Aspects of counselling within a social work perspective

Abstract

Social work practice is vast and can also be a very complex profession. Due to the constant development in social work practice, a broad range of societal issues are covered that need to be dealt with the best of care, maximum concern and extreme sensitivity. This is were certain professional counselling skills are involved within social work practice to create a much more positive and inviting approach with clients. Some clients need care and attention, others need to believe in themselves, whilst many other clients need support, motivation and determination to ensure better outcomes within each of their individual lives. This study is about integrating social work practice with counselling practice, the negative and positive circumstances that arise within doing so and how the two practices should be acknowledged as an item. Whilst choosing this topic, I intend to stress the relevance of counselling within social work practice and consequently the need for the social work practitioner to possess good counselling skills and have a sound knowledge base to perform counselling with his/her clients. A questionnaire is especially devised for professional social work practitioners to elicit each of their individual thoughts and feelings about whether ·social work practice relates to counselling practice, whilst also delving into necessary information about the relation of social work and counselling practice respectively.