Neoliberalism in clinical social work practice: the benefits and limitations of embedded ideals of individualism and resiliency

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Zilberstein
Keyword(s):  
Social Workers ◽  
Underserved Populations ◽  
Clinical Social Work ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Culturally Competent ◽  
Service Usage ◽  
Clinical Social Work Practice ◽  
Structural Inequities ◽  
Racial Ethnic

Social workers either treat or refer clients to psychotherapies that reflect dominant societal beliefs with neoliberal underpinnings. Despite efforts to adapt treatments to different racial, ethnic and socio-economic groups, deeply embedded values of individuality and resilience remain in most mainstream psychotherapies. While the field is broad, encompassing hundreds of different therapies with various goals, deliveries and indicators of change, most modern treatments draw upon such ideas. Neoliberal values of free choice, creativity, self-expression and permission for people to shape themselves confer many benefits, but they also limit the conception and delivery of interventions, and contribute to inequality in service usage and outcomes. By critically analysing neoliberal cultural ideas of resiliency and individualism, and how they embed themselves in psychotherapeutic theories and practice, social workers may be able to create treatments that are more culturally competent and palatable to underserved populations and those suffering from the effects of structural inequities.

scholarly journals Listening to our Stillness: Giving Voice to Our Spirituality (Spirituality & Clinical Practice)

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wanda Wagler-Martin
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Clinical Social Work ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Clinical Social Work Practice

This paper explores the integration of spirituality in clinical social work practice. Social Work’s history with respect to spirituality and practice, and the tensions that have existed, are reviewed. Further, the paper outlines a rationale for the importance of this integration, while also looking at obstacles to including spirituality in practice that some social workers encounter. Interventions are posed as a possible means to facilitate the integration of spirituality and clinical social work practice.

Professional Mistakes and Variables Associated with them in Clinical Social Work Practice

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (2B) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hend Al-Ma’seb
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Clinical Social Work ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Theoretical Knowledge ◽  
Clinical Social Workers ◽  
The Social ◽  
Clinical Social Work Practice

Abstract Professional errors that clinical social workers make in their practice can affect not only the helping process, but also the social workers themselves and their clients. This study aims to explore the variables associated with professional errors in clinical social work practice. The sample (N = 198) used in the study consisted of social workers in Kuwait. The findings of the study revealed a significant relationship between the participants’ nationality and the theoretical knowledge errors component. In addition, a significant relationship was found between social work workshops and theoretical knowledge and ethics & values error components. A significant relationship was also found between familiarity with the latest empirical studies in social work and six types of professional errors, excepting terminations errors. However, the findings of the study showed that there are no significant relationships between variables like gender, age, and years of experience of the social workers and all types of professional errors. Keywords: professional errors, clinical social workers, social work, mistakes

Pornography, religiosity, and social work

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 557-575 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian A Droubay ◽  
Robert P Butters
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Clinical Social Work ◽  
Social Work Students ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Clinical Social Work Practice

Summary The effects of pornography have received increased scrutiny in the digital age. Several U.S. states have recently passed resolutions declaring pornography a public health crisis, and clients are increasingly seeking help for related concerns. Given the pornography debate encompasses micro and macro arenas, social workers have reason to be engaged. But there is a dearth of literature examining social workers' views on these issues. Given values play an integral role in informing attitudes about sexuality, we sought to better understand the role of religiosity in shaping social work students’ views on pornography via a web-based survey ( n = 136). Findings Results from a path analysis suggest highly religious students are more likely to believe pornography is a serious public health issue, and this relationship is mediated through their perception of pornography’s addictiveness. Applications That highly religious social work students are more likely to pathologize pornography has implications for policy advocacy and clinical social work practice. If highly religious social workers are more likely to rate pornography as addictive, they may be more likely to pathologize their clients' use of it. This is significant in that addiction is a heavy label that may harm clients. Our findings further speak to the importance of educating social work students and practitioners about reflexivity, not only in the context of individual practice but also in the macro practice arena. We argue that staying cognizant of their biases and utilizing a biopsychosocial perspective, social workers can bring a valuable perspective to the pornography debate.

scholarly journals Clinical Social Workers: Advocates for Social Justice

10.18060/209 ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Marie McLaughlin
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Clinical Social Work ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Strong Relationship ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Clinical Social Workers ◽  
Clinical Social Work Practice ◽  
Advocacy Role

Advocacy activities provide an avenue for all social workers to connect their practice with the profession’s aim of social justice. In fact, it is this social justice connection to the advocacy role that may distinguish social work from other professions. Yet advocacy remains a controversial practice for many clinical social workers. This study reports on one aspect of a larger study (McLaughlin, 2006), which examined how clinical social workers in mental health conceptualized social justice as part of their work. The data revealed a strong relationship exists between clinical social work practice, social justice and advocacy. The concept of advocacy that emerged from the data was multi-dimensional and included strategies that were instrumental, educational, and practical.

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