a Brief Introduction to Social Work Theory

Cover
Halftitle page
Series page
Title page
Copyright page
Contents
1 An Introduction to Social Work Theory
	The view from below
	Ways of knowing
	Why are there so many social work theories?
	Reasons for choosing a particular social work theory
	Wondering why
2 Origins, Case Work and Social Reform
	Hard times
	Science and social science
	Charitable works
	Key messages
3 Cause and Function
	The pursuit of radical causes
	Modern causes
	Cause to function: case work and social reform in America
	Key messages
4 Psychoanalytic Theory
	Enter psychology
	All in the mind
	Talking cures
	The defence mechanisms
	Interpretation and insight
	Transference and counter transference
	The legacy of Freud and psychoanalysis
	Key messages
5 Attachment Theory
	Attachment behaviour
	Child abuse, neglect and trauma
	Uniting the developmental sciences
	Key messages
6 Behavioural Therapies
	Where is the evidence?
	Behavioural social work
	Social learning theory
	Respondent conditioning
	Operant conditioning
	The ABC of behaviour modification
	Two-factor model of behaviour
	Modelling and social skills training
	Working with ambivalence, the arrival of motivational social work
	Counting as social work
	Key messages
7 Cognitive Therapies
	Cognitive therapies and cognitive behavioural social work
	The treatment process
	The ABC of cognitive therapy
	Cognitive-behavioural social work
	Trauma-informed social work
	Trauma-focused cognitive behaviour therapy
	Key messages
8 Task-centred Work
	The pragmatic approach
	The problem-solving approach
	Task-centred work
	Going from strength to strength
	Key messages
9 Be Responsible, Think Positive
	Liberty and equality: the myth and reality
	Think positive
	The service user as expert
	Mind your language
	The social construction of reality
	Key messages
10 Solution-focused Approaches
	Be brief
	Key principles
	Compliments and exceptions
	The miracle question
	A question of scale
	Present tense, future perfect
	Constructive social work
	Key messages
11 The Strengths Perspective
	Label with care
	Resilience and resourcefulness
	Drawing on your strengths
	The expert self
	Building on success
	Strength in numbers
	Key messages
12 Systemic and Ecological Approaches
	Interconnected and interdependent
	General systems theory
	The family as a system and family therapy
	Thinking systemically
	The person-in-their-environment
	Unitary approaches
	Systems breakdown
	Ecological models
	Not wholly successful
	Good systems theory is good social support
	Root causes
	Key messages
13 Radical Social Work
	Religion and reform
	Social surveys and the rise of sociology
	The ‘good life’ for all
	Full Marx for social work
	Care and control
	A radical analysis
	From radical to critical
	Key messages
14 Critical Social Work
	Critical social theory
	Critical theory and social work
	Critical and reflective social work practices
	The divided self
	Key messages
15 Feminist Social Work
	Feminism
	Collective solutions
	The personal is the political
	Key messages
16 Anti-oppressive Practices and Empowerment
	Anti-oppressive practices
	Empowerment and advocacy
	Intersectionality and the decolonization of social work
	From social reform to critical practice
	Key points
17 Relationship-based Social Work
	Is relationship based social work a new practice?
	The two faces of social work
	The worker–user relationship
	Life politics
	Key messages
18 Person-centred Approaches
	The person as point of contact
	Carl Rogers
	The third way
	Inside experience
	Optimism and hope
	Key messages
19 Reflection and Reflexivity
	Using reflection and reflexivity
	Reflexivity
	Time to reflect: supervision, reflection and emotional availability
	Key messages
20 Wellbeing
	Wellbeing and social work
	Relationship ups and downs
	Managing social work
	The interpersonal economy and social capital
	Asset-Based Community Development
	Key messages
21 Critical Best Practice
	Negotiating uncertainty and weaving realities
	A critical best practice
	The crooked path of practice
	The form of social work
	The meaningful relationship
	Key messages
22 The Best in Theory
	Good social work and best practice
	Keeping minds open
Appendix of Case Studies
	Using the case studies
Bibliography
Index