Generalist Practice Prof. Julie Smyth Social work Generalist Practice Prof. Julie Smyth

LAP BRAINSTORM Small group sharing of possible topics LAP worksheet introduction What is Social Work? Paper Discussion

SOCIAL WORK VALUES Respect for the dignity & uniqueness of the individual An individual’s right to self determination Confidentiality Advocacy and social action for the oppressed Accountability through program & policy evaluation Institutional orientation Respect for spiritual & religious beliefs Promoting social & economic justice, safeguarding human rights

SOCIAL WORK, A STRENGTHS-BASED PROFESSION EMPOWERMENT is at the core of the work.

Pathology  Empowerment Historically, helping professions were looking to a person’s deficits and shortcomings Freudian psychology focused on pathology, whereas today social workers assess strengths Everyone has strengths! Emphasizes abilities, values, interests, beliefs, resources, accomplishments, aspirations

SELF-AWARENESS Unless the social worker has a high level of self-awareness, it is very unlikely that they will be able to perceive what others are thinking and feeling.

Multi-systems practice MICRO  one-to-one work MEZZO  family, group & community practice MACRO  government and policy change

Urie Bronfenbrenner Ecological systems theory considers a child's development within the context of the systems of relationship that form his or her environment Five different interacting levels which impact development Social workers utilize this perspective when interacting with clients Ecological Systems Theory for Human Development is considered to be the most recognized and utilized social ecological model

Ecological systems theory MICROSYSTEM Immediate environment & relationships MESOSYSTEM Interactions between microsystems EXOSYSTEM Decisions that indirectly impact a person MACROSYSTEM Society, culture, political structure, etc. CHRONOSYSTEM The dimension of timing on a person’s development

microsystem These relationships are bidirectional: Family Friends Classmates Teachers Neighbors Partners

mesosystem Relationship between various microsystems: Example: If a child’s parents have a contentious relationship with that child’s friends, it will impact the child’s social experience and relationships Example: The relationship between divorced or separated parents greatly affects a child’s development Example: The interactions between residents at a homeless shelter impacts the entire environment and one individuals experience

exosystem the context wherein an individual has no active role, yet it impacts development: The physical structure of a house or a school The activities within ones community of which you are not taking part A father who travels abroad for months for several weeks at a time will impact the closeness of that child and its mother

macrosystem The cultural and political context in which a person exists: Influence of rural vs. urban environments Political context of your country of origin The larger context of racial or ethnicity perception

Chronosystem The effect of both the passing of time and the timing of important personal, political and social events: The age of a child growing up in Baltimore during the riots this year Growing up during wartime or the Civil Rights Movement The timing of the death of a loved one

MEDICAL MODEL SYSTEMS THEORY Defining the social work profession...

Changing framework MEDICAL MODEL SYSTEMS THEORY 1920s -1960s (Freud) SW viewed clients as “patients” who needed to be diagnosed & treated Medical labels given to psychiatric disorders, humanizing mental illness Enabled patients to adapt & adjust to their social situations 1960s – SW began to question Freud’s model & look to environmental factors Emphasizes looking beyond presenting problems to assess complex environments & relationships

PERSON-IN-ENVIRONMENT

What if I don’t like my client… or they don’t like me? Transference Counter-transference Defined: All client reactions, conscious or unconscious, to a clinical practitioner Working with an adolescent who reminds you of your little brother – this can unconsciously bring up either positive or negative emotions and reactions Defined: the effects of the social worker’s conscious and unconscious response to a client a social worker’s emotional entanglement with a client based on prior personal or professional experiences transferring (unconsciously) or projecting feelings from past relationship (interactions with others) onto a therapist