Therapy is frequently miscast as requiring an enormous amount of time and financial commitment, but helpful, goal-oriented therapy can produce positive results after only a few sessions. Solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) has been gaining momentum as a powerful therapeutic approach since its inception in the 1980s. By focusing on solutions instead of problems, it asks clients to set concrete goals and to draw upon strengths in their lives that can help bring about the desired change for a preferred future. Addressing both researchers and practitioners, a distinguished cast of international, interdisciplinary contributors review the current state of research on SFBT interventions and illustrate its applications-both proven and promising-with a diverse variety of populations, including domestic violence offenders, troubled and runaway youth, students, adults with substance abuse problems, and clients with schizophrenia. This expansive text also includes a treatment manual, strengths-based and fidelity measures, and detailed descriptions on how to best apply SFBT to underscore the strengths, skills, and resources that clients may unknowingly possess. With its rich assortment of resources, this handbook is the definitive guide to SFBT for scholars and mental health practitioners alike.

Solution Focused Brief Therapy in Alternative Schools (SFBT) provides a step-by-step guide for how school social workers and counselors can work with other school professionals to create an effective solution focused dropout prevention program. Along with illustrative cases and detailed explanations, the authors detail the curriculum and day-to-day operations of a solution focused dropout prevention program by drawing on the experiences of a school that uses this approach.

Hegemonic narratives about who and what counts as human determine who lives and dies-who has the right to breathe freely and fully. At the same time, in the face of crushing state violence, humans rise, and breathe life into new and resurgent stories of human being, becoming, and belonging. In Narrating Humanity, Cynthia G. Franklin makes a critical intervention into practices of life writing and contemporary crises in the U.S. about who counts as human. To enable this intervention, she proposes a powerful new analytical language centered on "narrative humanity," "narrated humanity," and "grounded narrative humanity," and foregrounds concepts of the human that emerge from movement politics. While stories of "narrative humanity" propagate the status quo, Franklin argues, those of "narrated humanity" and "grounded narrative humanity" are ones that articulate ways of being human necessary for not only surviving, but thriving during a time of accelerating crises brought on by the intersecting effects of racial capitalism, imperialism, heteropatriarchy, and climate change. Through chapters focused on Hurricane Katrina, Black Lives Matter, the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, and the Native Hawaiian movement to protect Mauna a Wakea, Franklin reveals how life writing can be mobilized to do more than perpetuate dominant forms of dehumanization that underwrite violence. She contends that life narratives can help materialize ways of being human inspired by these contemporary political movements that are based on queer kinship, inter/national solidarity, abolitionist care, and decolonial connectivity among humans, more-than-humans, land, and waters. Engaging writers, artists and activists who inspire radical forms of relationality, she comes to write side-by-side with them in her own acts of narrated humanity by refusing the boundaries between autobiography, community-based activism, and literary and cultural criticism.

In Narrating Humanity, Cynthia G. Franklin makes a critical intervention into practices of life writing and contemporary crises in the United States about who counts as human. To enable this intervention, she proposes a powerful new analytical language centered on “narrative humanity,” “narrated humanity,” and “grounded narrative humanity” and foregrounds concepts of the human that emerge from movement politics. While stories of “narrative humanity” propagate the status quo, Franklin argues, those of “narrated humanity” and “grounded narrative humanity” are ones that articulate ways of being human necessary for not only surviving but also thriving during a time of accelerating crises brought on by the intersecting effects of racial capitalism, imperialism, heteropatriarchy, and climate change. Through chapters focused on Hurricane Katrina; Black Lives Matter; the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement; and the Native Hawaiian movement to protect Mauna a Wākea, Franklin reveals how life writing can be mobilized to do more than perpetuate dominant forms of dehumanization that underwrite violence. She contends that life narratives can help materialize ways of being human inspired by these contemporary political movements that are based on queer kinship, inter/national solidarity, abolitionist care, and decolonial connectivity among humans, more-than-humans, land, and waters. Engaging writers, artists, and activists who inspire radical forms of relationality, she comes to write side-by-side with them in her own acts of narrated humanity by refusing the boundaries between autobiography, community-based activism, and literary and cultural criticism.

The School Services Sourcebook covers every aspect of school service delivery, arming practitioners with the nuts and bolts of evidence-based practice. The second edition has been significantly revised with a new structure including 73 chapters divided into five Parts across thirteen Sections, with an additional six chapters included in an online section found on the book's companion website. Fifteen new chapters cover key topics such as implementing an RTI framework, positive behavioral supports, school climate, functional behavioral assessment, the integration of ethics, Autism and suicide, school engagement, military families, Latino immigrant families, classroom management, transition planning and several chapters that speak to assessment and accountability. Each chapter serves as a detailed intervention map, quickly summarizing the problem area before presenting step-by-step instructions on how to implement an evidence-based program with clear goals in mind and methods to measure the outcome. The concise, user-friendly format from the first edition has been retained, orienting readers to each issue with a Getting Started section, then moves smoothly into What We Know, What We Can Do, Tools and Practice Examples, and Key Points to Remember. A new section, Applying Interventions within Response-to-Intervention Framework, has been added to each chapter to facilitate the implementation of an RTI model. Quick-reference tables and charts highlight the most important information needed for daily reference, and annotated lists of further reading and Web resources guide readers in gathering additional information to tailor their practice to suit their students' needs. Each chapter has been specifically crafted by leaders in their fields with the ultimate goal of giving school-based practitioners the tools they need to deliver the best mental health and social services possible to students, families, and communities. This sourcebook is an invaluable reference for all school-based social workers, psychologists, counselors, mental health professionals, educators, and administrators. Visit the companion website for more information and to access additional book content: [URL]

The School Practitioner's Concise Companions give busy social workers, psychologists, and counselors a quick guide to accessible, proven solutions for their students most common problems. Built around the expert advice from the acclaimed School Services Sourcebook, each volume is a rapid reference to a key school issue.
Here, readers will find an overview of the factors that put students at risk for missing school and dropping out. This Concise Companion presents innovative, effective strategies to improve school attendance and engage underserved student populations such as those who are pregnant or in foster care.
Each chapter is filled with charts, checklists, and cases and is conveniently organized around What We Know, What We Can Do, Tools and Practice Examples, and Key Points to Remember. A portable catalog of best practices, it brings evidence-based practice within easy reach of school professionals.

Solution Focused Brief Therapy in Alternative Schools (SFBT) provides a step-by-step guide for how school social workers and counselors can work with other school professionals to create an effective solution focused dropout prevention program. Along with illustrative cases and detailed explanations, the authors detail the curriculum and day-to-day operations of a solution focused dropout prevention program by drawing on the experiences of a school that uses this approach.

Clinical Assessment for Social Workers provides a wide range of standardized assessment tools, derived from different perspectives, to give readers greater flexibility in information gathering and intervention planning. Incorporating both quantitative and qualitative methods, the authors encourage readers to approach assessment as both an art and a science. They advocate for discovering the balance between scientific, evidence-based approaches and the development of personal practice wisdom.

This all-in-one guide is designed to better equip clergy and the church leaders to meet their congregations' needs in a spiritually grounded and scientifically sound manner. Succinct, easy-to-read chapters summarize all a pastor needs to know about a given problem area, including its signs or symptoms, questions to ask, effective helping skills, and, most importantly, when to refer to a mental health professional. Synthesizing what research says about treatment approaches for mental health issues, this user-friendly reference is filled with guidelines, case scenarios, key points to remember, resources for further help, advice on integrating scripture and theology with the best available research, and tips on partnering with others to provide the best possible care for each church member. Each chapter is designed for quick lookup by problem area, empowering church leaders to understand and help meet the challenges facing the children, adults, families, and communities that they serve.

Since the publication of the First Edition, there have been several advances on the research on Solution-focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) in schools. This Second Edition contains updates on how to apply SFBT to specific problem areas that school social workers frequently encounter. Each chapter has been updated and expanded to provide to incorporate a Response to Intervention approach (RtI) in many of the clinical "SFBT in Action" chapters. The authors also utilized results from the second national school social work survey, conducted by a team led by Dr. Kelly and currently in press at School Mental Health Journal and Social Work, to identify several targeted school-related problems that school social workers encounter in their work and demonstrate how to use solution-focused techniques for them. Despite being places with tremendous challenges for students and staff, schools are also places of solutions, strengths, and successes. This practical guide shows school social workers how to harness the solutions; filled with case examples, key points to remember, guidelines for reviewing resaerch, sample dialogue, and best practice tips, this book gives readers the essential tools to begin incorporating SFBT into their practice immediately.

The School Services Source Book, Third Edition is filled with evidence informing practices for school mental health professionals—social workers, counsellors, psychologists, and other student support professionals. This practical and comprehensive book is designed purposefully to communicate the nuts and bolts of delivering effective behavioral health interventions while at the same time integrating information on how to be responsive to diversity, equity and inclusion in practice. Ready access to knowledge and skills needed for how to practice effectively with behavioral health and neurodevelopmental conditions, traumatized populations, school safety issues; dropout prevention, crisis intervention, how to use groupwork, and parental and family interventions are covered along with other essential topics. Readers will learn proven practices for helping students with depression and anxiety, trauma, suicide prevention and assessments, substance use, child abuse, school violence and safety threats, psychopharmacology, ethics and legal issues, work with BIPOC populations, and important policy and macro issues in easy-to -read chapters. A concise, user friendly format orients readers to each issue with a Getting Started Section, then moves smoothy to What We Know, What We Can Do, Tools and Practice Examples, and Key Points to Remember. Several Case studies and original videos demonstrate practice approaches. Quick reference tables, charts, web, and further learning resources make it easy to continue to improve knowledge and skills. Each chapter has been crafted by experts in the field with the ultimate goal of giving school-based practitioners the information they need to deliver effective services in schools.

The School Practitioner's Concise Companion gives busy social workers, psychologists, and counselors a quick guide to accessible, proven solutions for their students' most common problems. Built around the expert advice from the acclaimed School Services Sourcebook, each volume is a rapid reference to a key school issue.
Here, readers will find an overview of adolescent health issues and step-by-step prevention and intervention guidance. This Concise Companion covers major health issues that affect students' well-being-from substance abuse to STDs to obesity-and presents innovative, effective strategies to improve student health by addressing risky behaviors.
Each chapter is filled with charts, checklists, and cases and is conveniently organized around What We Know, What We Can Do, Tools and Practice Examples, and Key Points to Remember. A portable catalog of best practices, it brings evidence-based practice within easy reach of school professionals.

Taking Charge is the first empirically tested program of its kind, designed specifically to improve academic achievement and self-sufficiency for adolescent and teenage mothers, who face increased risk of dropping out and experiencing poverty. This eight-session, in-school group intervention uses cognitive-behavioral principles to bolster life skills such as focusing on action, setting goals, solving problems, and coping. The message embedded in the curriculum is one of self-efficacy and self-confidence, drawing on young womens strengths and teaching them how to manage the challenges of school, relationships, parenting, and employment. A treatment manual with detailed guidelines for establishing and leading a culturally diverse group, this guide also reviews the successful results of three school-based trials of the program, vividly illustrated with vignettes and containing all of the handouts and materials necessary for a school-based professional to implement the program. - Groups can be led by social workers, counselors, school nurses, teachers, and even volunteers with little additional training - An all-in-one treatment manual provides dialogue, forms, and handouts for facilitators to use in each session - Empowers young women to take charge of their education and develop skills that will help them succeed in school and in life

The School Practitioner's Concise Companions gives busy social workers, psychologists, and counselors a quick guide to accessible, proven solutions for their students' most common problems. Built around the expert advice from the acclaimed School Services Sourcebook, each volume is a rapid reference to a key school issue.
Here, readers will find an overview of adolescent mental health disorders and step-by-step guidelines for intervening effectively. This Concise Companion covers ten major mental health issues-from depression to ADHD to autism-as well as strategies for working with co-occurring disorders and managing psychopharmacological treatments.
Each chapter is filled with charts, checklists, and cases and is conveniently organized around What We Know, What We Can Do, Tools and Practice Examples, and Key Points to Remember. A portable catalog of best practices, it brings evidence-based practice within easy reach of school professionals.

The School Practitioner's Concise Companion gives busy social workers, psychologists, and counselors a quick guide to accessible, proven solutions for their students' most common problems. Built around the expert advice from the acclaimed School Services Sourcebook, each volume is a rapid reference to a key school issue.
Here, readers will find an overview of violence and interpersonal conflict in schools. This Concise Companion covers the types of violence that threaten school and student safety-from bullying to sexual assault to gang activity-and presents innovative, effective strategies to assess risk, teach conflict resolution skills, and create a violence-free culture.
Each chapter is filled with charts, checklists, and cases and is conveniently organized around What We Know, What We Can Do, Tools and Practice Examples, and Key Points to Remember. A portable catalog of best practices, it brings evidence-based practice within easy reach of school professionals.

Covering a range of theoretical and practical orientations, Social Work Essentials provides timely updates on the fundamental knowledge needed for contemporary social work practice, written by the fields leading scholars and practitioners. This extensive collection features rigorous analysis of nearly 70 topics that are central to the field today, from child welfare and community organization to human trafficking, military social work, the DSM-5, cognitive behavioral therapies, and motivational interviewing. All articles are written in a clear, straightforward style that will be accessible to readers throughout the profession, and each entry includes a bibliography that provides readers with further directions for research and in-depth study. Drawn from the constantly-updated, field-defining Encyclopedia of Social Work, Social Work Essentials brings together a vital compilation of cutting-edge articles in a compact reference guide that will prove valuable in a diverse range of settings. Individual practitioners, school social workers, and social work students will all benefit from keeping Social Work Essentials close at hand.