SWK 645: Field Practicum III Presenter: Jennifer D. Street, LCSW Class Meeting Week Six

Agenda Welcome Situation of the Week Review stages of internship In small group In large group Review stages of internship Understanding of Self Selecting appropriate EBP interventions Announcements & Wrap-up

Review: The Stages of Internship Sweitzer and King’s theoretical approach to internship movement over semesters

The Five Stages are…. Anticipation Disillusionment Confrontation Competence Culmination These occur over the three semesters of field placement Task accomplishment: the attitudes, skills, & knowledge that you hope to acquire at each stage

A Relevant Review…. Understanding Yourself ……carrying the YOU into placement

Knowledge: There are two important types of knowledge you are gaining. Social work theories and skills Awareness of ‘self’ and how you use it & how it affects others

Self Awareness in Placement HELPS TO…. Reinforce your strengths Clarify why you are the way you are Identify the resources you have available Anticipate the challenges you will have in the internship Prevent unsuccessful outcomes in internship

‘Meaning Making’ The process of trying to understand what is happening to us Kegan believes ‘making meaning’, the ‘making sense’ of our lives, is the most fundamental human activity You will want to pay attention in placement to the sense you are making of encounters + how you are making sense of it A necessary challenging aspect of awareness, this introspection

Dealing with Difference TWO PITFALLS TO BE AWARE OF: Professional myopia – failing awareness that one’s point of view is just one of many leads to decision-making that fails to consider multiple possibilities for causes and solutions Difference vs deviance- how people describe something; does it include the notion that something’s wrong- when does a difference turn into a deviance? Or doesn’t it?

Recognizing what stage you are in…. What point in the placement experience are you embedded in? What does that specifically mean for you? What strengths do you have available going into this stage? What personal traps do you need to avoid? Take issues to seminar and supervision!

Self knowledge is dynamic… Unlike other knowledge, self knowledge is an ever changing process You are changing all the time Your system of meaning making is changing with you Become accustomed and committed to the work of self knowledge that pays big professional dividends!!

Self Understanding & Social Work You occupy a position of power over clients Your use of power must inherently be for the welfare of clients…..always…consistently Self understanding diminishes chance of projection: the unconscious tendency to believe that you see in others feelings & beliefs that are actually your own. Projection leads to poor decision-making & often leads to unethical practice

Components of Self Understanding Knowing your values Recognizing reaction patterns Appreciating your learning style Recognizing family patterns Recognizing your cultural identity Remembering what motivates you Considering unresolved issues

Comments about Self-Awareness?

Selecting appropriate EBP interventions

Let’s Talk…EBP What is it? Why does it matter How do you select an intervention? What methods can be used to evaluate your chose intervention? What do you do if the intervention chosen doesn’t work?

Example 1 Your client is a 15 year old female with history of suicidal ideation but she is not currently suicidal. Client reports current ideation, intent, and plan for self-injury. She demonstrates an intense love/hate relationship patterns with parents, friends, and boyfriends. Client’s mother is diagnosed with bi-polar I disorder and borderline personality disorder What is the first EBP that comes to mind for treatment of this client? Why? Provide your rational

Follow-Up While there isn’t only one correct answer, based on the information provided DBT-Dialectical Behavioral Therapy would be highly recommended for this client. Why, you ask?? Because client demonstrates extremes in emotion, difficulty, self-soothing, and inability to self-regulate. The core of DBT teaches mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal relationship skills

Example 2 Your client is a 30 year old male. Currently residing with his mother. Discloses a history of alcohol abuse and dependence but is in denial about the severity of current alcohol consumption. Client is unemployed. Has a history of witnessing domestic violence as a child and as an adult between his mother and past husbands. Client is very visual and artistic. Shows traits of dependent personality disorder and is in the pre-contemplation stage of change. What is the first EBP that comes to mind for treatment of this client? Why? Provide your rational

Follow-Up While there isn’t only one correct answer, based on the information provided I would recommend Motivational Interviewing along with Narrative Therapy Why, you ask?? Narrative therapy to engage the client’s creative side and promote an atmosphere where client can get encouragement and learn healthy relationship skills by interacting with the therapist through Narrative Letters. And Motivation Interviewing due to the stage of change as research supports that approach

Questions?

For Next Week Modules 1-7 O’hare Chapters 2-4 Ecollege assignment 2

Have a great week!