Clinical Processes And Techniques
For School Social Workers
CL 521

Summer 2010

Marilyn Silin, MA, Instructor
847-967-0977
silin309@comcast.net

 

Course Description

The purpose of this course is to expand students’ understanding of the processes of therapy with children in school settings, to become aware and reflect upon a child’s interactions with teacher, parents, and peers within the culture of the school and the community.

 

Course Objectives

1. Students will strengthen their professional identity as clinical social workers with skills in assessing and treating children.
2. Students will increase their capacities for self-reflection about their interactions with children, parents, teachers, and other significant adults.
3. Students will learn to write case studies in descriptive language.

 

Basis for Grades

• Participation in class discussion.
• Completion of a case study due the fourth class meeting.

 

Required Text

Child and Adolescent Treatment for Social Work Practice.
A Relational Perspective for beginning clinicians.
Theresa Aiello, PH.D. 1999. The Free Press.

 

CLASS 1

-Readings

• Aiello, Chapter 1, Relational Theory and the Treatment of Children
• Aiello, Chapter 6, Play Therapy
• Cohen- Kreisberger. L. The Creation of a Shared Space through Fantasy between a Seven Year Old Child and His Therapist: A Case Study pp. 259-270. Clinical Social Work Journal, Volume 33, Number 3, Fall 2005.

-Discussion

• The relationship that develops between a child and the therapist. Play as a vehicle for deepening the relationship and exploring inner life of a child.

 

CLASS 2

-Readings

• Aiello, Chapter 3, Diagnostic Assessment of Children
• Aiello, Chapter 4, Diagnostic Assessment of Adolescents.
• Latino R., Friedman B. and Bellucci V. Treatment with Children and Adolescents Traumatized by the September 11th Attack, pp. 447-446. Clinical Social Work Journal, Vol. 34, No. 4. Winter 2006.

-Discussion

• What do we look for in the first sessions with a child or adolescent? How is this child similar or different from others in his age group? What more do we need to know to understand this child?

 

CLASS 3

-Readings

• Aiello, Part 3. Major Themes in Clinical Social Work with Children, Physical Illness, Death, Sexuality, Foster Care, Adoption. Chapters 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16.
• Cooper, S., Wanerman L. Children in Treatment. 1977. Brunner/Mazel. Understanding and Working with Parent. Pp. 144-148.

-Discussion

• How do we develop a working relationship with the child’s parents, teachers and other significant adults? Confidentiality issues. What do we share? How to define our role in the school.
• Writing up a case study of a child in school. Outline for paper due class 4.

 

CLASS 4 – PAPER DUE

-Readings

• Aiello Chapter 10, Transference, Chapter 11, Countertransference.

-Discussion

• Becoming aware of the transference and countertransference in all of our relationships with children, their teachers, the principal, special Ed staff, and parents. Acknowledging these dynamics and reflecting upon their meanings in the interactions. Examples of these multi level interactions from your own experiences.

 

CLASS 5

-Readings

• Aiello, Chapter 21, The Termination Process

-Discussion

• Dealing therapeutically with terminations, interruptions due to vacations and holidays in the school calendar, absences due to illness of child or therapist, summer vacations, etc. How to comprehend the child’s reactions in light of our understanding child’s history of loss or abandonment. Awareness of our own  reaction to terminations.

 

 

 

Contents Copyright, Institute for Clinical Social Work