Voices from the Field: Ecological Factors that Promote Employment and Health Among Low-Income Older Adults with Implications for Direct Social Work Practice
AbstractWe employed cumulative dis/advantage and ecological theories to identify risk and protective factors at the individual, family, institutional, and societal levels that promote employment and health among low-income older adults. The authors conducted semi-structured interviews with 26 older adults who participated in a federally funded training and employment program for low-income individuals 55+ years of age. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Approximately 60% of participants had experienced a lifetime of disadvantages (e.g. low levels of formal education, poor physical and mental health,...
Source: Clinical Social Work Journal - August 7, 2019 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research
The Process of Integrating Animal-Assisted Therapy into Clinical Social Work Practice
AbstractAnimal-assisted therapy (AAT) is considered an effective treatment model to use with a variety of populations and conditions, from autism to substance abuse, due to its flexible nature. As an integrative model, it often incorporates core modalities such as psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy and Gestalt therapy. Although there is a growing body of research addressing the efficacy of AAT, there is limited information on the actual process of utilizing AAT in clinical social work practice. Research shows that many clinicians support the use of AAT with clients but fa...
Source: Clinical Social Work Journal - August 6, 2019 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research
Correction to: A Call for Hope-Centered Work: A Preliminary Study of Oncology Social Workers ’ Perceptions of the Role and Value of Hope at End-of-Life
The original version of the article unfortunately contained an error in a couple of sentences. In ‘Personal Views and Experiences’ section, percentage value ‘98’ is missing in the sentence ‘Nearly all of participants ((* %) said that they thought of solutions to reach their hoped-for goals, agreeing or strongly agreeing with the statement: “When I have faced difficulties that couldn’ t be solved right then, I thought of solution for the future.” and it should read as below. (Source: Clinical Social Work Journal)
Source: Clinical Social Work Journal - July 7, 2019 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research
After the Flood: Reflections of a Wounded Healer ’s Countertransference in Adolescent Treatment
AbstractThe aim of this paper is to analyze countertransference experienced by a therapist while treating a ‘difficult to treat’ adolescent client. In doing so, the therapist discusses how his childhood experiences and the subsequent assumption of Carl Jung’s wounded healer archetype fueled the countertransference in ways that were concurrently beneficial and detrimental to treatment. The client’s symptoms, behavior, and family system are also examined to illustrate how they uniquely contributed to the intense feelings evoked in the therapist. Topics of omnipotence, curative fantasies, biblical myth, and childhood ...
Source: Clinical Social Work Journal - June 27, 2019 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research
A Call for Hope-Centered Work: A Preliminary Study of Oncology Social Workers ’ Perceptions of the Role and Value of Hope at End-of-Life
AbstractThis paper examines the role and value of hope in the experiences of people with cancer at end-of-life according to the social workers who counsel them. Despite discussion of hope ’s value in social work literature, it continues to be de-emphasized in end-of-life (EOL) social work training and discourse in favor of theories of grief, loss and bereavement. In an online survey, social workers affiliated with a national oncology social work organization (n = 67) responded to closed-ended items. They assessed personal views on and experiences of hope, views on hope within the context of EOL and work experiences w...
Source: Clinical Social Work Journal - June 10, 2019 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research
Racial Microaggressions and Psychological Distress Among Undergraduate College Students of Color: Implications for Social Work Practice
This study examines the relationship between racial microaggressions and psychological distress among undergraduate students of color and seeks to inform social work practice with that population. Participants in this study (n = 216) were from a medium-sized research university which is a predominantly White institution (PWI) in the Northeast region of the United States. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between racial microaggressions and psychological distress. The findings ind icated a positive relationship, particularly for those students that lived off campus. Among other imp...
Source: Clinical Social Work Journal - June 2, 2019 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research
Clinical Practice with Children and Adolescents Involved in Bullying and Cyberbullying: Gleaning Guidelines from the Literature
AbstractBullying and cyberbullying have received unprecedented international scholarly attention over the last three decades, including increasingly sophisticated descriptive models, measures of associated harm, and studies of whole-school intervention programs. Despite an abundance of articles related to bullying and cyberbullying, there has been relatively little attention to clinical practice with children and adolescents involved in bullying and cyberbullying. The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive review of peer-reviewed academic journal articles published between January 1990 and June 2018 pertaini...
Source: Clinical Social Work Journal - May 28, 2019 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research
Self-Compassion as a Predictor of Self-Care: A Study of Social Work Clinicians
AbstractDespite the promise of self-care in dealing with employee challenges, there is nominal research related to this topic, in general, and among the clinical social work workforce, specifically. This exploratory study examines self-compassion, self-care, and the predictive relationship between the two among a sample (N = 831) of clinical social workers practicing in one southeastern state. In so doing, this paper uniquely addresses several limitations in the current literature. Findings suggest that social work clinicians in this sample engaged in moderate amounts of self-compassion and self-care, respectivel y. A...
Source: Clinical Social Work Journal - May 28, 2019 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research
Beyond the “Ick Factor”: Counseling Non-offending Persons with Pedophilia
This article will first describe what is known about pedophilia and minor-attraction. Next, the legal and ethical questions that therapists may ask in relation to this work will be explored. This paper will review obstacles to help-seeking identified by MAPs and discuss their treatment needs. Finally, recommendations will be offered for engaging MAPs in an emotionally safe and non-shaming therapeutic encounter. In this way, clinical social workers can contribute to advancing child sexual abuse prevention efforts. (Source: Clinical Social Work Journal)
Source: Clinical Social Work Journal - May 28, 2019 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research
Advance Care Planning: Opportunities for Clinical Social Work Leadership
AbstractAs our population ages, providing person-centered, family-focused, culturally congruent, quality care becomes ever more important. Advance care planning (ACP) conversations seek to elicit a person ’s values, beliefs and preferences and to identify who might be a surrogate decision-maker for a person if they are unable or unwilling to speak for themselves. These nuanced conversations provide the foundation for the delivery of personalized goal-concordant care. Yet, despite the many benefits associated with ACP, it remains underutilized. Clinical social workers are well positioned to take a leadership role in ACP. ...
Source: Clinical Social Work Journal - May 27, 2019 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research
Navigating Student Self-Disclosure Through a Relational Lens: Examples of Increased Self-Awareness from a Social Work Classroom
AbstractSelf-disclosure is a nuanced practice issue that often generates complex questions for even the most seasoned clinicians. While the social work literature has grappled with this intricate topic as it pertains to clinicians, field supervisors and social work instructors, there is little discussion about student self-disclosure within the classroom. Despite the focus on self-awareness within social work education, there is a gap in the literature regarding how to best prepare students for appropriate engagement in self-disclosure. This paper offers a relational perspective for navigating student self-disclosure in th...
Source: Clinical Social Work Journal - May 27, 2019 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research
Navigating Psychosocial Challenges in Primary Care with an Integrated Behavioral Health Model
AbstractResearch has demonstrated that physical health outcomes are often related to behavioral health outcomes. Integrated behavioral health models, particularly in primary care settings, help bridge gaps in care by linking the treatment of physical and emotional problems together. Social workers are a key part of the primary care treatment team because they are trained to assess patients within the full context of their biopsychosocial and spiritual needs. The following article explores the ways in which social workers can engage in integrated behavioral health models as an adaptive healthcare practice, the common health...
Source: Clinical Social Work Journal - May 19, 2019 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research
A Commentary on Compromise
AbstractThis commentary invites reflection on the origin stories of health and palliative social work, considers the essential congruity of social work values with the principles of palliative care and explores the impact of minority status within health care systems. Rather than compromise, the suggested vision is one of health social work asserting voice and values as leaders toward the goal of patient-centered, family-focused care across diagnoses and settings of practice. (Source: Clinical Social Work Journal)
Source: Clinical Social Work Journal - May 7, 2019 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research
Prioritizing the Dual Needs of Asylum-Seekers While Cultivating Psychotherapeutic Alliances
AbstractThe primary motivation that drives refugees to seek psychotherapy is the asylum-seeking process that requires that they prove a level of persecution in their home countries or risk deportation. Refugees are uninsured and lack access to mental healthcare; they often seek psychotherapeutic services in response to recommendations from their immigration attorneys during the asylum-seeking process. If a clinician can help secure asylum status with the biography of trauma while simultaneously prioritizing treatment of trauma-related mental healthcare needs, then the opportunity to begin the cultivation of an ongoing psyc...
Source: Clinical Social Work Journal - May 5, 2019 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research
Children ’s Perspectives on the Experiences of Their Siblings with Chronic Disorders
In conclusion, siblings show psychologically complex insi ghts into the experiences and mindsets of CCD and should be considered as informants in research and in informing practice interventions for CCD, alongside their parents. (Source: Clinical Social Work Journal)
Source: Clinical Social Work Journal - May 3, 2019 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research
