Approved social work and psychotherapy

Abstract

This paper relates approved social work to psychotherapy. Some of the key themes from each area are compared and contrasted through the use of case material. The argument is put forward that through insights and skills derived from psychotherapy the approved social worker can experience an improvement in their capacity to function in their role. Some key responsibilities can be acheived, particularly in the implementation of therapeutic principles and the non use of compulsory powers of admission. Such issues are central to the ASWs role of promoting civil liberty, helping service users in non-punitive or perecutory ways, whilst at the same time continuing to promote public safety - in the ASWs monitoring role - and last, but not least, a better use of scarce resources! In more radical ways, psychotherapeutically oriented ASWs can make available therapeutic relationships to people who for reasons of class, status, and finance, would not otherwise be able to afford “therapy” or “counselling”.