1. SWK 645: Field Practicum III
Presenter: Jennifer D. Street, LCSW
Class Meeting Week Six

2. Agenda Welcome Situation of the Week Review stages of internship
In small group
In large group
Review stages of internship
Understanding of Self
Selecting appropriate EBP interventions
Announcements & Wrap-up

3. Review: The Stages of Internship
Sweitzer and King’s theoretical approach to
internship movement over semesters

4. The Five Stages are…. Anticipation Disillusionment Confrontation
Competence
Culmination
These occur over the three semesters of field placement
Task accomplishment: the attitudes, skills, & knowledge that you hope to acquire at each stage

5. A Relevant Review…. Understanding Yourself
……carrying the YOU into placement

6. Knowledge: There are two important types of knowledge you are gaining.
Social work theories and skills
Awareness of ‘self’ and how you use it & how it affects others

7. Self Awareness in Placement
HELPS TO….
Reinforce your strengths
Clarify why you are the way you are
Identify the resources you have available
Anticipate the challenges you will have in the internship
Prevent unsuccessful outcomes in internship

8. ‘Meaning Making’
The process of trying to understand what is happening to us
Kegan believes ‘making meaning’, the ‘making sense’ of our lives, is the most fundamental human activity
You will want to pay attention in placement to
the sense you are making of encounters + how you are making sense of it
A necessary challenging aspect of awareness, this introspection

9. Dealing with Difference
TWO PITFALLS TO BE AWARE OF:
Professional myopia – failing awareness that one’s point of view is just one of many leads to decision-making that fails to consider multiple possibilities for causes and solutions
Difference vs deviance- how people describe something; does it include the notion that something’s wrong- when does a difference turn into a deviance? Or doesn’t it?

10. Recognizing what stage you are in….
What point in the placement experience are you embedded in?
What does that specifically mean for you?
What strengths do you have available going into this stage?
What personal traps do you need to avoid?
Take issues to seminar and supervision!

11. Self knowledge is dynamic…
Unlike other knowledge, self knowledge is an ever changing process
You are changing all the time
Your system of meaning making is changing with you
Become accustomed and committed to the work of self knowledge that pays big professional dividends!!

12. Self Understanding & Social Work
You occupy a position of power over clients
Your use of power must inherently be for the welfare of clients…..always…consistently
Self understanding diminishes chance of projection: the unconscious tendency to believe that you see in others feelings & beliefs that are actually your own.
Projection leads to poor decision-making & often leads to unethical practice

13. Components of Self Understanding
Knowing your values
Recognizing reaction patterns
Appreciating your learning style
Recognizing family patterns
Recognizing your cultural identity
Remembering what motivates you
Considering unresolved issues

14. Comments about Self-Awareness?

15. Selecting appropriate EBP interventions

16. Let’s Talk…EBP What is it? Why does it matter
How do you select an intervention?
What methods can be used to evaluate your chose intervention?
What do you do if the intervention chosen doesn’t work?

17. Example 1
Your client is a 15 year old female with history of suicidal ideation but she is not currently suicidal. Client reports current ideation, intent, and plan for self-injury. She demonstrates an intense love/hate relationship patterns with parents, friends, and boyfriends. Client’s mother is diagnosed with bi-polar I disorder and borderline personality disorder What is the first EBP that comes to mind for treatment of this client? Why? Provide your rational

18. Follow-Up
While there isn’t only one correct answer, based on the information provided DBT-Dialectical Behavioral Therapy would be highly recommended for this client. Why, you ask?? Because client demonstrates extremes in emotion, difficulty, self-soothing, and inability to self-regulate. The core of DBT teaches mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal relationship skills

19. Example 2
Your client is a 30 year old male. Currently residing with his mother. Discloses a history of alcohol abuse and dependence but is in denial about the severity of current alcohol consumption. Client is unemployed. Has a history of witnessing domestic violence as a child and as an adult between his mother and past husbands. Client is very visual and artistic. Shows traits of dependent personality disorder and is in the pre-contemplation stage of change. What is the first EBP that comes to mind for treatment of this client? Why? Provide your rational

20. Follow-Up
While there isn’t only one correct answer, based on the information provided I would recommend Motivational Interviewing along with Narrative Therapy Why, you ask?? Narrative therapy to engage the client’s creative side and promote an atmosphere where client can get encouragement and learn healthy relationship skills by interacting with the therapist through Narrative Letters. And Motivation Interviewing due to the stage of change as research supports that approach

21. Questions?

22. For Next Week
Modules 1-7
O’hare Chapters 2-4
Ecollege assignment 2

23. Have a great week!