The Trials and Tribulations of a Practitioner-Researcher: Challenges and Lessons Learned through Testing a Feminist-Cognitive-Relational Social Work Model of Practice

Abstract

In practice with adult women who survived childhood sexual abuse, the field of social work currently lacks an evidence-based intervention. The current interventions, from the 1990s, come primarily from psychologists. The hypothesis that the Feminist-Cognitive-Relational Social Work Model and Intervention will be more effective in decreasing cognitive distortions, and increasing intimacy and relational health when compared to the standard agency intervention was tested in a quasi-experimental study. The challenges in carrying out the study in small, non-profit organizations are explored to highlight the difficulties in developing evidence-based interventions. Changes to implementation that resulted from the research findings are discussed.

Keywords:

• Childhood sexual abuse
• intervention
• feminist
• cognitive
• relational

Notes

*p < 0.05.