Foundations of Interpersonal Practice in Social Work: Promoting Competence in Generalist Practice

This text takes a broad based approach to basic generalist practice methods that emphasize the common elements in working with individuals, families and groups. The goal of the book is to teach social work students how to enhance clients′ social functioning by helping them become more proficient in examining, understanding, and resolving clients′ social problems. The authors pay special attention to enhancing social justice by working with individuals and families who have been historically oppressed. This edition includes specific integrated coverage of the Council on Social Work Education′s (CSWE) latest Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS).

Intended Audience

This core text is designed for advanced undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the introductory Direct Practice and Generalist Practice courses in BSW and MSW programs of social work.

Associate Professor Emeritus Brett Seabury has a primary interest in interpersonal practice and has practiced social work in mental health and child welfare settings, as well as in the U.S. Army. His current research and teaching interests are social work education, time-limited practice, using metaphors in social work practice, and indigenous (alternative) healing systems. His most current interests involve the use of information technology in the classroom, and the use of the Internet to deliver interactive video simulations designed to teach social work practice skills. Another area of research/scholarly interest is mental health. He retired in June 2009.

Charles Garvin holds his master′s and doctoral degrees from the School of Social Service Administration of the University of Chicago. He was a practitioner in social work and group work for a dozen years after his master′s degree before he studied for his PhD. He graduated from a program of the Chicago Institute of Psychoanalysis that trained child therapists. He has been on the faculty of the University of Michigan School of Social work 1965-2002 and is now Professor Emeritus of Social Work, He is the author or co-author of many books such as Contemporary Group Work, Interpersonal Practice in Social Work, Social Work in Contemporary Society, Group Work Research, and Social Work and Social Justice. He was the first chair of the now called International Association of Social Work with Groups after it became a membership organization. He is a past chair of the Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education in Social Work. He has written over 50 articles and book chapters on social work, research, and group work, He is the co-editor of two editions of the Handbook of Social Work with Groups.