1. Direct Practice in Social Work, 2e
Scott W. Boyle
Grafton H. Hull, Jr.
Jannah Hurn Mather
Larry Lorenzo Smith
O. William Farley
University of Utah, College of Social Work
PowerPoints by Julie Emmer, University of Central Florida
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© 2009 Allyn & Bacon

2. Direct Practice in Social Work
In Chapter 6 we will:
Explore counseling contracts as an important part of the treatment process
Learn to choose and clarify client goals effectively
Explore communication skills as a frequent goal area in treatment
Learn how to know when goals have been accomplished
Address cultural and diversity issues in planning
Explore poverty as a cultural and diversity issue
© 2009 Allyn & Bacon

3. Contracts include:
Goals or problems and concerns to be addressed in counseling
The treatment methods that will be used to accomplish the goals or address the problems and concerns
Number of counseling sessions required for goal accomplishment or problem and concern resolution
Cost of counseling services
© 2009 Allyn & Bacon

4. The contracting process
Can be informal and verbal, or can be a formal document
Is usually addressed in the first counseling session
Helps to stress to the client the seriousness of the counseling commitment
© 2009 Allyn & Bacon

5. Identifying goals for treatment
Reid’s Problems of Living (1978)
Interpersonal conflict
Dissatisfaction with social relationships
Problems with formal organizations
Difficulty in role performance
Decision problems
Reactive emotional stress
Inadequate resources
Psychological or behavioral problems not elsewhere classified
© 2009 Allyn & Bacon

6. Components of a contract
Client objectives ranked in priority order from most to least important
Action steps or tasks to be completed by the client
Action steps or tasks to be completed by the social worker
Schedule or time frame for completion of tasks
Techniques and methods to be used in counseling
Logistical details such as time and place of sessions, cost, etc.

7. Limitations of a counseling contract
Focuses on limited behaviors and may miss other behaviors
Is dependant on the trust levels of the two parties involved
May be difficult to complete due to outside factors
Must be objective and measurable in order to know outcome
Must be realistic and achievable
Should include positive expectations and reinforcements
The client must be committed to following the contract and accepting its terms

9. Suggestions for goal setting
Select goals that are important to clients
Establish small goals rather than large ones
Ensure goals are concrete, specific, and behavioral
Choose goals that describe the presence of something, rather than the absence of something
Develop goals that describe beginnings, rather than endings
Be sure goals are achievable and realistic
Ensure goals are perceived by clients as involving hard work

10. Motivating an involuntary client
Encourage client to identify at least one benefit to completing counseling
Help client to identify goals beyond those stated by the referral source
Set small goals to establish a feeling of accomplishment
Set goals within the knowledge base of the social worker
Set goals within the scope of the agency

11. Improved communication skills as a goal for treatment
Review purpose and goal of communication
Identify barriers to effective communication, such as body language, and interrupting behaviors
Learn new strategies for communication, such as “I” messages and empathic communication

12. How do we know when goals have been accomplished?
Assessments by:
The client
The client’s family members and friends
The social worker
Standardized instruments
© 2009 Allyn & Bacon

13. Cultural issues in the planning process
Should be addressed at the beginning of treatment
Should be addressed in a frank and open-minded manner

14. When working with very poor clients a social worker should recognize: (Sheafor and Horejsi 2006)
Being poor creates a number of forces that serve to keep a person poor
The social worker should have a solid knowledge of all resources that might be available to the client
The helper should be aware of eligibility restrictions for assistance, and be an advocate for accessibility to resources
The client’s views about being poor are critical to the helping process
The extremely stressful nature of living in poverty

15. When working with very poor clients a social worker should recognize: (Sheafor and Horejsi 2006)
Empowerment strategies and strengths perspectives are particularly important
Clients can share coping strategies and resources with other clients in similar circumstances
The social distance and power differential between the worker and the client should be minimized
Clients should be given opportunities to shape and influence programs
The desperation of poverty often leads to harmful and illegal behavior