Learning from Classes
Evidence and Clinical Practice: By interacting with clients, I identified how intervention works for whom and under what conditions. I ensured that the treatment and services provided effective outcomes according clients’ needs. I have learned from this course that, in practice, I have to blend my expertise with available research while considering the values and expectations of clients.
Comparative Approaches to Change helped me develop advanced social work knowledge and skills by examining various clinical models of intervention, including systems theory, cognitive behavioral theory, and solution-focused theory. Through the course, I learned to make informed and thoughtful decisions in my practice, taking into consideration my personal beliefs, professional values and client characteristics. Social work uses different frameworks that explain the happenings in the lives of clients. The course gave me the impetus to develop my own practice framework.
Family Therapy 1: From my Course Instructor, I learned that “therapy is a cognitive re-engineering, a conversational surgery, and a social construction” (In class, October, 2013). Why should my conversations with families help them to address the concerns that they bring to therapy? I noticed the importance of communication and realized that clients are “conversational agents”. I listened to clients and responded with intervention.
Clinical Social Work Applications: I learned about the use of Outcome Measures in routine practice as a measurement tool to receive feedback from clients in order to prevent treatment failures. Outcome measures help to determine the impact of interventions on those who use social work services.
Diversity, Oppression, & Social Justice: “Social Workers are to pursue social justice” (CASW, 2008). I was taught to challenge social injustices in society, particularly those affecting vulnerable and oppressed members of society. I made reference to the civil rights movements in the United States and South Africa where Martin Luther King Jr and Nelson Mandela fought to oppress injustices in their respective countries. My motto for Social Work justice practice is “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” (Luther, 1963).
Family Therapy11: I am particularly inspired by the ideas of Harlene Anderson and Michael White on collaborative practice. Social work recognizes the importance of human relationships and the use of this relationship to effect change in the lives of people (NASW, 2008).
Comparative Approaches to Change helped me develop advanced social work knowledge and skills by examining various clinical models of intervention, including systems theory, cognitive behavioral theory, and solution-focused theory. Through the course, I learned to make informed and thoughtful decisions in my practice, taking into consideration my personal beliefs, professional values and client characteristics. Social work uses different frameworks that explain the happenings in the lives of clients. The course gave me the impetus to develop my own practice framework.
Family Therapy 1: From my Course Instructor, I learned that “therapy is a cognitive re-engineering, a conversational surgery, and a social construction” (In class, October, 2013). Why should my conversations with families help them to address the concerns that they bring to therapy? I noticed the importance of communication and realized that clients are “conversational agents”. I listened to clients and responded with intervention.
Clinical Social Work Applications: I learned about the use of Outcome Measures in routine practice as a measurement tool to receive feedback from clients in order to prevent treatment failures. Outcome measures help to determine the impact of interventions on those who use social work services.
Diversity, Oppression, & Social Justice: “Social Workers are to pursue social justice” (CASW, 2008). I was taught to challenge social injustices in society, particularly those affecting vulnerable and oppressed members of society. I made reference to the civil rights movements in the United States and South Africa where Martin Luther King Jr and Nelson Mandela fought to oppress injustices in their respective countries. My motto for Social Work justice practice is “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” (Luther, 1963).
Family Therapy11: I am particularly inspired by the ideas of Harlene Anderson and Michael White on collaborative practice. Social work recognizes the importance of human relationships and the use of this relationship to effect change in the lives of people (NASW, 2008).
Integration of Theory, Practice, Research and Policy
The values of Social Work embrace theory, practice, research and policy development. There is the need to join all these together for effective practice outcome due to their interconnectedness. Although clinical social work involves direct practice with clients, I believe the integration of these four areas of social work is important.
Example of Integration
Practice: Clinical Intervention for depression and anxiety cases that involved women in care centers.
Effective primary and secondary prevention of depression and anxiety.
Research: Women are twice as likely as men to experience depression (Nolen-Hoeksema, 2001, Angst,. 2002, Stoppard, 2012 ).
Theory: Cognitive Behavioral Theory. Behavior therapy can be effective in helping clients with depression (Turner, 2011, Zindel, Williams & Teas-dale, 2002, DeRubeis et al., 2005).
Policy: Mental health Act of Alberta 2007 and Alberta Health Care Act 2010
The values of Social Work embrace theory, practice, research and policy development. There is the need to join all these together for effective practice outcome due to their interconnectedness. Although clinical social work involves direct practice with clients, I believe the integration of these four areas of social work is important.
Example of Integration
Practice: Clinical Intervention for depression and anxiety cases that involved women in care centers.
Effective primary and secondary prevention of depression and anxiety.
Research: Women are twice as likely as men to experience depression (Nolen-Hoeksema, 2001, Angst,. 2002, Stoppard, 2012 ).
Theory: Cognitive Behavioral Theory. Behavior therapy can be effective in helping clients with depression (Turner, 2011, Zindel, Williams & Teas-dale, 2002, DeRubeis et al., 2005).
Policy: Mental health Act of Alberta 2007 and Alberta Health Care Act 2010