Eleanor Reardon Tolson

This essential text presents a "task-centered" methodology-a structured, short-term problem-solving approach-applicable across systems at five levels of practice: the individual, the family, the group, organizations, and communities. The second edition offers more information on systems theories and includes case studies and practice questions with each chapter, as well as checklists for each level of practice and exercises to help students monitor their understanding and skill development.

In developing an eclectic approach to the practice of clinical social work, Eleanor Reardon Tolson brilliantly analyzes her unique "metamodel" for the social worker. Firmly grounded in research findings concerning effectiveness, the concept is based on major decisions practitioners must male in working with each client, the options available to them, and the evidence supporting those options. Emphasizing such topics as the appropriate focus of treatment, its objectives, interventions, the relationship with the client, and the structure of treatment, the metamodel has been used by practitioners, teachers, students, and clients with great success. The model accomplishes a great deal of problem solving in a short period of time. The concept further heightens a practitioner's awareness of a wide variety of prescribed behaviors in an organized and structured manner for highly effective results. The Metamodel of Clinical Social Work includes a special chapter written by William J. Reid that describes strategies for checking the effectiveness of work based on the metamodel and two case studies.