Strategies for Promoting Client Self-Determination: A Review of the Literatur

Course overview

Course Description: This course is based on material published in the Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics and is available as an open-access article. This article reports the results of a systematic literature review that sought to understand strategies used by social work practitioners to promote client self-determination. The results showed that practitioners are using a variety of strategies that range from giving clients voice or choice to integration of best practices including elements of self-determination theory, shared decision making, or the Lundy Model. Further analysis of the strategies suggested that they could be enacted at two key stages that include worker- client interactions and the organizational level. Both agency administrators and practitioners have essential roles to play in defining and implementing processes that can promote self-determination in social work settings. This course on promoting self-determination in clients is designed for clinical social workers, psychologists, professional counselors, nurses, and substance abuse counselors who do clinical work. This course is appropriate for intermediate and advanced level practitioners who wish to develop their expertise with promoting self-determination in clients. The course material includes a literature review of research. It may also be useful for licensed clinicians who require continuing clinical education courses for license renewal. The course is based on a journal article that includes research. It contains statistical analysis and data that some clinicians enjoy reading and others do not. A significant benefit of reading peer reviewed research-based articles for continuing education is that they provide practitioners with the latest findings in their field. Authors: Chaumba, Locklear Learning Objectives: This course will provide the practitioner with detailed information regarding promoting self-determination in clients. Specifically, a professional will: Recognize the conceptual definition of client self-determination. Describe models and processes that foster client self-determination. Identify efficacy of various models that foster client self-determination. Citation: Chaumba, J., & Locklear, A. K. (2021). Strategies for promoting client self-determination: A review of the literature. Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics, 18(1), 60-71. https://doi.org/10.55521/10-018-108