary2. Basic Assumptions and Concepts Rationale Underlying Assumptions Metaphors Basic Concepts: Client, Worker; Target, and Action Systems Summary3. Values, Ideology, and Ethics of Professional Social Work The Ideology of the Social Work Profession The Social Work Code of Ethics Value Conflicts in Practice Practice Cases With Ethical Issues Summary4. Interpersonal Practice Beyond Diversity and Toward Social Justice: The Importance of Critical Consciousness by Beth Clover Reed, Peter A. Newman, Zulema E. Suarez, and Edith A. Lewis What is Critical Consciousness? Mayor Dimensions of Multiculturalism and Some Terminology Key Social Group Categories and Related Terminology How Do Multiple Identities Work? Routes to Critical Consciousness and Multicultural Competence The Application of Critical Consciousness to Practice Summary5. Violence and Trauma Recognition of Violence and Trauma Types of Trauma Assessment of Trauma Consequences of Trauma: Symptoms of Psychological and Emotional Injury Treatment Options Risk Screening Protocols Summary6. Engagement and Relationship Definition of the Social Work Relationship Power Dimensions in Professional Relationships Stages of the Professional Relationship Transactional Nature of the Professional Relationship Why Is Relationship So Important? Conscious Use of Self Importance of Hope The Initiation of Relationships Relationships in Group Situations Relationships in Family Situations Summary7. Becoming a Client Definition of a Client Overview of the Clienthood Process Pathways to Clienthood The Entry Process The Worker¿s Tasks With Applicants Tasks With Nonclients "Significant Others" in the Client¿s Life Defining the Client in a Multiperson Client System Agency Conditions and Definitions of Client Continuance and Discontinuance Orientation to the Client Role The Initiation of Problem Solving The Preliminary Contract Summary8. Contracting Components of a Social Work Contract Characteristics of a Social Work Contract Value of the Contract Approach Limits of Contracting Contracting With Families and Groups Summary9. Monitoring and Evaluating Change Monitoring Evaluation Side Effects Summary10. Assessing Individuals Purposes of Assessments Issues in Use of Sources Individual Assessment Framework Stress Assessment Crisis Assessment Assessment as a "Label" PIE - The Person-in-Environment System Summary11. Individual Change The Context of Interpersonal Change Interventive Roles Overcoming Barriers Crisis Intervention Role Solutions Summary12. Assessing Families What Is a Family? Measurement of System Variables Family Assessment The Process of Family Assessment Obtaining Family Assessment Data Categorizing Family Circumstances Ways of Portraying Family Conditions Summary13. Family Change Occasions for Family Interventions Prior to the First Family Session The Initial Sessions The Family Change Stage Phase of the Family Life Cycle Endings Summary14. Assessing Groups Types of Groups Therapeutic/Effectiveness Variables Group Development Assessing Group Dynamics Summary15. Group Change Working With Elders in a Support Group First Group Session Second Group Session The First Session of a Closed Group Leadership Interventions Interpersonal Conflict in Groups Conclusion Summary16. Assessing Organizations and Communities Organizational Assessment Community Assessment Summary17. Change in Organizations and Communities Ethics of Organizational and Community Change Theories of Organizational Change Community Change Summary18. Termination The Tasks of Termination Termination Issues in Group Work Termination Issues With Families Worker Termination Problematic Terminations SummaryBibliographyIndexAbout the Authors