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Social work practice models aren't just theoretical abstractions—they're the lenses through which you'll assess, intervene, and advocate for clients throughout your career. On exams and in practice, you're being tested on your ability to select the right model for the right situation, understand how different frameworks conceptualize problems, and recognize when to shift approaches. These models represent decades of research into what actually helps people change.
The key insight here is that each model answers a different question: Where does the problem live? What resources exist? How do we create change? Some models zoom out to examine systems and environments; others zoom in on thoughts, behaviors, or specific tasks. Don't just memorize definitions—know what each model emphasizes, when you'd choose it over another, and how they can work together in integrated practice.
These models share a core principle: individual behavior cannot be understood in isolation. They direct your attention outward, examining how context shapes experience and how change in one system ripples through others.
Compare: Systems Theory vs. Ecological Systems Theory—both emphasize interconnectedness, but Ecological Systems Theory provides a specific framework (micro/mezzo/macro levels) for organizing your assessment. On FRQs asking you to "analyze at multiple system levels," Ecological Systems Theory gives you the structure.
These models flip the traditional deficit-focused script. The question isn't "what's wrong with you?" but "what's working, and how do we build on it?"
Compare: Strengths-Based Perspective vs. Narrative Therapy—both empower clients and reject deficit thinking, but Narrative Therapy provides specific techniques (externalization, re-authoring) while Strengths-Based is more of an overarching philosophy. Use Strengths-Based as your general orientation; use Narrative techniques when clients are trapped in problem-saturated stories.
These models locate change in the internal processes of thinking and acting. They're typically more structured and directive than environmental or strengths-based approaches.
Compare: CBT vs. Narrative Therapy—both address how clients think about their experiences, but CBT treats certain thoughts as "distorted" and corrects them, while Narrative Therapy questions who gets to define which stories are "true." Know this distinction for exam questions about theoretical assumptions.
These models share a pragmatic focus: get to solutions efficiently. They're less interested in exploring problem origins and more focused on forward movement.
Compare: Task-Centered Practice vs. SFBT—both are brief and goal-focused, but Task-Centered works systematically through defined problems while SFBT deliberately avoids problem analysis. Choose Task-Centered when clients need structure and concrete steps; choose SFBT when clients are stuck in problem-talk or when problems are vague.
When clients face acute distress, standard models may be too slow. Crisis intervention prioritizes stabilization and safety before deeper work can begin.
Compare: Crisis Intervention vs. Problem-Solving Model—both are structured and action-oriented, but Crisis Intervention operates under time pressure with safety as the priority, while Problem-Solving assumes the client has capacity for deliberate reflection. Always assess for crisis before defaulting to standard problem-solving approaches.
| Concept | Best Examples |
|---|---|
| Environmental/contextual focus | Person-in-Environment, Systems Theory, Ecological Systems Theory |
| Client empowerment and strengths | Strengths-Based Perspective, Narrative Therapy |
| Cognitive/internal change | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy |
| Brief, solution-focused | Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Task-Centered Practice |
| Structured problem-solving | Problem-Solving Model, Task-Centered Practice |
| Immediate stabilization | Crisis Intervention Model |
| Multi-level assessment | Ecological Systems Theory, Systems Theory |
| Collaborative relationship | Strengths-Based Perspective, SFBT, Task-Centered Practice |
A client is struggling with housing instability, family conflict, and depression. Which two models would help you assess how these issues interconnect across system levels, and how would their approaches differ?
Compare and contrast CBT and Narrative Therapy in terms of how each conceptualizes "problematic" thinking. When might you choose one over the other?
You're working with a client who keeps focusing on everything that's wrong in their life and feels hopeless about change. Which two models offer specific techniques to shift this orientation, and what would those techniques look like?
What distinguishes Task-Centered Practice from the Problem-Solving Model? In what situations would Task-Centered Practice be the stronger choice?
A client calls your agency in acute distress after a traumatic event. How would your initial approach differ from your work with a client seeking help with long-term career planning? Which models guide each scenario?