The psychological goods on clinical social work: a content analysis of the clinical social work and social justice literature

• Published in: Journal of social work practice 2011-06, Vol.25 (2), p.233-253
• Main Authors: Maschi, Tina, Baer, Judy, Turner, Sandra G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Clinical Social Work; Educational Reform; Educational Research; Ethics; individual treatment; Internet; Intervention; Periodicals; Professional Training; psychiatric social work; Social Justice; Social work; social work values; Social workers; Training; Well Being
• ISSN: 0265-0533; 1465-3885
• DOI: 10.1080/02650533.2010.544847

The purpose of this content analysis was to evaluate the extant literature on clinical social work and social justice. In July 2009, an online search of the university databases EBSCO Host (1988-2009) was conducted to identify articles on clinical social work and social justice. Thirty-six peer reviewed journal articles were identified and extracted. The majority were non-empirical articles (75%) published in the United States (94%) over a 21-year period from 1988 to 2009. Overall, clinical social work practice was described as psychological and/or sociopolitical interventions that had a direct and/or indirect effect on psychological and sociopolitical level social justice outcomes. Theories and practices consistent with social justice were advanced. These findings suggest that clinical social work's promotion of psychological well-being remains an underdeveloped area in the scholarly and research literature. In this era of professional educational reform, additional research and professional training on social justice based clinical social work practice is warranted.