RELATIONSHIP BUILDING DURING THE INITIAL PHASE OF SOCIAL WORK INTERVENTION WITH CHILD CLIENTS IN A RURAL AREA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15270/52-2-498Abstract
Establishing a helping relationship between child clients and social workers is essential to the successful outcome of social work intervention. This research qualitatively explored, with a case study design through semi-structured interviewing, the experiences of social workers and child clients regarding their initial contact-making in a rural Boland area. The themes that emerged concerned the rationale for relationship building, contextual factors, barriers to relationship building and the importance of the social worker’s professional attributes. Lastly, a pattern emerged regarding engagement of a child client during the initial session.
Downloads
References
ACKERMAN, S.J. & HILSENROTH, M.J. 2003. A review of therapist characteristics and techniques positively impacting the therapeutic alliance. Clinical Psychology Review, 23:1-33.
ALDGATE, J. 2011. Child and family focussed work in children’s services. In: SEDEN, J., MATTHEWS, S., McCORMICK, M. & MORGAN, A. (eds) Professional development in social work: complex issues in practice. New York: Routledge.
ALPASLAN, N. & SCHENCK, R. 2012. Challenges related to working conditions experienced by social workers practising in rural areas. Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk, 48(4):400-419.
ASTVIK, W. & MELIN. M. 2013. Coping with the imbalance between job demands and resources: a study of different coping patterns and implications for health and quality in human service work. Journal of Social Work, 13(4):337-360.
BARROWS, P. 2004. “Playful” therapy: Working with autism and trauma. International Forum of Psychoanalysis, 13(3):175-186.
BEDI, R.P. 2006. Concept mapping: the client’s perspective on counselling alliance formation. Journal of Counselling Psychology, 53(1):26-35.
BERTRAM, C. & CHRISTIANSEN, I. 2014. Understanding research. An introduction to reading research. Pretoria: Van Schaik Publishers.
BLACK-HUGHES, C. & STRUNK, L. 2010. Casework. In: NICHOLAS, L., RAUTENBACH, J. & MAISTRY, M. (eds) Introduction to social work. Claremont: Juta.
BLESS, C., HIGSON-SMITH, C. & KAGEE, A. 2006. Fundamentals of social research methods: an African perspective. Cape Town: Juta.
BLOM, R. 2006. The handbook of gestalt play therapy: practical guideline for child therapists. London: Jessica Kingsley.
BRINKMANN, S. & KVALE, S. 2008. Ethics in qualitative psychological research. In: WILLIG, C. & STAINTON-ROGERS, W. (eds) Qualitative research in psychology. London: Sage Publications.
CARROLL, J. 2002. Play therapy: the children’s views. Child and Family Social Work, 7:177-178.
CHILDREN’S ACT see South Africa.
CRESWELL, J.W. 2007. Qualitative inquiry and research design: choosing among five approaches (2nd ed). Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.
CROMPTON, M. 1990. Attending to children: direct work in social and health care. London: Edward Arnold.
DE BOER, C. & COADY, N. 2007. Good helping relationships in child welfare: learning from stories of success. Child and Family Social Work, 12:32-42.
DU PREEZ, E. & ESKELL-BLOKLAND, L. 2012. Social constructionism. In: VISSER, M. & MOLEKO, A. (eds) Community psychology in South Africa (2nd ed). Pretoria: Van Schaik Publishers.
EGAN, G. 2010. The skilled helper (9th ed). Belmont: Brooks/Cole.
ENGLE, D. & HOLIMAN, M. 2002. A gestalt-experiential perspective on resistance. Psychotherapy in Practice, 58(2):175-183.
FALLETISCH, L.A. 2008. Understanding the legacy of dependency and powerlessness experienced by farm workers on wine farms in the Western Cape. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University. (MA Thesis)
FOX, W. & BAYAT, M.S. 2007. A guide to managing research. Cape Town, Juta Publishers.
FRIEDMAN, B.D. & ALLEN, K.N. 2011. Systems theory. In: BRANDELL, J.R. (ed), Theory and practice in clinical social work (2nd ed). Los Angeles: Sage Publications, 3-21.
GELDARD, K., GELDARD, D. & YIN FOO, R. 2013. Counselling children: a practical introduction (4th ed). London: Sage Publications.
GLICKEN, M.D. 2011. Social work in the 21st Century: an introduction to social welfare, social issues and the profession. London: Sage Publications.
GOLDFRIED, M. & DAVILA, J. 2005. The role of relationship and technique in therapeutic change. Psychotherapy: theory, research, practice, training, 42(4):421-430.
HEPWORTH, D.H., ROONEY, R.H., DEWBERRY-ROONEY, G. & STROM-GOTTFRIED, K. 2013. Direct social work practice: theory and skills (9th ed). London: Brooks/Cole.
HALL, K. & LAKE, L. 2012. Demography of South African children. In: HALL, K., WOOLARD, I., LAKE, L. & SMITH, C. (eds), South African child gauge 2012. Cape Town: Children’s Institute, University of Cape Town, 80-102.
HOLLAND, S. 2011. Child & family assessment in social work practice (2nd ed). London: Sage Publications.
HYCNER, R. & JACOBS, L. 1995. The healing relationship in gestalt therapy: a dialogical/self psychology approach. Santa Cruz: Gestalt Journal Press.
JACKMAN, R. 2013. Why do some men rape babies? Weekend Argus, 24 August, 4.
JONES-SMITH, E. 2014. Strengths-based therapy. Connecting theory, practice, and skills. Los Angeles: Sage Publications.
JOYCE, P. & SILLS, C. 2010. Skills in gestalt: counselling & psychotherapy. London: Sage Publications.
KONDRAT, D.C. 2010. The strengths perspective. In: TEATER, B. (ed), An introduction to applying social work theories and methods. McGraw Hill: Open University Press.
KROLL, B. 2010. Only connect building relationship with hard-to-reach people: establishing rapport with drug-misusing parents and their children. In: RUCH, G., TURNEY, D. & WARD. A. (eds) Relationship-based social work: getting to the heart of practice. London: Jessica Kingsley.
LANDRETH, G.L. 2012. Play therapy: the art of the relationship (3rd ed). New York: Routledge.
LINCOLN, Y.S. & GUBA, E.G. 1985. Naturalistic inquiry. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications.
LOPEZ LEVERS, L. 2012. An introduction to counselling survivors of trauma: beginning to understand the context of trauma. In: LOPEZ LEVERS, L. (ed), Trauma counselling. Theories and interventions. New York: Springer.
MARITZ, A. & COUGHLAN, F. 2004. Exploring the attitudes and experiences of South African social work students. Community Development Journal, 39(1):28-37.
MILLER, L. 2012. Counselling skills for social work (2nd ed). London: Sage Publications.
MONNICKENDAM, M., KATZ, C.H. & MONNICKENDAM, M.S. 2010. Social workers serving poor clients: Perceptions of poverty and service policy. British Journal of Social Work, 40:911-927.
NEWMAN, C.F. 2002. A cognitive perspective on resistance in psychotherapy. Psychotherapy in Practice, 58(2):165-174.
NIEUWENHUIS, J. 2007. Qualitative research designs and data gathering techniques. In: MAREE, K. (ed), First steps in research. Pretoria: Van Schaik Publishers.
OAKLANDER, V. 2007. Hidden treasures: A map to the child’s inner self. London: Karnac Books.
OLIVIER, Y., DE LANGE, R. & REYNEKE, J. 2004. Product development for play therapy: stimulating children with learning disabilities through the use of their own senses. Interim: Interdisciplinary Journal, 7(1):82-99.
POPE, N.D & KANG, B. 2011. Social work students’ attitudes about working with involuntary clients. Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 31:442-456.
REAMER, F.G. 2011. Social work values and ethics (3rd ed). New York: Columbia University Press.
REYNEKE, R.P. 2010. Social work values and ethics. In: NICHOLAS, L., RAUTENBACH, J. & MAISTRY, M. (eds) Introduction to social work. Claremont: Juta.
RUBIN, A. & BABBIE, E. 2013. Essential research methods for social work (3rd ed). Belmont, Wadsworth: Brooks/Cole, Cengage.
RUCH, G. 2010. The contemporary context of relationship-based practice. In: RUCH, G., TURNEY. D. & WARD. A. (eds). Relationship-based social work: getting to the heart of practice. London: Jessica Kingsley.
SALEEBEY, D. 2000. Power in the people: strengths and hope. Advances in Social Work, 1(2):127-136.
SCHAUFELI, W.B. & GREENGLASS, E.R. 2001. Introduction on special issue on burnout and health. Psychology and Health, 16:501-510.
SCHENCK, C.J. 2004. Problems rural social workers experience. Social Work/ Maatskaplike Werk, 40(2):158-171.
SEABURY, B.A., SEABURY, B.H. & GARVIN, C.D. 2011. Foundations of interpersonal practice in social work: Promoting competence in generalist practice (3rd ed). London: Sage Publications.
SEDEN, J. 2005. Counselling skills in social work practice (2nd ed). Berkshire: Open University Press.
SEDEN, J. 2011. The use of self and relationship: Swimming against the tide? In: SEDEN, J., MATTHEWS, S., McCORMICK, M. & MORGAN, A. (eds), Professional development in social work: complex issues in practice. New York: Routledge.
SOLOMONS, K. 2013. Countryside where children fear to tread: Horror of abuse in heart of Winelands. 24 August, 4.
SOUTH AFRICA. 2005. Children’s Act 38 of 2005.
SPRAY, C. & JOWETT, B. 2012. Social work practice with children and families. London: Sage Publications.
STRYDOM, C. & TLHOJANE, M.E. 2008. Poverty in a rural area: the role of the social worker. Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk, 44(1):34-51.
STRYDOM, H. 2011. Ethical aspects of research in the social sciences and human service professions. In: DE VOS, A.S., STRYDOM, H., FOUCHÉ, C.B. & DELPORT, C.S.L. (eds) Research at grass roots (4th ed). Pretoria: Van Schaik Publishers.
SWEENEY, D.S. & LANDRETH, G.L. 2011. Child-centered play therapy. In: SCHAAEFER, C.E. (ed), Foundations of play therapy (2nd ed). New Jersey: Wiley.
TIMBERLAKE, E.M. & CUTLER, M.M. 2001. Developmental play therapy in clinical social work. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
TURNEY, D. 2012. A relationship-based approach to engaging involuntary clients: the contribution of recognition theory. Child and Family Social Work, 17:149-159.
VAN DENBURG, T.F. & KIESLER, D.J. 2002. An interpersonal communication perspective on resistance in psychotherapy. Psychotherapy in Practice, 58(2):195-205.
VAN DER MERWE, M. & KASSAN-NEWTON, K. 2007. Conservation of resources: a primary intervention for continues traumatic stress in South Africa: A case study. Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk, 43(4):350-365.
WAGNER, C., KAWULICH, B. & GARNER, M. 2012. Doing social research. A global context. Berkshire: McGraw-Hill.
WARD, A. 2010. The use of self in relationship-based practice. In: RUCH, G., TURNEY. D. & WARD. A. (eds) Relationship-based social work: getting to the heart of practice. London: Jessica Kingsley.
YONTEF, G.M. 1993. Awareness, dialogue and process: essays on gestalt therapy. Gouldsboro: Gestalt Journal Press.
YÜRÜR, S. & SARIKAYA, M. 2012. The effects of workload, role ambiguity, and social support on burnout among social workers in Turkey. Administration in Social Work, 36:457-478.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
This journal is an open access journal, and the authors and journal should be properly acknowledged when works are cited.
Authors may use the publishers version for teaching purposes, in books, and with conferences.
The following license applies:
Attribution CC BY-4.0
This license lets others distribute, remix, tweak, and build upon your work, even commercially, as long as they credit you for the original creation.
Articles as a whole may not be re-published with another journal.
