1. Learning from the Context: Social Work Practice with Substance
Abuse Clients and Their Families
Rita D, Reid, MSW Candidate
Savannah State University
Agency Context
“For 45 years, Willingway’s focus has been saving the lives of people with alcohol
and drug problems. Delivering patients and families the highest quality addiction
treatment care with dignity, compassion and respect is the mission”
(Willingway.com, 2014). Willingway also supports a lifelong continuing recovery
program so that patients and families may enjoy a life of sobriety and success.
(Winningway.com, 2014). Willingway is ranked one of the “Top 10 Treatment
Centers in the US”, by Billboard Magazine. Willingway’s philosophy which they
have found to work is “complete abstinence from all mood-altering substances.
"At Willingway, each patient has their own individual counselor. They receive a
medically managed detoxification and receive the Willingway treatment program
which includes the steps and principles of AA. They receive support while they
address their personal addictions.
Theoretical Framework
Saleeby’s strengths perspective theory, “respects the unique strengths, abilities
and aspirations of clients and recognizes resources within the client’s natural
environment”. The strengths perspective focuses on rebirth and healing from
within and on empowering or channeling the power within the client and
respecting the client’s own resilience in overcoming adversity (Johnson & Yanca,
2010).
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) for substance use disorders includes a wide
range of behavioral treatments including those targeting operant learning
processes, motivational barriers to improvement, and traditional variety of other
cognitive-behavioral interventions (McHugh et all).
The motivational interview is defined as “a client-centered, directive method for
enhancing intrinsic motivation to change by exploring and resolving ambivalence”
(Heather, 2007).
Addiction is not wholly understood but it is looked via a lens of “Disease Model”
with biological components. As a social worker we use the Strengths perspective
to activate the inner strengths of our clients, use CBT, Motivational Interviewing,
and the Twelve Step Model.
Reflections As A Professional Social Worker
Like everyone, we all go through life cycles and earn our livelihood and support
our families. Due to this I have held several jobs in my life time and done well,
financially of course and supported my family. It has been a full circle for me to
finally find my passion to help others and attain MSW degree. Education is
imperative to any helping profession, as “Do No Harm ” is a Social Work motto.
Classroom learning and field internship has been an intense life time experience,
that will help me be ethical, compassionate and be empathetic. As I believe that
the learning is a life-long process, I will continue to contribute and serve my
clients and also continue to grow professionally. Humbly, Savannah State
University’s program has been significant in my life cycle and has made me
“extraordinaire”.
References
Heather, N. (Ed.). (2007).The Handbook of Treatment and Prevention of Alcohol Problems. Canada Family Physicians, 53(12), 2117–2118.Retrieved March 30,
2015,from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2231547/.J
Johnson, L., & Yanca, S. (2010).Social work practice: A generalist approach (10thed., p. 397).Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
McHugh, R., Hearon, B., & Otto, M. (2010).Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Substance Use Disorders. PsychiatryClinical North America, 33(3), 511-525.Retrieved
March 30,2015.
Competency 1–Demonstrate Ethical and
Professional Behavior
1.Set and Establish Between Client and
Staff
2. Demonstrate Professional Demeanor in
Behavior, Appearance, and
Communication
Abiding by the NASW Code of
Ethics, established professional
boundaries with patients and
informed a patient that I cannot
accept gifts from patient.
Competency 2 –Engage Diversity and
Difference in Practice
1. Recognize the extent to which a
culture’s structures and values may
oppress, marginalize, alienate, or create or
enhance privilege and power.
2. Gain sufficient self-awareness to
eliminate the influence of personal biases
and values in working with diverse groups.
Processed a self-awareness
inventory to identify biases and
stereotypes that might be
preconceived. Continual study of
culture competency courses and
training throughout social work
practice. Study the culture and
climate of addiction and recovery.
Competency 3 –Advance Human Rights
and Social, Economic, and Environmental
Justice.
1.Advocate for human rights and social and
economic justice; and
2. Engage in practices that advance social
and economic justice
Advocated social justice and human
rights in The Stand Your Ground
Laws and How to Prevent the Next
Trayvon Martin presentation at the
NASW-GA Annual Meeting in
October, 2014. and the 2014 Rimi
Conference. Also presented
research on the Indian Child
Welfare Act.
Competency 4 –Engage In Practice-
informed Research and Research-informed
Practice
1. Use practice experience to inform
scientific inquiry and
2. Use research evidence to inform
practice
Used Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
(CBT) and Behavioral Therapies ,
and 12 Step Model of Alcoholics
Anonymous (AA) which are
treatments of choice according to
the National Institute of Substance
Abuse (NIDA), Substance Abuse
and Mental Health Service
Administration SAMSHA), National
Institute of Health (NIH), and
Alcoholics Anonymous.
Competency 5 –Engage in Policy Practice
1. Analyze, formulate, and advocate for
policies that advance social well-being.
2. Collaborate with colleagues and clients
for effective policy action.
Attended school board meetings and
communitymeetings to advocate for
services and policies for people in the
community.Researched the Stand Your
Ground Laws and presented on findings to
inform other social workers on need to
advocate for a change in policy and
conducted this research because social
work intern wanted to have all the
ammunition to advocate and educate
people and politicians to change the laws
that causing certain populations to die
unnecessarily.
Competency 6 –Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Competency 7 –Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Competency 8 –Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Competency 9 –Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and
Communities
Social Work Practice With Individuals
1. Identify as recovery-oriented social
workers and behave accordingly.
2. Engage in self-care methods and seek
support to develop awareness,
insight, and resiliency to more
effectively manage the effects of
trauma and re-traumatization in their
lives of clients with substance abuse.
Social Worker demonstrates to clients that
she believes in the individual with substance
abuse diagnoses and encourages his or her
recovery; combats the effects of stigma,
discrimination, and shame; and social worker
understands that it is critical to the
individual’s recovery. Social work intern
makes sure she has daily consultation with
supervisors to ensure she has the correct
awareness and insight to help her clients and
includes self-care.
Social Work Practice With Families
1. Construct a safe, trusting, and hope-
building relationship with families and
significant others of the client.
2. Use empathy and other interpersonal
skills when assessing the needs of
families.
Social work intern observed several family
assessments and modeled what she learned
for seasoned substance abuse counselors.
Displayed an empathetic, trusting manner
when meeting with families. Practiced active
listening skills and asked what about the
needs and concerns of the family members.
Social Work Practice With Groups
1. Engage diversity and difference in practice.
2. Demonstrate effective oral and written
communication in working with individuals,
families, groups, organizations, communities,
and colleagues.
Develop and use activities in groups that
focused on the skills needed for recovery and
self-reflection. Found and used the recovery
oriented empirical literature to guide group
work.
Social Work Practice With Organization
1. Initiate actions to achieve organizational
goals.
2. Demonstrate leadership during
organizational meetings to provide practice
competency.
Practice or refer clients to family psycho-
education, integrated treatment
for co-occurring disorders, peer
support, and other well established evidence
based approaches. Attend Willingway’s group
supervision meetings to gain knowledge and
achieve organizational goals. Participate in
team meetings.
Social Work Practice With Communities
1. Engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate
the needs of communities.
2. Develop a mutually agreed-on focus of
work and desired outcomes Implement
prevention interventions that enhance
client capacities.
Participated in planning committee meetings
to prepare for the Breaking the Cycle
Recovery Symposium held in March, 2015.
Attended Facilitator training on Culture
Competency given by the Georgia DBHDD
and the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse
to continue to advocate for colure
competency in our communities.
Abstract
Clinical Internship at Willingway Hospital in Statesboro, Georgia provided the opportunity to implement many
theories, strategies and approaches that meet the Council on Social Work Education’s Competencies for a
Master of Social Work Student. I developed a sense of self efficacy while interning in a medically-managed
Detoxification Unit, an Inpatient Residential Treatment Unit, a Long-Term Residential Treatment Program,
Outpatient Program, and a Family Program. I frequently used Cognitive Behavior Theory, A Strengths
Perspective, and Motivational Interviewing, as I believe that these produceddesired outcomes. All of the
required competencies were put into practice with clients experiencing problems from alcoholism, drug
addiction, and personality disorders to bio-medical problems. The agency’s context and a positively charged
relationship with the field instructor, along with readings on Evidence Based Intervention, contributed to my
unfolding identity as a social worker. Also I was able to apply the National Association of Social Workers
(NASW) code of ethic and how these guidelines effect and guide social work practice in the context of treating
addiction. As I believe that the learning is a life-long process, I will continue to contribute and serve my clients
and also continue to grow professionally. Humbly, Savannah State University’s program has been significant in
my life cycle and has made me “extraordinaire”.