Bridging the Gap Between Micro and Macro Practice

Abstract

The bifurcated structure of social work education, micro and macro, is often unwarranted and restrictive. This split forces a premature and unnecessarily narrow focus in study and practice. In order to adequately pursue social justice and deal with issues of power and oppression in a clinical context, this bifurcated structure of social work must somehow be unified. A narrative–deconstructive model of practice, nested in the postmodern–poststructuralist paradigm and embodied in the work of White and Epston offers a resolution to this dilemma. The authors provide a conceptual base for understanding this model, highlight those socio-political elements of the model that integrate clinical practice with social change, present examples, and discuss implications for social work education.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Rich Vodde

The authors thank Joan Laird for her encouraging comments and the editor and reviewers of this article for their insightful and helpful suggestions.