Using the Strengths Perspective in Social Work Practice: A Positive Approach for the Helping Professions

Using the Strengths Perspective in Social Work Practice explains the major ideas behind the strengths perspective and then demonstatres through case studies and discussion how helping professionals can apply the strengths perspective in practice. The book is very research-oriented and includes a great deal of new research on topics such as natural healing in addicted clients, self-management of mental illness, a positive view of change in clients diagnosed with mental illness, the effectivenss of self-help groups, research on resilience in children and adults who have expereinced life traumas, research on the importance of spirituality and religious involvement, and new research data on the helping process. Most of research used in this book has been published since 2000. The book has a unique feature: a critical response section at the end of every chapter in which clinicans and researchers have an opportunity to critically respond to ideas presented. This, in effect, provides an evidence-based approach to the material in the book. Because the book shows the application of the strengths perpective in practice, Dr. Glicken includes examples showing how to apply the approach with complex client problems including abuse, domestic violence, mental illness, addictions, and other complex problems often dealt with by clinicans in the helping professions. The book is written for the helping professions and includes the work of Martin Seligman in Psychology on learned optimism, Robert Putnam on community life in America, and Dennis Saleebey, one of the original writers on the strengths perspective in social work.

Table of Contents:
All chapters include an “Introduction,” “Summary, ” “Integrative Questions,” and “References.” Preface. Acknowledgement. Dedication. I. THE CORE BELIEFS OF THE STRENGTHS PERSPECTIVE. 1. Introduction to the Strengths Perspective. A Definition of the Strengths Perspective. Elements of the Strengths Perspective. Case Study: An Unemployed Executive. Discussion. Concerns Regarding The Strengths Perspective. Response. Concerns About the Strengths Perspective from Practitioners. Discussion. 2. A Strengths Model of Diagnosis. A Partial List of Client Strengths. Diagnosing Negative Behaviors. Discussion. 3. The Strengths Perspective: Psychosocial Assessments. Case Study: Mr. Solomon. Discussion of the Case. Using the Strength's Perspective with Mr. Solomon. A Critical Response. 4. Spiritual and Religious Beliefs (with Liza Frasier). Case Study: Sam and Ed. Training Helping Professionals to Use Spirituality and Religion. A Critical Response. 5. The Strengths Perspective and the Client-Worker Relationship. Relationships and the Strengths Perspective. The Elements of the Helping Relationship in the Strengths Perspective. Guidelines for Establishing Rapport. A Critical Response. 6. Resilience and the Strengths Perspective. Bobby: A Maltreated Child. Discussion. Treating Resilient Children. Janie: A Resilient Sexually Molested Child in Treatment. Discussion. The Two of Us: Poem. A Resilient Child Copes with Adulthood. Discussion. Critical Response. II. THE IMPORTANCE OF CULTURE: TWO EXAMPLES. 7. Utilizing the Strengths Perspective with the Culturally Traditional Latino Client in Crisis (with Mina Garza). The Latino Way of Resolving Crisis. Culturally Relevant Work with Latino Clients. General Principles of Latino Crisis Intervention. The Landscape of Latino Crisis. Critical Response. 8. The Ethnically Asian Client in Crisis and the Strengths Perspective: A Collectivist Approach (with Steven Ino). Understanding the Elements of Collectivism. When Asian Clients Fail to Cope. Treatment Issues Involving the Collective Self. Bicultural Identity Development. Case Study: Jennifer. Significant Euro American-Asian American Relationship. Case Study: James and Lisa. Significant Loss. Case Study: Keiko. Family Expulsion. Case Study: Nguyen. Dysfunctional Asian American Family. Case Study: Jane. A Critical Response. III. THE HELPING IMPULSE OF THE COMMUNITY. 9. Natural Helpers: Community Strengths. Natural Helpers. A Case Study. Discussion. Promotoras: Bridging the Gap Between the Community and Professionals. Discussion. Self-Help Groups. A Case Study. Discussion. Positive Psychology. Mentoring. Critical Response. IV. THE STRENGTHS PERSPECTIVE WITH SPECIAL POPULATIONS. 10. The Strengths Perspective with Abusive Clients and Their Victims. Case Study: Abusive Behavior. Discussion. Case Study: Victim of Abusive Behavior. Discussion. Effectiveness Research. Critical Response Perspective with Substance Abusers. Treatment Effectiveness Research. Case Study: Alcohol Abuse. Discussion. Case Study: Drug Abuse. Critical Response. 11. The Strengths Perspective with the Mentally Ill. Definitions of Mental Illness. Treatment Effectiveness Research. Case Study: Questions About DSM-IV. Discussion. Case Study: Medication and Treatment. Discussion. Critical Response. 12. The Strengths Perspective with Illness, Disability, and Dying. Serious Illness. Case Study. Discussion. Disability. Case Study. Discussion. Dying Case Study. Discussion. Critical Response. 13. The Strengths Perspective with Aging Clients. Treatment Considerations. Effectiveness Research. Case Study: Depression. Discussion. Case Study: Death of a Spouse. Discussion. Critical Response. V. A STRENGTHS PERSPECTIVE APPROACH TO SOCIAL CHANGE. 14. Social Change. The Strengths Perspective View of the Worker as Social Change Agent. Socially Responsible Behavior in Clients. Institutional Change. Critical Response. Index.