Important theories and models of practice in social work. SocialWorkGuide.org (2023)

Social workers are employed in a variety of settings, mentoring people from all walks of life. Regardless of the context, social workers can draw on some basic theories and practical models to help clients across the industry.

Each of the social work theories we describe below applies toMicro, Mezzo and Macro Practice Balls🇧🇷 In other words, social work professionals working with individuals, groups or entire systems can apply these theories to their practice. Furthermore, many of these theories have their roots in psychological and sociological research. This guide presents some of the most common theories and models practiced in this field.

Common theories and models of practice in social work.

Social work is a science in many ways. Social workers can guide their clients, but they do not carry out their practice based on their own opinion and/or style. Rather, social workers study specific research-based clinical theories to inform how to methodically implement clinical practice. In fact, clinical social workers must earn a bachelor's and master's degree to fully understand these theories and master models of therapeutic practice.

In essence, social work focuses on the person-in-environment (PIE) theory. This views clients in their psychosocial context and makes connections at the micro, mezzo and macro levels of social work practice. This guide explores how each model of theory and practice works within PIE theory.

Social workers learn about these theories during their training. You can learn more about these academic programs from these resources: A Guide toBachelor's Degree in Social Work,masters, youonline teachers.

Common Social Work Theories.

Social workers can incorporate components of different clinical theories into their work with clients. Some popular approaches for social workers are systems theories, social learning, psychosocial development, psychodynamic, transpersonal, and rational choices.

Many of these theories have been developed over the last century, and some are based on the psychoanalytic theories of Sigmund Freud. Some of these theories take a broad perspective (such as systems theory), while others focus on specific conflicts (such as psychosocial theory). Not all social workers use all theories, while some social workers may use elements of each. Below you will find more information about the most common social work theories.

systems theory

Systems theory postulates that human behavior is the result of a larger system composed of multiple elements, including the relationships between these elements and external factors such as its environment. These factors can affect a person's family, peers, school, work, or community. Sociologists have identified many different types of systems, including microsystems, mesosystems, exosystems, and macrosystems.

Social workers study how the systems their clients live in affect their behavior. For example, living in a poverty system can have a significant impact on how a person makes decisions. Social workers can use these systems to strategize to provide a more accurate treatment plan for their clients.

Social learning theory

Social learning theory, developed by psychologist Albert Bandura in the 1970s, explains how the behavior of other people can influence one's behavior. Bandura argued that people acquire behaviors by observing and imitating those around them. Unlike behavioral theories, social learning theory proposes that people actively mentally process other people's behavior before imitating it.

Social workers can consider social learning theory when working with children who engage in aggressive or violent behavior, for example. Children can imitate their parents or other important adults in their lives. When social workers can identify the source of a child's behavior, they can develop an effective treatment approach.

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theory of psychosocial development

Influenced by Freud's seminal work, psychologist Erik Erikson proposes various stages of development related to a person's ego identity, personal identity, and social and cultural identity. Erikson's theory holds that people face specific conflicts at different stages of their lives. These conflicts include:

• Trust versus distrust in childhood
• Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt in Early Childhood
• Initiative vs Guilt in Preschoolers
• diligence vs. school age inferiority
• identity vs. teenage role confusion
• Intimacy versus isolation in young adulthood
• Generativity versus stagnation in mid-adulthood
• Ego integrity versus despair in later life

Erikson's theory suggests that by effectively managing these stresses at all stages of life, people can develop a healthy ego. Social workers can take these conflicts into account when working with their clients. It is important to note that each stage relates to an emotional stage, which can also conflict with a developmental stage.

Psychodynamic Theory

Psychodynamic theory, introduced by Freud in the early 20th century and popularized by Carl Jung, Melanie Klein and Anna Freud, holds that our personality develops as a result of various internal forces. Freud wrote that our personality is largely formed during our early childhood and our personality consists of three main parts: id (drive), ego (decision making) and superego (conscience). Psychodynamic theory also prioritizes a person's unconscious thought process as the root of their behavior.

Social workers can use psychodynamic theory to help clients examine the underlying causes of certain behaviors, often taking clients' childhood into account to explain why they behave in certain ways. Social workers can provide different types of therapies based on psychodynamic theory, including dream analysis and transference.

See Also

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Transpersonal Theory

Transpersonal theory approaches people with a holistic philosophy, taking into account factors such as spirituality, the relationship between body and mind, and consciousness. Psychologists generally do not consider transpersonal theory to be scientific, but many therapists or mental health professionals incorporate elements of transpersonal theory into their practice. They may use meditation, mindfulness practices, or hypnotherapy with their patients.

rational choice theory

Rational choice theory argues that people make decisions and perform behaviors based on their own rational thought processes, especially when those decisions end up benefiting the individual. This theory directly contradicts some other clinical theories that suggest that people make decisions based on unconscious thought processes.

Although rational choice theory is commonly found in economic theory, social workers can apply these principles to their work as well. To understand why clients make certain decisions, social workers can examine how clients believe their decisions would benefit them. Social workers can also develop solutions and suggest resources to help clients achieve their goals.

Common Practice Models in Social Work

Although social workers incorporate various clinical theories into their practice, they may also implement specific therapeutic models. The above theories can explain the causes of a person's struggles; However, practice models allow social workers to undertake specific approaches to dealing with these struggles.

The following section describes some of the more common practice models, including cognitive behavioral therapy, the crisis intervention model, narrative therapy, problem solving model, solution-focused therapy, and task-focused therapy. Some of these methods overlap or share common characteristics, but each has a purpose for specific clients and circumstances.

cognitive behavioral therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) identifies unhealthy thinking patterns and attempts to rewrite those patterns.

People are usually convinced that their often distorted thoughts are true. CBT forces people to question and confront these distortions. For example, someone may dread social situations because they imagine the worst case scenario in which they will demean themselves. CBT urges this person to review these assumptions and instead consider new scenarios and perspectives.

People struggling with anxiety and depression often find CBT helpful, and many clinical social workers incorporate CBT into their therapeutic practice.

Crisis intervention model

The crisis intervention model is basically what it sounds like: in times of distress or acute mental need, social workers and mental health professionals intervene before the crisis turns to harm. Albert Roberts and Allen Ottens propose seven steps to crisis intervention. This includes conducting a safety assessment, making psychological contact, identifying key issues, helping the patient explore their feelings, finding new coping mechanisms, creating an action plan, and planning follow-up actions.

Social workers can use the crisis intervention model with clients suffering from severe trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, or suicidal thoughts, among other things. This crisis intervention model works on a voluntary basis, which means that clients must be open to the process.

narrative therapy

Narrative therapy is based on the theory that people transform their personal experiences into stories. In other words, they create narratives of their own lives. This type of therapy is based on four fundamental principles: "objective truth" does not exist; Reality is a social construction; Language can affect the way we see reality; and narratives help us organize our personal realities.

Narrative therapy encourages clients to step back from their personal experiences, taking on the role of the storyteller and rewriting the script. This can help them change harmful and disturbing thought patterns, especially those shaped by trauma.

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problem solving model

Helen Harris Perlman proposed the problem-solving model specifically for the field of social work in the 1950s. At the time, many social work theories and therapies were based on psychotherapy; Instead, Perlman argued that social workers could help clients more effectively by focusing on one issue at a time.

Focusing on smaller issues allows clients to develop and implement action plans to deal with these issues in a manageable way. This method, also called "biasing," would make therapies more manageable for both social workers and clients, and Perlman's suggestions are still used by clinicians.

Solution Focused Therapy

Solution-Focused Therapy, or Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, focuses on a person's present and future situation. This therapy involves moving away from psychodynamically biased theories that focus on a person's past and childhood.

Solution-focused therapy proposes immediate and manageable solutions that allow patients to better manage their problems. A psychiatrist or social worker using this type of therapy can challenge a client to imagine their future life without the problem, or can help people better identify and use copying mechanisms they are already using. Social workers can provide solution-focused therapy for teens with behavior problems or struggling families, to name just a few examples.

Task-focused practice

Task-focused practice shares many principles with the problem-solving model and solution-focused therapy, but tends to take an even more focused and accelerated approach. Task-based practice typically lasts only 8-12 sessions, with clients focused on achieving measurable goals. Clients and social workers create action plans with specific tasks, and then clients carry out those tasks.

Social workers can incorporate this type of therapy in many different types of settings. You might work with students with disruptive behavior issues, hospitalized patients close to discharge, or elderly clients in nursing homes.

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