Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice Relational Principles and Techniques [Hardcover]

Eda G. Goldstein is professor emerita and director of the Post-Master's Certificate in Advanced Clinical Practice at the New York University Silver School of Social Work. Her books include Ego Psychology and Social Work Practice and Object Relations Theory and Self Psychology in Social Work Practice.Dennis Miehls is an associate professor and chair of Human Behavior in the Environment Sequence at Smith College School for Social Work and coauthor of Transforming the Legacy: Couple Therapy with Survivors of Childhood Trauma.Shoshana Ringel is associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Social Work and coauthor of Attachment and Dynamic Practice.Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice traces the development of relational ideas from their origin in object relations and self psychology to their evolution in current relational, intersubjectivity, and attachment theory. Relational treatment emphasizes openness and collaboration between client and therapist, mutual impact, the client's subjectivity, and the therapist's empathy, genuineness, and use of the self in therapeutic interaction. The approach treats the relationship and dialogue between client and therapist as crucial to the change process and shows how the therapeutic relationship can be used to help clients and therapists bridge differences, examine similarities, overcome impasses, and manage enactments.

The relational emphasis on the subjective experience of both client and therapist is beautifully illustrated throughout this book as the authors draw from their clinical work with clients from diverse backgrounds, including gay and lesbian clients, immigrants, and clients of color. They demonstrate how relational principles and techniques can be applied to multiple problems in social work practice?for example, life crises and transitions, physical and sexual abuse, mental dilO