Strength Based Perspective In Working With Clients With Mental Illness

This book offers to serve as a guide for professionals in understanding and applying a strength based perspectives for Chinese clients with mental illness and to discuss the Chinese articulation of concepts and practice of these perspective within Chinese culture. Ever since the emergence of a medical model in the explanation of mental illness, the disease model or deficit/problem orientation became the dominant paradigm in perceiving, treating and rehabilitating persons with mental illness. The terms 'mentally ill' and 'mental patient' serve as labels for both professionals, family caregivers and members of community to describe the burden, the needs of care and treatment for persons with mental illness. These labels also justify the establishment and implementation of mental health services. Under the influences of the disease model, persons with mental illness are regarded as subjects for academic research, patients for treatment, clients for intervention, and objects for stigmatisation and labelling.

Combining both the theory and practice of strengths-based therapy, Elsie Jones-Smith introduces current and future practitioners to the modern approach of practice—presenting a model for treatment as well as demonstrations in clinical practice across a variety of settings. This highly effective form of therapy supports the idea that clients know best about what has worked and has not worked in their lives, helps them discover positive and effective solutions through their own experiences, and allows therapists to engage their clients in their own therapy. Drawing from cutting-edge research in neuroscience, positive emotions, empowerment, and change, Strengths-Based Therapy helps readers understand how to get their clients engaged as active participants in treatment.

A conceptual and practical presentation of the strengths perspective in social work. Part of the Advancing Core Competencies Series, a unique series that helps students taking advanced social work courses apply CSWE's core competencies and practice behaviours examples to specialised fields of practice. The Strengths Perspective in Social Work Practice, 6th edition, presents both conceptual and practical elements of the strengths perspective - from learning about and practicing the strengths perspective to using the strengths perspective with older adults, the chronically ill, and substance abusers. Many of the chapters address recent events -from the tragic shooting in Tucson to the uprisings in the Middle East. Each chapter begins with a section from an expert in the field. A better teaching and learning experience This program will provide a better teaching and learning experience--for you and your students. Here's how: Improve Critical Thinking - Each chapter contains four critical thinking questions and two short essay questions that require the reader to apply key concepts. Engage Students - Extensive case examples keep students interested and help them see a connection between theory and practice. Explore Current Issues - Three new chapters have been added to reflect the most current knowledge in the field. Apply CSWE Core Competencies - The text integrates the 2008 CSWE EPAS, with critical thinking questions and practice tests to assess student understanding and development of competencies and practice behaviours.

Presenting a compelling alternative to the traditional medical approach, The Strengths Model demonstrates an evidence-based approach to helping people with a psychiatric disability identify and achieve meaningful and important life goals. Since the first edition of this classic textbook appeared, the strengths model has matured into a robust vision of mental health services. Both a philosophy of practice and a specific set of tools and methods, the strengths model is designed to facilitate a recovery-oriented partnership between client and practitioner. This completely revised edition charts the evolution of the strengths model, reviews the empirical support behind it, and illustrates the techniques and values that guide its application. Features new to this edition: - An extensive update of the strengths literature, focusing on recovery as the dominant paradigm in mental health services - Richly drawn case vignettes demonstrating the application of methods - Integration of empirical research and consumers>' own experiences - Completely updated strengths assessment and fidelity scales - In-depth discussions and examples guide practitioners from theory to applied practice - Descriptions of how to teach and successfully supervise large-scale implementations of strengths model work For social workers and other mental health specialists working with clients to move beyond the disabling effects of mental illness to a life filled with meaning, purpose, and identity, this remains the crucial text.

Combining both the theory and practice of strengths-based therapy, Elsie Jones-Smith introduces current and future practitioners to the modern approach of practice—presenting a model for treatment as well as demonstrations in clinical practice across a variety of settings. This highly effective form of therapy supports the idea that clients know best about what has worked and has not worked in their lives, helps them discover positive and effective solutions through their own experiences, and allows therapists to engage their clients in their own therapy. Drawing from cutting-edge research in neuroscience, positive emotions, empowerment, and change, Strengths-Based Therapy helps readers understand how to get their clients engaged as active participants in treatment.

"The Strengths Perspective in Social Work Practice" presents an unrivaled collection of essays that explain the strengths-based philosophy, demonstrate how it works, and provide clear and practical tools for its application. It presents a balanced approach to social work practice, in contrast to a problems-based approach, that takes into account the strengths and assets of clients and their environments. Highlights of the Fourth Edition Six New Chapters "Shifting our Habits of Mind: Learning to Practice from a Strengths Perspective" (Chapter 2) examines how social work practice was historically a more problem-focused profession and the how the current shift towards strengths plays an important part in our work. "Solving Problems from a Strengths Perspective" explores, with relevant examples, how a practitioner can take a perspective on problems that leads to strengths-based and solution-focused practices. "Strengths-Based Case Management: Enhancing Work with Persons with Substance Abuse Problems" (Chapter 8) explores the further extensions of and developments in this important and ground-breaking work. "The Resilience of Families" (Chapter11) examines those factors that promote family resilience and how they can be applied in practice. "Consciousness and Commitment: Slave Narratives in Today's Movement to End Poverty" (Chapter12) applies the lessons of the resistance movements of slaves in order to develop effective and strengths-based strategies for ending poverty. "Honoring Philosophical Traditions: The Strengths Model and the Social Environment" (Chapter 14) presents the strongest and clearest relationship between environmental resources and individual strengths in practicing from the strengths perspective. Extensive revisions of existing chapters make this a fresh, more up-to-date book that retains the passion and sensibilities of the previous editions but with innovative examples and revised, more current bibliographies. Don't Miss This Exciting Value-Added Option! Social Work Skills Demonstrated: Beginning Direct Practice CD-ROM with Student Manual, Second Edition Linda K. Cummins, "Barry University" Judith A. Sevel, "Illinois State University" Laura Pedrick, "University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee" A practical guide to development of crucial social work skills including basic counseling and interviewing techniques, in a CD-ROM format with companion student manual that allows students to work at their own pace. "Social Work Skills Demonstrated: Beginning Direct Practice CD-ROM with Student Manual" is available at a discount when packaged with this text: 0-205-47316-4.

"Second edition grounds the strengths model of case management within the recovery paradigm and details evidence-based guidelines for practice. Describes the conceptual underpinnings, theory, empirical support, principles, and practice methods that comprise the strengths model of case management"--Provided by publisher.

Using the Strengths Perspective in Social Work Practice explains 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.