Strengths, Narrative, Solutions Practice

Question 1

Strengths, Narrative and Solution practice draw on different theoretical perspectives (3)

Answer 1

1) social psychology
2) social construction
3) postmodernism

Question 2

Social psychology studies how…

Answer 2

interaction within social groups as well as between groups helps to create and maintain the social identities of individuals

• how people behave in relations to others
• their influence on others
• the effects of social factors such as stigma, stereotyping, and ideology on behaviour in groups

Question 3

Role theory explores…

Answer 3

the creation of roles to construct ourselves in a place of social relations.
- the way people are influenced in their behaviours by the social positions they hold and the expectations that accompany those positions
o Gender roles in society, women as homekeeper, men in dominant roles

Question 4

Social constructionism

Answer 4

• sociological theory -> the world and meanings we create are the result of social interaction

Question 5

relativism

Answer 5

Theory holding that criteria of judgement are relative, varying with individuals and their environments [doctrine that there are no absolute truths]

Question 6

discourse

Answer 6

set of sanctioned statements which have some institutionalized force, and a profound influence on the way that individuals act and think

• connected to social power relations
• discursive practice constrains alternative meanings (what is allowed to be said)
• what is permitted to stand as”knowledge” is defined by discourse

Question 7

key concepts of strengths/narrative/solution

Answer 7

• the “presenting problem” (clinical situation) is a social construction - not an objective reflection of reality
• problem only becomes real when clients and workers join together to define it as a problem

Question 8

Deconstruction

Answer 8

• inclusion of marginalized voices to deconstruct “biased knowledge”/social constructs, that are taken for granted or assumed to be true
  requires looking at social, historical and political contexts (60s scoop)

Question 9

Strengths Perspectives (requirement and focus)

Answer 9

• Require paradigm shift away from traditional approaches that focus on pathology [diagnosing]
• Focus on the client’s meaning of the situation as the most important VS the labels or theories

Question 10

Strengths perspective definition (Barker) is an orientation in social work that emphasizes the client’s…

Answer 10

• resources
• capabilities
• support systems and
• motivations
  …to meet challenges and overcome adversity.
• Does not ignore the existence of social problems, individual disease, or family dysfunction
• emphasis of client strengths that are used to achieve and maintain individual and social well-being.

Question 11

Concepts of Strengths Perspectives

Answer 11

• Resilience
• Membership
• Dialogue
• Collaboration
• Suspension of disbelief

Question 12

Resilience

Answer 12

Skills, abilities, knowledge, insight that accumulate over time as people struggle to surmount adversity and meet challenges

Question 13

Membership

Answer 13

• individuals are valued members in a viable group/community

- opposite of membership is alienation - risk of being marginalized and oppressed

Question 14

Dialogue

Answer 14

requires social worker to actively listen to client

Question 15

Collaboration

Answer 15

Requires worker to forgo “expert” role, to become a “partner” in developing plan with client

Question 16

Suspension of disbelief

Answer 16

Requires client to actively listen, letting go assumptions of the client having “faulty recall, distorted perceptions, and limited self-awareness

Question 17

Criticisms of Strengths perspective (3)

Answer 17

• Reframing misery
• Pollyannaism (positivity bias, tendency for people to remember pleasant items more accurately than unpleasant ones)
• Ignoring reality

Question 18

Narrative Therapy (White and Epson) definition

Answer 18

Psychotherapeutic intervention

• emphasizes the use of client storytelling through writing assignments and oral descriptions of one’s life experiences, thoughts, or imagination
• SW & client work to co-construct an alternative new narrative that forms basis for new direction in life

Question 19

Techniques used in Narrative therapy (3)

Answer 19

Techniques used in narrative therapy:

1) Identify and emphasize existing strengths
2) Weaving past strengths into the fabric of a new narrative
3) Asking questions that externalize the problem

Question 20

Michael White (sneakypoo)

Answer 20

• importance of externalizing the problem from the person, prevents self-fulfilling prophecy from takingplace
• reshape client’s narrative/experience of problem
• emphasize strengths “you are so brave to face such a difficult problem”

Question 21

Narrative positions (4)

Answer 21

• Inherent respect for people
• Fundamental assumption that we can re-author our lives (sense of agency)
• A belief in multiple possible realities
• The power of language

Question 22

Narrative approach examines… (3)

Answer 22

• how the “known” problem identity of a person has been manufactured over time
• What aspects of the social order have worked to maintain the identity of the problem self
• What cultural aspects keep the the problem identity separate from alternative accounts of experience

Question 23

Solution-Focused Brief therapy description (3)(developed by Shazer and Berg)

Answer 23

• little focus on problems and client’s background
• focus on dealing with positive outcomes the client seeks
• short term ~ 10 sessions required to develop goals and plan to reach goals

Question 24

Key elements (2) of Solution-Focused therapy

Answer 24

Miracle question:
If any miraculous change in life or circumstance that one could wish for took place overnight, how would life be better?
Scaling - helps clients and practitioners be specific about their aims and achievements

Question 25

solution focused practice ideas (as per payne [5])

Answer 25

• accept people’s experiences
• search for solutions
• focus on competencies
• focus on what people want to talk about
• avoid diagnosis, categorization and pathology

Question 26

Basic assumptions/ideas of solutions focused

Answer 26

• clients/families are capable and have resources/strengths to resolve problems
• not necessary to understand problem’s background in order to resolve it - history less important, focus on future
• a small change is all that is necessary - a change in one part of the system can affect change in another (link to systems theory)
• validation of different views, there is not one right way to view things
• focus on what is possible and changeable, rather than the impossible/intractable

Question 27

Critique of Solutions focused (3)

Answer 27

• “Mind over matter” - Overoptimistic that psychological models will impact structural issues such as poverty, discrimination
• Do not challenge the current system
• Does not critique the systems that might be oppressive themselves (child welfare or justice system

Question 28

Similarities of Strengths, Narrative & Solutions Focused

Answer 28

• focus on strengths *
• origins in psychotherapy *
• forward-looking approach *
• any change - even small- is good
• focus on resilience within clients (amplifying strengths and resilience) [help clients gain new perspective on problem focusing on their personal strengths]
• deconstruction of traditional views in society (deconstructing situation, recreaton of ideal situation as per client is not always realistic - where critique of being unrealistic stems from)

Question 29

Difference between 3

Answer 29

Not all are rooted in traditional Freudian theories