Social Work Theories in Context

Karen Healy is Professor of Social Work in the School of Social Work and Human Services at the University of Queensland, Australia. She has a strong background in social work practice and has practised as a social work in health, youth and child protective services. She is the author of four books and numerous papers on many aspects of social work practice and policy studies. She regularly conducts lectures and workshops in Australia and in Europe, particularly in Nordic countries.

List of Figures and Tables
Preface
Acknowledgements
Part 1 Introduction
1 Understanding our Context
2 A Dynamic Model of Practice
Part 2 Discourses Shaping Practice Contexts
3 Dominant Discourses in Health and Welfare: Biomedicine and neoliberalism.
4 Behavioural and Social Science Discourses: ‘Psy’ and Sociological Ideas in Social Work
5 Alternative Discourses: Citizen Rights, Religion and Spirituality, and Environmental Social Work
Part 3 Social Work Theories for Practice
6 Four Waves of Systems Theories: From General Systems Theory to Ecosocial Work.
7 Problem-solving Approaches: Focusing on Task-centred Practice
8 Relationship-based, Strengths and Solution-focused Practice
9 Modern Critical Social Work: Addressing Structural Contexts
10 ‘Post-Theories': Postmodern, Poststructural and Postcolonial Approaches.
11 Creating Frameworks for Practice
Bibliography
Index