Using the Strengths Perspective in Social Work Practice: A Positive Approach for the Helping Professions

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.

Using the Strengths Perspective in Social Work Practice, First Edition
Morley D. Glicken Professor Emeritus, California State University, San Bernardino and Executive Director, The Institute for Positive Growth: A Research, Treatment, and Training Cooperative, La Jolla, California

This research-oriented text explains the concepts behind the strengths perspective and demonstrates how to apply the strengths perspective in practice through case studies and discussion. Complex client problems discussed in the book include abuse, domestic violence, mental illness and addictions, with information on natural healing in addicted clients and self-management of mental illness. Dr. Glicken also explores the importance of spirituality and religious involvement, a positive view of change in clients with mental illness, the effectiveness of self-help groups, and resilience in children and adults who have experienced life traumas. Understanding the Strengths Perspective includes the works of Martin Seligman on learned optimism, Robert Putnam on community life in America, and Dennis Saleebey on the strengths perspective in social work.

Highlights of the book include the critical response section at the end of each chapter, which allows clinicians and students to critically respond to the ideas presented, providing an evidence-based approach to the text material; case studies in every chapter, which demonstrate how to apply the strengths perspective in practice situations; and an Introduction, Summary, and Integrative Questions in each chapter, which help readers integrate the information presented within the chapters

What instructors think of this book: “The case studies and discussion are super and breathe life into the process...I think students enjoy this opportunity to see the theory highlighted in action.” -David Worster, University of New Hampshire

“Understanding the Strengths Perspective in Social Work Practice is an important contribution to the strengths based literature.” -Dr. Robert Blundo, University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Special Value Pack Option: You can order this text packaged with a FREE Research Navigator( for The Helping Professions guide, which features a free password for access to an array of online sources. This new Pearson Learning product helps students and instructors find credible and reliable material for research assignments and papers.

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