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Integrating Theory and Practice

Strengths based practice

Agenda

Moving into practice

How does theory relate to practice?

An eclectic approach

Strengths based practice

Context-rich Practice

Moving into Practice

How does theory relate to practice?

Early theories from last week How might they relate?

Defenses

A child seeks autonomy

Identity seeking Will I be an engineer or a social worker?

Many older theories are less useful Gender roles and understanding

Multicultural

Postmodern thinking

Policy work?

Beginning to pull it together

eclecticism

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Theory

Psychologically based theory

Focus in individual history, issues

Look for causes, often in family or in self

But, if social work exists where the client meets the system,psychologically based theory cannot address the system adequately

Sociologically based theory

Focus on system, looks for causes in context

But, does not adequately consider the psychological system

Strengths based work

Excellent, but does not always give enough credence to the persistence ofthe problem/issue

Eclecticism?some might equate this with biopsychosocial

No one theory can have all the answers

Not just taking bits and pieces of various theories and putting them into onehelping session

Social Worker needs to know and have tried many theories

Social Worker may have found specific areas of work, or particular populationgroups, where concepts of one particular theory are particularly helpful

Yet, social worker may not find any theory entirely helpful in a case or in theirpractice

Eclecticism provides an opportunity to take the best of all, the elements thatwork with a particular client group, the elements t hat work in addressing aparticular issue

But requires a critical stance

Not passive acceptance of the theory

Overview of Eclecticism

A broad general system

Requires basic understanding of underpinnings of psychological,sociological and counselling theories

Personality remains a vitally important base

Person in environment brings psychology and sociology together

Requires flexibility and knowledge in counsellor

Interactional ApproachShulman. 2006. The Skills of Helping Individuals, Families, Groups and Communities.

Client system interaction

Based in systems theory but integrating several otheroptions as the counsellor finds helpful strategies fromother theories

Dynamic

Self-in-relation, to stay connected with others we putourselves in harms way

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Major Elements in Generalist-Eclectic

ApproachLehmann & Coady. 2001. Theoretical Perspectives for Direct Social Work Practice.

Elements include Person-in-environment

Development of good helping relationship

Flexible problem solving approach

Holistic assessment on multiple levels

Strengths base

Includes anti-oppressive stance

Flexible use of theories selected pertaining to particular situation

Strengths Based PracticeSaleebey. The Strengths Perspective in Social Work Practice.

What people have learned about self, other,world

Personal qualities, traits, talents

Cultural and personal stories

Pride

Community

Learn about strengths by true listening

Contextual ElementsPersonal Elements

Strengths

Blocks to Strengths

Adapted fromSaleebeys

Assessment Axes

Strengths based questions a few

examplesfrom Saleebey

Survival questions: How have you managed tosurvive this

Support questions: Who are the special peopleon whom you can depend?

Exceptional questions: When things were goingwell in life, what was different?

Possibility questions: What are your hopes,visions?

Esteem questions: When people say good thingsabout you, what are they apt to say?

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Context-Rich Practice

Why does context matter?

Think about Afganistan, about Haiti

Think about your own context

Think about the context of your clients

What is the impact?

An accident of birth?

And from here

Student presentationbegins this week

I will leave it up to the presenting group to

pose thought provoking questions for this

week.

Stay tuned