Empirically Supported Interventions

Abstract

Within the past four decades the social work profession has responded to the challenge to base practice on empirical evidence to adequately meet client needs. Most social workers would agree that the challenge has resulted in positive changes in the majority of cases—for example, in the execution of relevant research studies; the incorporation of more research findings into practice; the development of a technology of interpersonal helping; an emphasis on the incorporation of new knowledge bases, such as socio-behavioral and systems theory, in the curricula of schools of social work; and the development of services to meet emerging client needs and evidence-based practice. In this article the authors outline different references available pertaining to empirically supported interventions. A literature review revealed several textbooks, reference resources, journals, and handbooks that contain the most current research on therapeutic interventions. Different treatment components were explored in an effort to uncover the most cutting-edge developments in psychosocial treatments. These treatment components include treatment configuration, worker traits, compatibility of worker and client characteristics, professionals versus paraprofessionals, treatment length, and behavior acquisition.

Keywords::

• Intervention
• treatment
• evidence-based practice
• evidence-based intervention
• worker traits
• client characteristics
• professionals
• paraprofessionals
• behavior acquisition
• rapid assessment