Chapter 3: Theory to Generalist Social Work Practice​ & Chapter 7: HOLISTIC OR WHOLISTIC APPROACH

QUIZ 2

History of Strengths Perspective​

• To professionalize the field, social work adopted the “medical model” many years ago, thinking that labeling and measuring problems would help to validate the work​

• Social work leaders from that time may have overemphasized processes such as diagnosis and treatment, pulling social workers away from our roots in community organizing and advocacy​

• The Strengths Perspective was developed by a group of leaders in the early 1990s to deliberately acknowledge the role that strengths play when seeking to address very real problems

Strengths

include internal and external capabilities and resources unique to each person or group​

resilience

is used to describe situations when people overcome adversity to continue functioning, and in some cases even improve functioning, despite facing a traumatic or challenging experience

Hope

refers to one’s belief that a positive outcome is possible.​

Culture

refers to the beliefs, traditions, and daily activities of a group of people​

collaboration

refers specifically to the nature of a relationship. Although some relationships are hierarchical in nature such that one person asserts authority over another as is the case in a parent/child relationship, other relationships are seen as collaborative when they balance the power and support shared decision-making.

The Strengths Perspective: Principles​

• Principle 1: All People, Families, Groups, and Communities have​ Strengths ​

• Principle 2: All People, Families, Groups, and Communities Have Capacity for Growth and Improvement ​

• Principle 3: All People, Families, Groups, and Communities are Experts in Their own Lives

• Principle 4: Support and Services Should be Provided in​ Naturally Occurring Settings Whenever Possible​

• Principle 5: Services Should Remain Flexible and Responsive to​ the Unique Needs of Each Individual Client Situation​

• Principle 6: Human Relationships are Highly Valued​

Engagement

according to a strength’s perspective involves developing a collaborative, nonhierarchical relationship between the professional and client. (Rapport, comfort, trust, authentic communication, respect and empowerment) ​

Assessment

according to a strength’s perspective involves not just understanding the problem; it requires a deliberate attempt to understand a client’s strengths, past exceptions to the problem, and past successes at problem resolution. These strengths and successes are then tapped when seeking problem-resolution​

Graybeal’s ROPES provides an example of

a strengths-based assessment that includes collecting information about a client’s resources, options, possibilities, exceptions, and solutions (ROPES). ​

Termination

• Final Meeting: Important to acknowledge the positive work accomplished and offer encouragement as clients move forward.

• Reconnection with Support Networks: Strengths perspective values connections to family and community, so termination often includes reconnecting clients to their natural support systems.

Limitations of the Medical Model in Social Work

• Overemphasis on Problems: Focus on identifying, measuring, and treating problems can overlook the strengths and successes within a person or situation.

• Social Worker as Expert: The medical model elevates the social worker as the expert, which can hinder the recognition of the client's expertise and limit shared decision-making.

• Labeling and Stigma: Labeling social problems can lead to stigma, affecting how society views individuals and how individuals view themselves. This issue is a growing concern in social work.

Strengths-Based intervention

involves any activity used to tap a client’s resources for the purpose of enhancing functioning​

Evaluation

from this perspective would assess the degree to which the client feels satisfied with progress considering the client’s view is prioritized in the helping relationship​

Limitations of Strengths Perspective​

• If social workers focus too much on reframing toward the positive and miss really listening to the client, this poor implementation of the strengths perspective can cause some clients to feel their very real problems are not validated​

• Some suggest the strengths perspective is still in its early development and further work is needed to develop specific practices​

• Because it is broad, it is more difficult to measure strengths-based practice, limiting the evidence to lend empirical support to its use​

(W)holistic​

• (w)holistic thinkers ensure inclusion and relevancy.​

• Can push to bring in new concepts and open the doors that were previously closed.​

• It is taking risks ​

• It means stepping into unfamiliar territory without being afraid.​

• It is the opposite of a reactive one

• Identifying what you want in your life and what you do not want. ​

• Bus ride analogy and smudging​

Person

• "Wholism" referring to wholeness and "holism" potentially associated with patriarchal power​

• The author chooses to use the spelling "(w)holistic" to encompass both variations and emphasizes that it refers to considering a whole system of beliefs rather than individual components​

• Rennie shares a dream about stars lifting her up, symbolizing a (w)holistic perspective that considers social location, lived experiences, and their impact on how we see the world​

Person (part 2)

• A (w)holistic approach views each person as consisting of four aspects: spiritual, physical, emotional, and psychological, represented in the Medicine Wheel teachings​

• Different Indigenous Nations have variations of the Medicine Wheel, but they share similar principles related to the sun, seasons, and directional associations​

• The four aspects of a person are interconnected, and imbalances in one area can affect the others; for example, depression can impact physical health, cognitive abilities, and spiritual well-being​

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Family​ &​ Community

• the interconnectedness of individuals within a (w)holistic framework; every person is connected to their family and community, and their actions and contributions have an impact on others and the environment​

• Indigenous perspectives view family as a diverse group that includes biological and non-biological relatives​

• Indigenous traditions include the concept of replacing relationships, not to replace a person but to maintain the interconnectedness​

• Having the freedom to choose some family members for ourselves can be both a source of support and healing​

(W)holistic Approaches in Action

• Indigenous-led (w)holistic healing movements in Canada demonstrate concrete examples of advancing health equity for Indigenous Peoples​

• Integrated drug treatment centers in northwestern Ontario First Nations communities, focusing on traditional healing, counseling, and land-based aftercare, have resulted in significant reductions in suicides, criminal charges, child protection cases, and drug-related medical evacuations​

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All of Creation​

• From an Indigenous perspective, everything in Creation, including people, plants, animals, and the environment, is interconnected and has a spirit​

• Rocks are seen as the oldest and strongest part of Creation, and Indigenous individuals draw strength from them​

• All things are related and are of one family​

• Indigenous peoples have a deep respect for Mother Earth and recognize the need to protect her​

• In Indigenous worldviews- focus on individual and collective responsibility for all members of one’s community is highlighted

Ever-Changing

• Impermanence and change are inherent aspects of the holistic understanding of Creation.​

• Everything is continually changing (seasons, day & night, life cycle)​

• Change is inevitable, everything is constantly evolving. ​

• Change is part of connectedness​

• Indigenous cultures celebrate and acknowledge significant changes through ceremonies, recognizing the sacredness and interconnectedness of life​
  

According to Amy Desjarlis, what does a (w)holistic approach require in terms of practice?

Slow growth and learning

Human relationships are an important part of taking a strengths perspective because:

	Change happens best in the context of respectful helping relationships.
	Valuing the relationships clients already have is an important part of supporting them in the change process.
	People desire human connection

Resilience refers to:

The capacity to overcome challenging circumstances

Taking a strengths perspective means a social worker will not ask questions about a client's problems.

False

The strengths perspective:

	Sees the client as the expert
	Uses strengths to solve problems
	Offers a hopeful view on what is possible

Using ROPES for assessment means a social worker will gather information about all of the following except:

Problems

What does (w)holistic thinking help Rennie to do in the hospital environment?

Create inclusivity and relevancy in programming

Which ceremony mentioned in the text incorporates all four aspects of a person?

sweat lodge ceremony

Which of the following is NOT mentioned as an area where mindfulness can help according to Dr. Kabat-Zinn?

Depression