Abstract
People with a persecutory orientation to their environment present a treatment challenge for clinical social workers because of their negative orientation to the helping process. Such persons do not typically seek counseling services but may be referred by others who perceive their need for improved coping mechanisms. The purposes of this article are to apply social work's biopsychosocial perspective to an understanding of delusions of persecution and present guidelines for clinical intervention. The author emphasizes the utility of symbolic interactionist theory for formulating interventions.