This book provides students with critical skills for effective social work practice, utilizing frameworks for organizing and understanding the skills.

The text focuses on skill clusters and uses a response systems framework for developing specific helping skills. It provides students with the formulae, tools, and strategies they need to build and improve these skills. It is divided into four main skill areas: developing the professional self, developing the working relationship, developing an accurate understanding, and responding in a manner that promotes goal accomplishment. Each section provides students with the critical skills needed for effective practice. Case illustrations and case-based exercises help students to understand and practice the application of the various skills. Exercise pages are perforated so they can be turned in as assignments or for instructor feedback.