Synergizing Perspectives in Social Work: Blending Critical Theory and Solution-Focused Model

Abstract

One lacuna in social work practice is the temptation to excessively focus on treating the environment without commensurate treatment for the individual and vice-versa. This is further fostered by learning conservative and liberal perspectives in social work as independent of themselves, without efforts to synthesize them. It is for this purpose that this paper hopes to achieve a synthesis of two theories that are respectively typical of explaining societies and individuals at both extremes. Thus, while the critical theory makes for explaining place of societal structures in remedying problems faced by clients, solution focused therapy concentrates on remedies residing within the client’s potentials, resources and strengths. Data will be sourced from secondary sources, while concept mapping will aid in illustrations.