Communications skills, interview techniques, and interventions are at the core of social work. Severe inadequacies in Greek bibliography on this topic mandated a book that links theoretical references to intervention methods in social work with communication skills and counselling techniques.
Counselling in Social Work: Skills and Techniques outlines selected theoretical approaches to short-term counseling and proposes a holistic intervention model that can be used in social work. The book is separated into four main chapters:
The first chapter is dedicated to communication and attempts a bibliographic review while underscoring the need for developing communication skills in professional counselors and social workers. The second chapter refers to counseling sessions. It explores the relationship between social work and counseling. It outlines the communication logic of social work and attempts to introduce a broader theoretical framework with a brief reference to Rogerian person-centered therapy, existentialist and humanistic theories, crisis counseling and discrimination (feminist and anti-racist approaches promoting equal opportunities regardless of gender, race, age or special needs). The third chapter is devoted to interviewing as the basic tool for cross-method social work. The fourth chapter presents an overview of the discussion on communication, counseling, and social work. It includes references to self-image and self-esteem, which are important factors in counseling.
Finally, Counselling in Social Work: Skills and Techniques features, as an addendum, a series of exercises for improving communication skills and interview techniques.