Fall 2022 SOWK 486w Week 02 - Practice Related to Perspectives, Frameworks, & Theories
A presentation at Heritage University @ CBC Week 02 in in Pasco, WA 99301, USA by Jacob Campbell
Photo by Maria Lupan on Unsplash Practice Related to Perspectives, Frameworks, & Theories Commonly Used in Social Work Jacob Campbell, LICSW at Heritage University Fall 2022 SOWK 486w
Agenda Plan for Week 02 Perspectives, theories, and frameworks Systems theory Ecological perspective Strengths perspective Solution-focused brief therapy
Perspectives vs Theories & Frameworks +
Perspectives: A way of perceiving the world ows from a value position fi fl + Theory: A general statement about the real world whose essential truth can be supported by evidence obtained through the scienti c method Framework or Model: Is a blueprint for action. It describes what happens in practice in a general way.
Systems Theory Input System Output Equi nality Pressure Homeostasis Pressure fi (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2015)
Systems Theory the fact that there are many ways of viewing a problem which ultimately will give you di erent solutions or means to solve it De nitions Input Output System the information or communication ow received from other systems Equi nality the same ow from a system to the environment or to other systems constantly interacting, can be an individual, group, or large organization constant state of equilibrium or balance Pressure Homeostasis The forces that keep homeostasis fl fl fi fi ff (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2015)
Systems Theory Levels of interaction Macro Micro Mezzo (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2015)
Adaptation Transactions Person in the Environment Interdependence Person Ecological Perspective Interface Energy Coping Environment (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2015)
Ecological Perspective De nitions Interdependence the reliance on one person to another. People depend on each others input, energy, services, and consistency Person Energy Environment A focuses on people constantly interacting with various systems around them. So the social workers focused improving the interactions between the person and systems. fi Interface the exact point at which the interaction between an individual and the environment Adaptation Coping Transactions people communicate and interact with those in their environments [can be positive or negative] the natural power of active involvement among people and their environments takes place [input or output] the capacity to adjust to surrounding environmental conditions. This implies change because a person must adapt to change in order to continue functioning in their environment. Social workers help individuals during this process to direct their energies so that they are able to adapt a form of human adaptation and implies a struggle to overcome problems. Refers to the way we deal with the problems we experience. (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2015)
Ecological Perspective Levels of Interaction Mezzo Adaptation Transactions Micro Interdependence Macro Interface Person Energy Coping Environment (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2015)
Strengths Perspective Implementing Strengths Perspective Don’t take no for an answer Help correct the e ects of being labeled Take advantage of the considerable resources of culture and ethnicity Normalize ff Possibility, solution and strengths focus Focus of Attention: Area’s to look at What people learn as they struggle Personal qualities and virtues Talents that people have Cultural and family rituals, beliefs, stories, and lore Dreams and hopes The community Spirituality / Faith
Identifying Strengths Use the ROPES Possibilities • • • • • • Future focus Imagination Creativity Vision of the future Play What have you thought of trying but haven’t tried yet? Solutions • Focus on constructing • • • • Present focus Emphasis on choice What can be accessed now? What is available and hasn’t been tried or utilized? Resources Personal Family Social environment Organizational Community Options solutions, not solving problems What’s working now? What are your successes? What are you doing that you would like to continue doing? What if a miracle happened? What can you do now to create a piece of the miracle? Exceptions • When is the problem not happening? • When is the problem di erent? • When is part of the hypothetical future • solution occuring? How have you survived, endured, thrived? ff (Graybeal, 2001)
Strengths Perspective Types of Questions Survival questions Support questions Exception questions Esteem questions (De Jonge & Miller, 1995)
Solution Focused Brief Therapy Search for Solutions, not Admire the Problem
Solution Focused Brief Therapy Tenants If it’s not broken, don’t x it Look for exceptions Asking questions rather than telling clients what to do Future is negotiated and created Complements Gentle nudging to do more of what is working Change is constant and inevitable The solution is not always directly related to the problem fi (De Jong, Kim Berg, 2012)
Solution Focused Brief Therapy Interventions Not knowing Complementing strengths Scaling questions Exception questions Coping questions Miracle question (De Jong, Kim Berg, 2012)
Solution Focused Brief Therapy Interventions Not knowing Complementing strengths Clients experts Exception questions General attitude communicating an abundant, genuine curiosity Coping questions Micro practice skills Scaling questions Miracle question (De Jong, Kim Berg, 2012)
Solution Focused Brief Therapy Interventions Not knowing Complementing strengths Scaling questions Exception questions Coping questions Miracle question Strengths perspective Building rapport and giving hope Direct complements: positive evaluation or reaction Indirect complements: a question implying something positive (De Jong, Kim Berg, 2012)
Solution Focused Brief Therapy Interventions Not knowing Complementing strengths Scaling questions Exception questions Coping questions Motivation, hopefulness, depression, con dence, progress… Techniques for follow-up Miracle question fi (De Jong, Kim Berg, 2012)
Solution Focused Brief Therapy Interventions Not knowing Complementing strengths Scaling questions Exception questions Coping questions Miracle question Problem description vs. exceptions Increase awareness of current/ past successes Turning past solutions into present solutions Finding out speci cs fi (De Jong, Kim Berg, 2012)
Solution Focused Brief Therapy Interventions Not knowing Complementing strengths Scaling questions Exception questions Coping questions Tailored to help client from feeling overwhelmed A method for exploring exceptions Miracle question (De Jong, Kim Berg, 2012)
Solution Focused Brief Therapy Interventions Not knowing Complementing strengths Scaling questions Exception questions Coping questions Miracle question Amplifying what the client wants Formatting the question Concrete, behavioral, measurable terms Realistic terms (De Jong, Kim Berg, 2012)
Other Theories to Consider A Non-Exhaustive List • Social Exchange Theory • Contingency Theory • Behaviorism & Social Learning Theory • Feminist Perspective • Social Constructionism • Erikson’s theory of stages of • Psychodynamic Theory • Symbolic Interactionism • Psychosocial Developmental Theory • Con ict Theory fl • Transpersonal Theory development • Piaget’s theory of cognition • Cognitive-behavioral framework • Task-centered framework • Narrative model
Week two is a cross-sectional look at some of the perspectives, frameworks, and theories commonly used in social work. It should assist in gaining awareness about the difference between these ways of thinking discussed in social work literature. We will look into the following:
- Perspectives, theories, and frameworks
- Systems theory
- Ecological perspective
- Strengths perspective
- Solution-focused brief therapy
After this session, students will be able to articulate the difference between perspectives, theories, and frameworks. Students will also have knowledge about a couple of theoretical options for their integrative paper due later in the semester.
