Task Centred Approach in Social Work
Introduction
What is task centred approach: definition of the method
In 1960s in North America Reid and Shyne (1969) undertook an extensive four year study to explore an alternative approach to traditional casework and the result was the adoption of a new model named Task centred approach that was also the proposal of a solution to tackle the weaknesses of the short-term psychodynamic model of the early 1960s. The research was an answer to certain problems like the fact that clients were abandoning psychodynamic therapy or receiving the maximum benefit within a few months, with relatively slow improvement. Task centred was then presented as an alternative being described in the following way: “Task centred practice, also Known as brief therapy, short-term or contract work (…) is focused work which is time-limited and offers approaches to problem solving witch take into account the needs of individuals to bring about change in their situations (…).” (Coulshed and Orme, 1998:115)
Key concepts and method
Having defined the method it can be assumed the key assumption for this model the belief that most people have adequate resources and an innate desire to solve their problems. It can be seen readily that this approach differs markedly other approaches that assume that problems arise from hidden causes that require the intervention of the expert therapist. This new approach involved brief, highly focussed periods of intervention where clients were offered up to eight sessions concentrating on clearly defined and explicit goals, so it was really crucial to have in mind that what is really important is to work on problems that the client deems essential, hence the approach is often termed ‘problem-solving’ Essentially the model consists in three phases. During the initial phase, practitioner and client try to identify problems, exploring it in detail, like its frequency, the client's understanding of the seriousness of the problem, its
What is task centred approach: definition of the method
In 1960s in North America Reid and Shyne (1969) undertook an extensive four year study to explore an alternative approach to traditional casework and the result was the adoption of a new model named Task centred approach that was also the proposal of a solution to tackle the weaknesses of the short-term psychodynamic model of the early 1960s. The research was an answer to certain problems like the fact that clients were abandoning psychodynamic therapy or receiving the maximum benefit within a few months, with relatively slow improvement. Task centred was then presented as an alternative being described in the following way: “Task centred practice, also Known as brief therapy, short-term or contract work (…) is focused work which is time-limited and offers approaches to problem solving witch take into account the needs of individuals to bring about change in their situations (…).” (Coulshed and Orme, 1998:115)
Key concepts and method
Having defined the method it can be assumed the key assumption for this model the belief that most people have adequate resources and an innate desire to solve their problems. It can be seen readily that this approach differs markedly other approaches that assume that problems arise from hidden causes that require the intervention of the expert therapist. This new approach involved brief, highly focussed periods of intervention where clients were offered up to eight sessions concentrating on clearly defined and explicit goals, so it was really crucial to have in mind that what is really important is to work on problems that the client deems essential, hence the approach is often termed ‘problem-solving’ Essentially the model consists in three phases. During the initial phase, practitioner and client try to identify problems, exploring it in detail, like its frequency, the client's understanding of the seriousness of the problem, its
References: Beckett, C. (2006). Essential theory for social work practise. London: Sage publication. Coulshed, V., Orme, J. and British Association of Social Workers (1998) Social Work Practice: An Introduction, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Epstein, L. (1988) Helping people: the task-centered approach, Columbus, Ohio: Merrill Harris, J. and White, V. (2009) Modernising social work: critical considerations, Bristol: Policy. Howe, D. (1987) An introduction to social work theory: making sense in practice, Aldershot: Wildwood House. Marsh, P. and Fisher, M. (1992) Good Intentions: developing partnership in social services, York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Marsh, P. and Doel, M. (2005) The task-centred book, Oxford: Routledge. Ur, P. (1981) Discussions that work: task-centred fluency practice, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press