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

by Glicken, Morley D.

• ISBN13: 9780205335121
• ISBN10: 0205335128
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-09-02
• Publisher: Pearson

Summary

Using the Strengths Perspective in Social Work Practiceexplains 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

Preface	xiv
Acknowledgments	xvii
About the Author	xviii
PART I THE CORE BELIEFS OF THE STRENGTHS PERSPECTIVE	1	(62)
CHAPTER ONE Introduction to the Strengths Perspective	3	(15)
A DEFINITION OF THE STRENGTHS PERSPECTNE	3	(1)
ELEMENTS OF THE STRENGTHS PERSPECTNE	4	(5)
An Unemployed Executive: A Case Study	7	(2)
CONCERNS REGARDING THE STRENGTHS PERSPECTNE	9	(1)
CONCERNS ABOUT THE VALUE BASE OF PRACTITIONERS	9	(1)
RESPONSE	10	(2)
CONCERNS ABOUT THE STRENGTHS PERSPECTNE FROM PRACTITIONERS	12	(2)
RESPONSE TO PRACTITIONER CONCERNS	14	(1)
SUMMARY	15	(1)
INTEGRATIVE QUESTIONS	15	(1)
REFERENCES	16	(2)
CHAPTER TWO A Strengths Model of Diagnosis	18	(18)
THE STRENGTHS PERSPECTIVE AND DIAGNOSTIC LABELING	18	(2)
MEASURING STRENGTHS	20	(1)
FORTY FIVE CLIENT STRENGTHS TO CONSIDER IN DIAGNOSIS	21	(7)
EVIDENCE OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CLIENT STRENGTHS AND POSITIVE BEHAVIORS	28	(2)
EXPLAINING THE PURPOSE OF THE CRITICAL RESPONSE	30	(1)
A CRITICAL RESPONSE	30	(3)
SUMMARY	33	(1)
INTEGRATIVE QUESTIONS	33	(1)
REFERENCES	34	(2)
CHAPTER THREE The Strengths Perspective: Psychosocial Assessments	36	(12)
CASE STUDY: MR. SOLOMON, THE CHILD OF HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS	36	(8)
USING THE STRENGTHS PERSPECTIVE WITH MR. SOLOMON	44	(2)
A CRITICAL RESPONSE	46	(1)
SUMMARY	46	(1)
INTEGRATIVE QUESTIONS	46	(1)
REFERENCES	47	(1)
CHAPTER FOUR The Strengths Perspective and the Client-Worker Relationship	48	(15)
OVERVIEW OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THERAPEUTIC RELATIONSHIPS	48	(1)
RELATIONSHIPS AND THE STRENGTHS PERSPECTIVE	49	(2)
TWELVE ELEMENTS OF THE HELPING RELATIONSHIP IN THE STRENGTHS PERSPECTIVE	51	(6)
TEN GUIDELINES FOR ESTABLISHING RAPPORT	57	(1)
A CRITICAL RESPONSE	58	(2)
SUMMARY	60	(1)
INTEGRATIVE QUESTIONS	60	(1)
REFERENCES	60	(3)
PART II THE PHILOSOPHICAL UNDERPINNINGS OF THE STRENGTHS PERSPECTIVE	63	(40)
CHAPTER FIVE Spiritual and Religious Beliefs (with Liza Fraser)	65	(12)
DEFINITIONS OF SPIRITUALITY AND RELIGIOUS BELIEFS	65	(1)
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SPIRITUALITY AND RELIGIOUS BELIEFS IN PRACTICE	66	(4)
Sam and Ed: A Case Study	68	(2)
TRAINING HELPING PROFESSIONALS TO USE SPIRITUALITY AND RELIGION IN PRACTICE	70	(4)
A CRITICAL RESPONSE	74	(1)
SUMMARY	74	(1)
ITEGRATIVE QUESTIONS	75	(1)
REFERENCES	75	(2)
CHAPTER SIX Resilience and the Strengths Perspective	77	(13)
ATTRIBUTES OF RESILIENT PEOPLE	77	(3)
Bobby, A Maltreated Child: A Case Study	79	(1)
TREATING RESILIENT CHILDREN	80	(6)
Janie, A Resilient Sexually Molested Child in Treatment: A Case Study	81	(4)
A Resilient Child Copes with Adulthood: A Case Study	85	(1)
A CRITICAL RESPONSE	86	(1)
SUMMARY	87	(1)
INTEGRATIVE QUESTIONS	88	(1)
REFERENCES	88	(2)
CHAPTER SEVEN The Natural Helping Impulse of the Community	90	(13)
SELF-HELP GROUPS	90	(3)
A Self-Help Group Experience: A Case Study	92	(1)
SELF-HELP PHILOSOPHIES	93	(2)
NATURAL HELPERS	95	(4)
A CRITICAL RESPONSE	99	(2)
SUMMARY	101	(1)
INTEGRATIVE QUESTIONS	101	(1)
REFERENCES	102	(1)
PART III THE IMPORTANCE OF CULTURE: TWO EXAMPLES	103	(34)
CHAPTER EIGHT Utilizing the Strengths Perspective with the Culturally Traditional Latino Client in Crisis (with Mina A. Garza)	105	(12)
THE LATINO WAY OF RESOLVING CRISIS	105	(1)
CULTURALLY RELEVANT WORK WITH LATINO CLIENTS	106	(6)
GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF LATINO CRISIS INTERVENTION	112	(1)
THE LANDSCAPE OF LATINO CRISIS	113	(1)
A CRITICAL RESPONSE	114	(1)
SUMMARY	115	(1)
INTEGRATIVE QUESTIONS	115	(1)
REFERENCES	115	(2)
CHAPTER NINE The Ethnically Asian Client in Crisis and the Strengths Perspective: A Collectivist Approach (with Steven M. Ino)	117	(20)
UNDERSTANDING THE ELEMENTS OF COLLECTIVISM	117	(3)
WHEN ASIAN CLIENTS FAIL TO COPE	120	(3)
TREATMENT ISSUES INVOLVING THE COLLECTIVE SELF	123	(9)
Jennifer: A Case Study	124	(1)
James and Lisa: A Case Study	125	(2)
Keiko: A Case Study	127	(1)
Nguyen: A Case Study	128	(2)
Jane: A Case Study	130	(2)
A CRITICAL RESPONSE	132	(1)
SUMMARY	133	(1)
INTEGRATIVE QUESTIONS	134	(1)
REFERENCES	134	(3)
PART IV THE STRENGTHS PERSPECTNE WITH SPECIAL POPULATIONS	137	(66)
CHAPTER TEN The Strengths Perspective with Abusive Clients and Their Victims	139	(16)
FAMILY VIOLENCE: PREVALENCE AND IMPACT OF THE PROBLEM	140	(1)
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TRADITIONAL TREATMENTS WITH FAMILY VIOLENCE	141	(2)
John and Linda: A Case Study of Domestic Violence	141	(2)
CHILD MALTREATMENT: PREVALENCE AND IMPACT OF THE PROBLEM	143	(1)
THE EFFECTNENESS OF TRADITIONAL TREATMENTS FOR ABUSE AND NEGLECT	144	(2)
Lynn: A Case Study of Child Abuse Using the Strengths Perspective	144	(2)
SEXUAL ASSAULT: PREVALENCE AND IMPACT OF THE PROBLEM	146	(1)
THE EFFECTNENESS OF TRADITIONAL TREATMENTS OF SEXUAL OFFENDERS	147	(2)
A Serial Rapist: A Case Study	148	(1)
THE STRENGTHS PERSPECTIVE WITH ABUSIVE CLIENTS	149	(1)
A CRITICAL RESPONSE	150	(2)
SUMMARY	152	(1)
INTEGRATIVE QUESTIONS	152	(1)
REFERENCES	152	(3)
CHAPTER ELEVEN The Strengths Perspective with Substance Abuse	155	(12)
THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM	155	(1)
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF USUAL TREATMENTS FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE	156	(2)
Jim, A Personal Observation on Substance Abuse Treatment: A Case Study	157	(1)
THE STRENGTHS PERSPECTIVE AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT	158	(4)
Barbara: A Case Study	160	(2)
A CRITICAL RESPONSE	162	(2)
SUMMARY	164	(1)
INTEGRATIVE QUESTIONS	165	(1)
REFERENCES	165	(2)
CHAPTER TWELVE The Strengths Perspective with Mental illness	167	(13)
THE EXTENT AND IMPACT OF MENTAL ILLNESS	167	(1)
TRADITIONAL TREATMENTS OF MENTAL ILLNESS: A RESEARCH REVIEW	168	(3)
Lorna, Spontaneous Remission from Mental Illness: A Case Study	170	(1)
APPLYING THE STRENGTHS PERSPECTNE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS	171	(5)
Robert, A Mentally Ill Patient: A Case Study	174	(2)
A CRITICAL RESPONSE	176	(1)
SUMMARY	177	(1)
INTEGRATIVE QUESTIONS	177	(1)
REFERENCES	178	(2)
CHAPTER THIRTEEN The Strengths Perspective with Serious Illness, Disability, Terminal Illness, and Bereavement	180	(11)
THE SEARCH FOR MEANING	180	(1)
TERMINAL ILLNESS	181	(1)
BEREAVEMENT	182	(1)
DISABILITIES	183	(1)
COPING WITH SERIOUS ILLNESS: A PERSONAL VIEW	183	(1)
COPING WITH POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING SURGERY: A PERSONAL OBSERVATION	184	(2)
THE STRENGTHS PERSPECTIVE	186	(1)
USING THE STRENGTHS PERSPECTIVE IN TREATMENT: AN EXAMPLE	187	(1)
A CRITICAL RESPONSE	188	(1)
SUMMARY	189	(1)
INTEGRATIVE QUESTIONS	189	(1)
REFERENCES	190	(1)
CHAPTER FOURTEEN The Strengths Perspective with Issues Related to Aging	191	(12)
AGING AND DEPRESSION	191	(4)
Primo Levi, Elderly Depression: A Case Study	193	(2)
A STRENGTHS APPROACH TO WORK WITH ELDERLY CLIENTS	195	(5)
Lydia, A Depressed Elderly Client: A Case Study	197	(3)
A CRITICAL RESPONSE	200	(1)
SUMMARY	201	(1)
INTEGRATIVE QUESTIONS	201	(1)
REFERENCES	202	(1)
PART V A STRENGTHS PERSPECTIVE APPROACH TO HEALTHY COMMUNITY LIFE	203	(12)
CHAPTER FIFTEEN The Future of the Strengths Perspective: Healthy Community Life	205	(10)
POSITIVE AND CAUTIONARY ARGUMENTS ABOUT THE STRENGTHS PERSPECTIVE	205	(2)
THE SEARCH FOR HEALTHY COMMUNITIES: BOWLING ALONE AND AUTHENTIC HAPPINESS	207	(2)
THE FUTURE OF THE STRENGTHS PERSPECTNE	209	(2)
A CRITICAL RESPONSE	211	(1)
SUMMARY	211	(1)
INTEGRATIVE QUESTIONS	212	(1)
REFERENCES	212	(3)
Index	215