Evidence based practice is essential to effective social work practice. For this assignment, you are required to (a) identify a current practice problem relevant in your current agency (i.e., working with resistant clients, engaging clients when they don’t talk much, having negative perceptions about your client, counter transference, etc.), (b) after identifying your practice problem, conduct an extensive literature search as it relates to your practice problem that provides you with a complete understanding of the practice problem.

Evidence based practice is essential to effective social work practice. For this assignment, you are required to (a) identify a current practice problem relevant in your current agency (i.e., working with resistant clients, engaging clients when they don’t talk much, having negative perceptions about your client, counter transference, etc.), (b) after identifying your practice problem, conduct an extensive literature search as it relates to your practice problem that provides you with a complete understanding of the practice problem.

Based on your findings in the literature, what did you discover that will help you address your practice problem? How might your research guide your work in your field agency?  After reviewing the literature/research and comparing it to the practice problem, the student is expected to do the following:

Submit a 2 page reflection paper that:

1. Briefly discusses the literature
2. Briefly identifies the practice problem
3. Briefly explains how the literature will be used to address the practice problem while engaging in the agency.

 

Use references:

References

Working with Resistant Clients in Career Counseling. (1999). ERIC Digest, 435949, 1–6. https://doi-org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1037/e586442011-001

Thyer, B. A. (2013). Evidence-based practice or evidence-guided practice: A rose by any other name would smell as sweet [Invited response to Gitterman & Knight’s “evidence-guided practice”]. Families in Society, 94(2), 79–84.

Wharton, T. C., & Bolland, K. A. (2012). Practitioner perspectives of evidence-based practice. Families in Society, 93(3), 157–164.

 

Solution

Introduction

Evidence based practice is essential to effective social work practice. It ensures that social workers offer high quality care, achieve improved outcomes from clients and better solve any practice problems they may encounter. During my practice at my current agency, I have encountered a problem working with resistant clients. This article seeks to solve this problem through the conducting of an extensive literature search as it relates to my practice problem. This will enable me to best understand the problem.

According to Thyer (2013), Evidence based practice is holistic as it involves integrating research evidence, literature, a social worker’s expertise and the patient’s unique circumstances. Literature helps the social worker to identify the methods of assessment and intervention that have been applied and the ones with the greatest scientific support. Seeking out available evidence is essential for effective applications in handling problems. However, according to Wharton & Bolland (2012), social workers determine how and when to use the evidence gained from their research.

Practice Problem

In my current practice with the agency, I have encountered the problem of resistant clients. One of my clients is mostly silent and passive during our sessions. They rarely volunteer information and it has become extremely hard to get through to them. In most instances, the client shows up late for the sessions while other times they do not show up. On enquiry, the client makes excuses that they forgot or had another urgent matter to attend to. While I understand that every client has their unique experiences, it has become challenging to develop an intervention plan. Literature will help in dealing with resistance for effective social work practice.

Literature

The article by Eric Digest (1999), indicates that it is crucial to recognize that change has different implications on different clients. While in some clients there is no resistance, others respond to change through conscious or unconscious resistance. Therefore, a social worker should understand resistance to prevent misunderstanding the client or misleading their actions. A client may resist due to the fear of counselling, or taking responsibility (“Working with Resistant Clients in Career Counseling”, 1999). They may make excuses or have overt physical behavior like acting uninterested and sometimes even cancelling sessions prematurely.

Dealing with resistance comes with understanding that clients are different and resistance is their pattern of survival. Some of the strategies identifies to help in dealing with resistance include using metaphors to talk to the client and joining the client by appreciating their life struggles and showing willingness to work with them. Labelling and reframing their expressions helps the client see themselves in a different light which is likely to motivate them towards change (“Working with Resistant Clients in Career Counseling”, 1999). Striving to form a working alliance has also been found to be an effective strategy that social workers can implement to deal with resistance.

Literature application to address the practice problem

Applying the information acquired from literature, I am better informed of tested strategies I can implement to deal with resistance from my client. I have also realized that identifying resistance is important as it will ensure on utilizes strategies to ensure effective social work practice. Using the literature, I have learned that I should strive to form a working alliance with the client by being on their side. This will enable offering of client-centred service through the agency. It will also let the client feel that I am aware of their struggles, I appreciate them and willing to work with them (“Working with Resistant Clients in Career Counseling”, 1999). Using metaphors, relatable to the client, will enable communication and eventual reframing.

References

Thyer, B. A. (2013). Evidence-based practice or evidence-guided practice: A rose by any other name would smell as sweet [Invited response to Gitterman & Knight’s “evidence-guided practice”]. Families in Society, 94(2), 79–84.

Wharton, T. C., & Bolland, K. A. (2012). Practitioner perspectives of evidence-based practice. Families in Society, 93(3), 157–164.

Working with Resistant Clients in Career Counseling. (1999). ERIC Digest, 435949, 1–6. https://doi-org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1037/e586442011-001