Essentials of Clinical Social Work

Essentials of Clinical Social Work features select contributions originally appearing in the third edition of Theory and Practice in Clinical Social Work. The chapters offer readers an introduction to the world of advanced clinical practice with a focus on the most critical topics for real-world practice.

Over the course of 21 chapters, both traditional and newly emerging theories of practice are described in detail, major modalities of treatment are examined, and some of the most critical issues and clinical challenges facing social workers are discussed in depth. Evolving in step with the discipline, the second edition of Essentials of Clinical Social Work features new content within each chapter, as well as updated references. Entirely new chapters have been added to reflect the changing landscape of clinical social work, including practice with gay, lesbian, and bisexual clients; transgender clients; older adults; and depressed clients, as well as chapters on clinical case management and treatment of couples.

Designed to guide the next generation of social work clinicians, Essentials of Clinical Social Work furnishes readers with new knowledge and practice wisdom to help them navigate the challenges they will face in their careers.

Jerrold R. Brandell is Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Wayne State University School of Social Work, and instructor and past president, Michigan Council for Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy. A practicing psychotherapist-psychoanalyst, he is (founding) editor-in-chief of Psychoanalytic Social Work. His scholarly interests include theoretical and clinical psychoanalysis, the portrayal of psychoanalysis in the cinema, psychotherapeutic process, psychodynamic supervision, and therapeutic storytelling with children. He has published over 50 journal articles and book chapters, and 15 books, including Psychodynamic Social Work; Of Mice and Metaphors: Therapeutic Storytelling with Children; and Celluloid Couches, Cinematic Clients: Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy in the Movies.