Discussion: Group Dynamics and Family Dynamics When working with families and groups the priority is for the social worker to understand the process that is taking place.  In both situations there is the overt (clearly stated) dynamics and the covert (hidden) dynamics.  The content (what is being said) in both settings is what is open […]

Week 5: Understanding Group Dynamics It is important to understand group dynamics because of their impact on the function and success of the group process. The actual “dynamic” is what influences the behavior of each member of the group and the group as a whole. Every group develops their own dynamic, and it is the […]

Week 4: The Knowledge Base of Group Work Practice Groups and group work exist in every social service agency. Every clinical social worker is likely to work in a group at some point in his or her career. Therefore, understanding group methodology is critical for all social workers. The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) […]

Discussion: Trauma and Loss With seemingly never-ending violence, natural disasters, and soldiers returning home from wars growing numbers of people are suffering long lasting mental health crises. It is imperative for clinical social workers to implement effective interventions that address trauma and loss within families.   For this Discussion, view the “Levy” video.   By […]

Week 3: Intervention With Families Families are complicated systems that continually evolve. The structure of the family system can change due to circumstances that occur within the family or in a social environment. When a family is exposed to a traumatic event, whether it is a spouse returning home from war or a tragedy within […]

Discussion 1: Family Assessment The first step in helping a client is conducting a thorough assessment. The clinical social worker must explore multiple perspectives in order to develop a complete understanding of the situation. From this understanding, the social worker is able to recognize the client’s strengths and develop effective strategies for change.     […]

Week 2: Assessment of Families Understanding a client’s family history and background is one of the first steps in assessment. Having a thorough knowledge of the assessment tools and strategies available enhances a clinical social worker’s practice. Using theory to assess all levels of a situation enables the clinical social worker to develop the most […]

Discussion 2: Family Theory Murray Bowen is one of the most respected family theorists in the field of family therapy. Bowen views the family unit as complex and believes it is important to understand the interactions among the members in order to solve problems. Satir and Minuchin also advanced family therapy with their concepts and […]

Week 1: Family Theories Understanding family systems and the complex interactions among the members is extremely valuable to a clinical social worker. Throughout clinical practice, the social worker works with families in some capacity. Family theories help guide the social worker in practice. Many family theories exist from which to choose, and most of them […]

Week 11: Personality Disorders With personality disorders, the symptoms are woven familiarly (and often comfortably identified as ego syntonic) into a person’s overall sense of themselves, usually appearing in late adolescence. One of the key differences in diagnosis, then, is that instead of considering illness within a short-term period (of a year or less), social […]