In the Field: A Real-Life Survival Guide for the Social Work Internship / Edition 1

by William A. Danowski

Overview

This practical, down-to-earth practice-based book helps students move from the world of the classroom, textbook, and theory to the world of real practice. In the Field: A Real-Life Survival Guide for the Social Work Internship by William Danowski helps students prepare for entering their first field placement, and enforces the fact that coworkers, supervisors, and life experiences have much to offer. Practioners preparing for their first field placement will see in this guide that going into a new and unknown environment can result in missteps or mistakes, but this text's ideas, examples, and orientations can serve as a guide to beginning a rewarding and successful career.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780205376001
Publisher:	Allyn & Bacon, Inc.
Publication date:	09/15/2004
Edition description:	Older Edition
Pages:	128
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.98(h) x 0.30(d)

Table of Contents

	Introduction	xi
	Acknowledgements	xiii
Chapter 1	Before You Embark on Your Journey	1
	Twenty-One Skills You Will Learn	1
	Terminology Used in This Book: Client, Patients, Consumers	2
	How to Get the Most From This Book	3
	The "Ride of Your Life"	3
	Do Your Homework	4
	Placement Interview Questions	5
	Preparing Your Attitudes	5
	Building Your Professional Wardrobe	8
	The Mature Student	9
	House Rules	11
	Supervision, Placements, and Support From the College	12
	Learning Contracts	14
Chapter 2	Making the Leap from Theory to Real Life	17
	Emotional Readiness: "Standing in the Rain"	17
	Understanding the Process of Change	19
	Mistakes: Errors of Technique Versus Errors of the Heart	20
	Four Kinds of Paperwork	21
	Writing Chart Notes	22
	Progress Notes	23
	Process Recordings	25
Chapter 3	Beginning at the Beginning	29
	The First Day	29
	Safety	31
	Safety Rules	33
	Health Precautions	34
	Family Contact: Appropriate and Inappropriate	35
	Sexual Harassment and Cultural Sensitivity	35
	Social Work Ethics and Values	36
	Resources in Dealing with Ethical Issues	37
	Ethics and Ethical Thinking	37
	Ethical Behavior Toward Colleagues	41
	Ethics Demystified	42
	Surveys, Research, and the Institutional Review Board (IRB)	44
Chapter 4	Staying the Course	47
	The Team and Agency As Systems	47
	Multicultural Interview	48
	Assessments	48
	Generalist Practice	50
	Psychiatric Assessment	51
	Psychosocial Assessment	52
	Assessing Potential for Violent Behavior	53
	Getting Comfortable with Your Clients	54
	Looking beneath the Surface	57
	Understanding Your Client	58
	Asking Open-Ended Questions	62
	Leaving Space	62
	Becoming the Least Motivated Person in the Room	63
	Asking	64
	Learning to Tolerate Ambiguity and Ambivalence	64
	Learning to Trust and Use Your Feelings	65
	Paying Attention to Your Body	65
	Care and Feeding of On-Site Supervisors	66
Chapter 5	Navigating the Hazards	73
	Stress and Anxiety	73
	Your Inner Clock	77
	Transference and Countertransference	78
	When Things Go Bad	81
	Three Common Mistakes	83
	Uncomfortable Topics	85
	Helpless and Hopeless: Bad Feelings or Good Feelings?	86
	Gimmicks and Props	87
Chapter 6	Termination	91
	Client Termination	91
	Evaluation and Termination	95
	Termination and Closure After the Client Has Left	96
	Your Termination	97
	Mirror-Mirror	98
	Suggested Readings	101
	Index	103