Clinical Social Work: A Narrative Approach

Narrative therapy represents a new approach to helping people, as author Gary Paquin explains in this fresh and engaging addition to the social work literature. Although narrative therapy is recognized as an important therapeutic method, until now there was little information on how social workers can incorporate it into their practice. Paquin not only illustrates how this can be done, he also shows how narrative methods further the profession's commitments to diversity, social and economic justice, client empowerment, and strengths-based practice. Paquin considers the unique point of view of postmodernism embodied in narrative therapy and explores the power of stories in the lives of clients and social work practitioners. Paquin's text uses teaching exercises, along with many examples and transcripts, as practical and effective education tools.

Council on Social Work Education

We are a nonprofit national association representing individual members and graduate and undergraduate programs of professional social work education. Founded in 1952, this partnership of educational and professional institutions, social welfare agencies, and private citizens is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as the sole accrediting agency for social work education in this country.

CSWE Press is a niche publisher that addresses the needs of social work educators. Some of our areas of publishing specialty are

-The philosophy, theory, and practice of teaching
-The process and evaluation of learning
-The organization and structure of social work education
-Diversity in all forms in social work practice and education
-Social work in multiple contexts

Gary W. Paquin, JD, PhD, was associate professor, School of Social Work, at the University of Cincinnati, where he taught graduate-level social work practice, human behavior in the social environment, and social policy. He received his MSW from the University of Michigan School of Social Work and his PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Social Welfare. Dr. Paquin was also a licensed clinical social worker and was the author of numerous articles and presentations. Dr. Paquin passed away in May 2007.