The Social Work Podcast

Episode 52: Today's podcast looks at the relationship between theory and clinical social work practice. I spoke with Joe Walsh, professor of social work at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), and author of the Brooks/Cole text, Theories for Direct Social Work Practice, which came out in a second edition in 2009. We talked about why social workers should learn practice theories, the differences between practice, developmental and personality theories, the difference between a theory and a model, and why there are so many different practice theories. We talked about how knowing theory makes for better social work practice and how being "eclectic" isn't about eschewing theory, but being well grounded in a few theories and making intentional choices about when and how to draw from them. Joe suggested that social workers in the field can contribute to theory refinement by thinking seriously about how well the theories they use work with the clients they serve. We ended our conversation with some information on resources for social workers who are interested in learning more about practice theories. To read more about theories for clinical social work practice, and to hear other podcasts, please visit the Social Work Podcast website at https://socialworkpodcast.com.

Episode 51: Hello, podcast listener. It is June 21, 2009, the first day of summer. By now all of the schools of social work in the United States have had their spring graduation and unleashed tens of thousands of newly minted social workers into the world. You might be one of these recent graduates. Like those who came before you and those who will come after, you've spent the last 2 - 5 years becoming socialized into the profession of social work. You've written thousands of papers, spent thousands on books, spent thousands of hours with clients (or close to it), you're your share of group projects, process recordings, video taped assignments, ... all to become skilled professionals who can provide competent and ethical social work services to your clients. Well, today's podcast is a tribute to you. And who better to pay tribute than a fellow student. Today we're going to hear Allison Anais Brunner's 2009 MSW graduation speech from Temple University's School of Social Administration. In her speech, entitled, "When in doubt, Give Hope", Allison juxtaposes the anxieties and doubts that recent graduates feel with their professional responsibility to hold hope for their clients. She describes her own doubts as a social worker, relates those to her personal moments of doubt and shares how she drew from those experiences to help her client. Using our experiences to benefit our clients rather than ourselves, is what we call "professional use of self." And as Carl Rogers demonstrated many years ago, bringing our genuine self to the clinical relationship is one of the most important things we can do to help our clients. So, I dedicate this podcast to you, our professions newest members. And now Allison Anais Brunner and her speech, "When in Doubt, Give Hope." To read the full speech and to hear other podcasts, please visit the Social Work Podcast website at https://socialworkpodcast.com.

Episode 50: Today's podcast is on salary negotiation. In today's podcast I speak with Dr. Cynthia Conley,assistant professor of social work at the School of Social Administration at Temple University, about salary negotiation skills for social workers. Cynthia takes us through salary negotiation from the application to the job offer. Today's podcast is a follow-up to our December, 2008 interview in which Cynthia spoke generally about the importance of salary negotiation to both individuals and to the profession. For more information about this podcast or others in our series, and for resources about social work salaries and references to salary research, please visit the Social Work Podcast website at https://socialworkpodcast.com.

Episode 49: Today's podcast is on social workers and depression. I spoke with Mark Meier, a licensed independent clinical social worker from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Mark and I started our conversation talking about how social workers are three times as likely to be depressed as people in the general population. We talked about the personal and professional responsibility social workers have in addressing their depression, and the role that schools and colleagues have in supporting social workers to get treatment. Mark shared his personal experience with depression, suicidal ideation, and the subsequent hospitalization. We ended our conversation with a discussion about what programs or workshops schools of social work can provide students to address the issue of social workers and depression. For more information on social workers and depression, treatment of depression, or any of the other podcasts, please visit https://socialworkpodcast.com

Episode 48: Today's podcast is on social work with Immigrants and Refugees. I speak with Fernando Chang-Muy, JD, and Dr. Elaine Congress about their new book on the topic. We talk about why it is important to have both social work and legal perspectives, how social workers and lawyers can work together to improve the lives of immigrants and refugees, how social workers can advocate for their clients on a policy level, and finally how listeners outside of the United States can use the concepts discussed in Fernando and Elaine's latest book in their own countries. For references and resources about social work with immigrants and refugees, please visit the Social Work Podcast website at https://socialworkpodcast.com Related podcast: Listen to Elaine Congress talk about using her visual assessment tool, the Culturagram, when working with immigrants and refugees on the Social Work Podcast. For references and resources about social work with immigrants and refugees, please visit the Social Work Podcast website at https://socialworkpodcast.com

Episode 47: Today's podcast is on salary negotiation. Salary negotiation is a topic that is rarely discussed in schools of social work. Yet, for reasons identified in today's podcast, the social work profession as a whole would benefit if social workers negotiated salaries. In today's podcast, I speak with Dr. Cynthia Conley, assistant professor of social work at the School of Social Administration at Temple University. Dr. Conley's research focuses on salary negotiation, the salary gap between men and women social workers, and leadership skills and social work students. Cynthia and I talk about why salary negotiation is an important topic for social workers and some tips for how to negotiate salaries. I ask Cynthia how realistic it is for social workers to negotiate salaries, especially since many social workers take jobs in agencies where salaries are tied to position, rather than the qualifications of the applicant. Cynthia provides some case examples of successful salary negotiation. We end our conversation with a discussion of Cynthia's research on salary negotiation, and some ideas on where salary negotiation fits in the social work curriculum. For more information about this podcast or others in our series, and for resources about social work salaries and references to salary research, please visit the Social Work Podcast website at https://socialworkpodcast.com.

Dr. Elaine Congress discusses the Culturagram, a valuable family assessment tool focused on cultural aspects. Topics include challenges in assessing legal status, language dynamics in immigrant families, and impacts of trauma on immigrant families. The episode highlights the tool's application in social work practice and research studies evaluating its benefits.

Episode 45: In today's podcast, I speak with Shaun Eack about schizophrenia and social work. We talk about some basic information that social workers need to know about the diagnosis of schizophrenia; Shaun identifies and describes the positive, negative and cognitive symptoms that are often present in people with schizophrenia. Around 13 minutes into the conversation we switch the focus from diagnosis to the role of the social worker in working with people with schizophrenia. We end our conversation with a discussion of treatment approaches, including a new approach that addresses cognitive content. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, schizophrenia is a chronic, severe and disabling brain disorder that affects 1.1% of the population over the age of 18. The term "schizophrenia" was coined by Eugene Bleuler from the Greek roots schizein (σχίζειν, "to split") and phrēn, phren- (φρήν, φρεν-, "mind"). Schizophrenia literally means "split mind." But, because of the etymology of the word, schizophrenia is commonly misrepresented as a split personality, or in clinical terms - Dissociative Identity Disorder. The symptoms of schizophrenia fall into three broad categories: positive, negative, and cognitive. The combination of positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms, can make people with schizophrenia fearful and withdrawn, and cause difficulties in relationships with other. For more information about this podcast or others in our series, please visit the Social Work Podcast at https://socialworkpodcast.com.

Episode 44: Today's podcast is the second in a two part series on measurement for clinical practice and research. In today's podcast I speak with Dr. Mary Rauktis about the difference between measurement in the field and measurement in research settings. We talk about some of the ways that social workers can think about measurement as a tool to improve clinical practice, and some ways that social workers in the field can develop measures that will really benefit their clients. We talk about some of the challenges social workers have using measurement tools because of how rarely measures are integrated into social work courses. We talk about some ideas for how to better integrate measurement into social work education, particularly beyond the required research classes. We end Part II with a discussion of some resources for social workers interested in learning more about measurement. In part one of the podcast we talked about how she became interested in measurement; some key concepts needed to understand measurement including reliability, validity and error; and how to understand measures used in research articles. For more information about this podcast or others in our series, please visit the Social Work Podcast at https://socialworkpodcast.com.

Episode 43: Today's podcast is the first in a two part series on measurement for clinical practice and research. In today's podcast I speak with Dr. Mary Rauktis about how she became interested in measurement; some key concepts needed to understand measurement including reliability, validity and error; and how to understand measures used in research articles. In part two of the podcast we talk about the difference between measurement in the field and measurement in research settings. We talk about some of the ways that social workers can think about measurement as a tool to improve clinical practice, and some ways that social workers in the field can develop measures that will really benefit their clients. We talk about some of the challenges social workers have using measurement tools because of how rarely measures are integrated into social work courses. We talk about some ideas for how to better integrate measurement into social work education, particularly beyond the required research classes. We end Part II with a discussion of some resources for social workers interested in learning more about measurement. For more information about this podcast or others in our series, please visit the Social Work Podcast at https://socialworkpodcast.com.