Theories Of Social Work

Understanding different theories related to social work is something that all social workers working in the field must do, if they are going to be effective at assisting their clients with meeting needs. Understanding theories is an organized way of understanding events and behaviors and situations that are often resented by those served, and while no client or situation is the same understanding these theories is a great way to ensure that you as the practitioner possess the tools necessary to do the job. I have had the privilege of working with people for the past several years in many different settings, and prior to starting the Masters of Social Work course at Our Lady of the Lake I had little formal education that was directed towards
social work and theories related to the field. With that being said, as I discovered new theories during the course of this class I was amazed to realize that many of the theories discussed were being implemented with my clients, even though I had little formal training. This was likely because of others who were training me in new positions to the field, and it is with this understanding that I focused on learning the theories discussed, and plan on using them in the future with clients that I will serve. Though several valuable theories were discussed during the course of the class, I wanted to focus on the three that I find to be applicable to many of the clients that I serve daily. Many theories were covered, and while many of them could be used to assist a client in need. I decided to identify those that I could immediately use to work with clients at my current job. As cited by Payne (2014), there are several different social work practice theories and these also include formal and informal theories. With the vast amount of theories within the field, some may look at a theory as a scientific explanation or as an abstract thought or explanation (Payne, 2014). No matter what definition used or idea about a theory the fact is, that a theory is a map that can be used to explain the feelings and situations around us, and if used properly can be a blueprint for overcoming some of the challenges we have in life. It is with this in mind that I have decided to focus on the Strength Perspective, Feminist, and Multi-Cultural theories for the purpose of this assignment. Strength Perspective theory focuses on the strengths of the clients rather than the limitations they have, and according to Gray (2011), this theory has its philosophical roots in the Aristotle’s teleological of human flourishing, which holds the concept that every person “should strive to reach their potential through the exercise of their capabilities, and most importantly their intellect”.
Strength Perspective theory places much of the responsibility on the client and encourages then to make decisions for themselves. On this basis, the theory also hold each individual responsible for their own recovery and progress. As cited by Cowger and Snively (2002), the social worker determines what the client wants, utilizes the client’s words, ensures the assessment and plan is a collaborative effort, avoids blaming, and assesses rather than diagnosis. As a result of working with clients who have been diagnosed their entire lives with disabilities, I will incorporate this theory by assisting them with identifying their strengths and concerns, and then participate with them and their families on creating a plan that can allow for them to be successful. This process will start during the initial intake and as a result of my clients having a range in regards to comprehension, each plan will be adapted to the individual’s needs, and revaluated regularly to ensure that strengths identified are being promoted within the
plan. Another theory that will be incorporated within the daily service that I provide is the Multi-Cultural theory. According to Comas-Diaz and Brown (2016), this theory is a systematic study of the influence of culture on individual’s behaviors, cognitions, and behaviors. “Within multiculturalism,