About This Edition

From the Publisher

New Features

• Completely up to date, the new Eighth Edition addresses such emerging issues as crisis intervention, and cognitive-behavioral and motivational interviewing techniques. It also emphasizes evidence-based and consistency practice within both the strengths and empowerment perspectives.


• Updated dialogues and case examples--including new examples that address cultural and ethnic sensitivity--illustrate current issues in practice.


• New material expands and improves upon the coverage of working with children.


• An all-new user video demonstration DVD illustrates important skills and practices described in the book. References to the video throughout the text help users put each new skill into context. The DVD enables users to model appropriate behavior without the pressures of facing a client.

Additional Features

• Rather than focusing only on clients' problems, the authors explore how social workers can better assess clients' strengths and integrate those positive attributes into the process.


• Given social work's unique commitment to working with clients in the context of their environments, the authors place direct practice skills in a current social and policy context.


• The text is packed with examples and case studies--many of which are drawn from social work practitioners as well as the authors' personal practice situations. Diversity content is integrated throughout, with cases exemplifying diversity in multiple forms. The text also integrates practical skill development exercises to give users myriad opportunities to put chapter concepts into action, and the user video demonstration DVD helps readers place each new skill into a realistic, practical context.


• Specific guides to assessing problems--such as potential for suicide--and full examples of written assessments help users practice and improve their skills.