Theories are very significant in the field of sociology this because it helps social workers in explaining why individuals behave the way they do and develop an understanding of how the environment affects certain behaviors. This understanding will help develop an intervention and predict a likely outcome from the selected intervention. Furthermore, experts have indicated that it is essential for social workers to be acquainted with theories because it serves as a foundation that aids in conceptualizing and assessing cases, explaining casuals, intervention planning, and evaluating outcomes. For this paper, I will apply theory and evidence-based intervention to individual meetings, family sessions, and clinical groups.
Individual Meeting
One of the theories useful for an individual session is the Motivational Interviewing (MI) approach. It is a counseling approach that is designed to assist individuals in changing their behaviors in a positive manner (Dean, 2015). In addition, the approach is client-centered and effective for persons with mixed feelings concerning changing their behavior. According to Dean (2015), MI is significant in enhancing the client’s desire to change their current status, which is promoted by investigating aspects that contribute to the client’s resistance. MI depends on a collaborative counseling type with affirmation and open-ended questions. This will be achieved by creating rapport and trust and a safe and conducive environment in which the patient will be comfortable in conversation.
Developing a genogram is an evidence-based intervention that will work well with the MI approach. Browning & Hull (2018) indicate that a genogram is important in mapping out individual relationships since birth and helps uncover emotional and attachment aspects. As a social worker, I will guide the client through the creation genogram, which is the family tree, relationship, and participants of the client’s social network. For instance, I was developing the genogram of Karen; her mother’s death when she was young is significant in the emotions she displays. Therefore, MI would indicate that their genogram of Karen is what contributes to her emotional breakdown. This form of feedback helps understand individuals’ emotions, relationships, and patterns, which helps them change their behaviors.
Family Sessions
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most important approaches for family sessions. This is because the theory is essential in a group setting. The theory also focuses on the connection between emotions, behaviors, and thoughts and offers persons with survival skills that help deal with triggers (Bieling et al., 2022). In addition, CBT aims at modifying a person’s thoughts, hence altering their behaviors. On several occasions, CBT is goal-oriented, correcting unnecessary patterns of thoughts and behavior, improving emotions, and facilitating optimistic modifications. This is important in bringing awareness which is crucial in increasing differentiation and good rapport.
The best evidence-based intervention for a family session is in combination with CBT with Structural Family Therapy (SFT). This is because the combination of approaches is effective group work. SFT is a type of family therapy that looks at the family structure to improve interactions among members of the family (Colapinto, 2015). An approach to managing the group as a complex organization can be merged with behavioral theory to ensure that the group’s objective is achieved and the members’ personality issues are dealt with accordingly (Toseland & Rivas, 2017). For instance, in a single-family session role play, Karen commented that she was passive-aggressive about how the family had neglected her. As a social worker, I will utilize SFT Therapy to help me understand the interacting elements of a family setting and CBT to help her connect emotions, behaviors, and clients’ thoughts. Helping Karen to try new or different activities with her family will help change their relationship in their home.
Clinical Group
Tuckman Model is appropriate in the clinical group and is significant in dealing with group practice. This model has five phases: forming, storming, norming, performing, and termination. Toseland & Rivas (2017) indicate that the forming stage is the first stage, storming, norming, and performing is in the middle, and termination is the last stage. Formation of the group will be the first aspect; this involves establishing rules, expectations, relationships, and boundaries. In the middle stages, individuals flow together, accomplish tasks, learn skills and work together as a team. Thompson & Stepney (2017) indicate that the Tuckman model works to help clients to meet various needs, such as a sense of belonging and finding their place in the group. In addition, developmental theories are significant in group sessions; this is because it helps in finding a sense of self, trust, boundaries, and integration.
Evidence-based intervention is best for the clinical group cognitive restructuring. According to Toseland & Rivas (2017), cognitive restructuring is an intrapersonal intervention that helps change a person’s insights, values, sensations, emotions, and feelings. It also aims at correcting distorted thoughts such as “I will never be loved .”Such thought is incorrect and has negative impacts, such as the feeling of depression and worthlessness. Through cognitive restructuring, individuals can look into the negative thoughts that affect their behaviors and daily activities. In addition, it creates self-awareness by reconstructing distorted thoughts with more realistic and positive ones. Therefore, if this approach is implemented intentionally, the group members will reconstruct the negative thoughts.
In conclusion, theories and evidence-based interventions help social workers explain why individuals behave the way they do and develop an understanding of how the environment affects certain behaviors, which helps them create good interventions. Different groups require different interventions and theories which are appropriate for bringing change. By implementing appropriate intervention/theory, a social worker will have a foundational framework that aids in conceptualizing and assessing cases, explaining casuals, intervention planning, and evaluating outcomes.
References
Bieling, P. J., McCabe, R. E., & Antony, M. M. (2022). Cognitive-behavioral therapy in groups. Guilford publications.
Browning, S., & Hull, R. (2018). Utilizing the genogram to integrate systems and psychoanalytic thinking. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 28(4), 567–583. https://doi.org/10.1037/int0000115
Colapinto, J. (2015). Structural family therapy. In E. Neukrug (Ed.), The SAGE encyclopedia of theory in counseling and psychotherapy (pp. 967–971). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Dean, L. (2015). Motivational interviewing. In E. Neukrug (Ed.), The SAGE encyclopedia of theory in counseling and psychotherapy (pp. 669–672). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
Toseland, R. W., & Rivas, R. F. (2017). An introduction to group work practice,( 8th Ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson
write