Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis in Social Work Practice

by Jacqueline Corcoran, Joseph Walsh

In Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis in Social Work Practice , seasoned practitioner-scholars Jacqueline Corcoran and Joseph Walsh provide an in-depth exploration of sixteen major mental disorders that social workers commonly see in practice, including anxiety disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. They skillfully integrate several perspectives in order to help practitioners meet the challenges they will face in client assessment, and present a risk and resilience framework that helps social workers understand environmental influences on the emergence of mental disorders and the strengths that clients already possess. The authors also catalog the latest evidence-based assessment instruments and treatments for each disorder so that social workers can intervene efficiently and effectively, using the best resources available. Students and practitioners alike will appreciate the wealth of case examples, evidence-based assessment instruments, treatment plans, and
new social diversity sections that make this an essential guide to the assessment and diagnostic processes in social work practice.

Genres: Social Work, Nonfiction, Mental Health, Textbooks

592 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Jacqueline Corcoran was born in England, but has lived in the U.S. for most of her life - in Boston, California, Michigan, Texas, and now in the Washington D.C. area with her husband, two children, and three rescue animals. She is a social worker, psychotherapist and professor (at the University of Pennsylvania), as well as an author. Her published work includes 17 textbooks, two non-fiction trade titles, and several novels.

Reviews

[Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just wonderful. This is a reference book -- each chapter covering a specific mental disorder, outlining prevalence, course, protective/risk factors, interventions, etc. -- but the writing is so engaging that I ended up reading it cover-to-cover like a novel.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book. The perspective put forward within these pages is exactly the one I needed in order to approach diagnosis. The incorporation of a holistic view of the person grounded in dignity and a strengths-based framework, along with a fair and never hyperbolic critique of DSM.

Would recommend for all clinicians, but especially clinical social workers.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of those books that I foresee using for reference well into the future.

[Jon De · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good information, going to keep the book.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've found this book useful and will probably keep it. That's about as good as my reviews for textbooks get!

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

The DSM needs a touch of relatability. It can get too mindlessly objective. This books was a great introduction to the DSM for me.