Integrative Theory Paper
It is important for social workers to hold, in high regard, all social work practice principles and values defined by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). When thinking about how I, as a social worker, will integrate my personal values with social work theoretical models and social work practice principles, the values or principles that I personally tend to put more emphasis on are: dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, and integrity. To me, these are imperative elements of social work practice that I would like to keep at the forefront of my mind while working in cohesion with clients. The value of dignity and worth of the person states that “social workers respect the …show more content…
“Social workers understand that relationships between and among people are an important vehicle for change” (NASW, 2008). There is no one seeking treatment that has completely eliminated all human contact. Examining meaningful relationships in one’s life can enlighten a social worker to better understand the person they are working with. Who influenced their client in the past? Who are the significant people in their client’s life now? In what ways can the client’s support system be utilized to help the client? These are all vital questions I would consider when working with an individual. For me, integrity is probably the social work value that overshadows all the others. “Social workers are continually aware of the profession’s mission, values, ethical principles, and ethical standards and practice in a manner consistent with them” (NASW, 2008). I believe it is my duty as a social worker to hold myself to a high ethical standard in order to help maintain the integrity of the profession as a whole. Due to public opinion or judgmental generalizations, a social worker’s unethical behavior can reflect on others in this line of …show more content…
At the time I did not understand their approaches with my Dad, but now, looking back, I have a clearer perception. I am partial to person-centered theory because, after many years of watching my Dad move from practitioner to practitioner, a breakthrough was finally achieved when a counselor meet him where he was, accepted him for who he was, and allowed him to discover his own internal strengths. He was a highly challenging client with tendencies to push the boundaries with all his therapists, but progress was achieved with true unconditional positive regard, “warm acceptance regardless of his thoughts, feelings, and behaviors” (Walsh, J.F., 2013, p. 38). Granted I was not present for most of his sessions so there is a good chance that other theoretical models were utilized, but the use of PCT seems to be the major difference between the therapist that evoked change and the others that terminated services. According to Elliott and Freire’s (2007) reflection of Roger’s theory, “acceptance brings about change, if the therapist, instead of attempting to change the client, strives to accept the client unconditionally, change will follow
It is important for social workers to hold, in high regard, all social work practice principles and values defined by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). When thinking about how I, as a social worker, will integrate my personal values with social work theoretical models and social work practice principles, the values or principles that I personally tend to put more emphasis on are: dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, and integrity. To me, these are imperative elements of social work practice that I would like to keep at the forefront of my mind while working in cohesion with clients. The value of dignity and worth of the person states that “social workers respect the …show more content…
“Social workers understand that relationships between and among people are an important vehicle for change” (NASW, 2008). There is no one seeking treatment that has completely eliminated all human contact. Examining meaningful relationships in one’s life can enlighten a social worker to better understand the person they are working with. Who influenced their client in the past? Who are the significant people in their client’s life now? In what ways can the client’s support system be utilized to help the client? These are all vital questions I would consider when working with an individual. For me, integrity is probably the social work value that overshadows all the others. “Social workers are continually aware of the profession’s mission, values, ethical principles, and ethical standards and practice in a manner consistent with them” (NASW, 2008). I believe it is my duty as a social worker to hold myself to a high ethical standard in order to help maintain the integrity of the profession as a whole. Due to public opinion or judgmental generalizations, a social worker’s unethical behavior can reflect on others in this line of …show more content…
At the time I did not understand their approaches with my Dad, but now, looking back, I have a clearer perception. I am partial to person-centered theory because, after many years of watching my Dad move from practitioner to practitioner, a breakthrough was finally achieved when a counselor meet him where he was, accepted him for who he was, and allowed him to discover his own internal strengths. He was a highly challenging client with tendencies to push the boundaries with all his therapists, but progress was achieved with true unconditional positive regard, “warm acceptance regardless of his thoughts, feelings, and behaviors” (Walsh, J.F., 2013, p. 38). Granted I was not present for most of his sessions so there is a good chance that other theoretical models were utilized, but the use of PCT seems to be the major difference between the therapist that evoked change and the others that terminated services. According to Elliott and Freire’s (2007) reflection of Roger’s theory, “acceptance brings about change, if the therapist, instead of attempting to change the client, strives to accept the client unconditionally, change will follow