Philosophy, Pragmatics and Principles

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Philosophy

Be guided by your clients while making the most of your experience and expertise.

  

Pragmatics

Make the most of each encounter because research shows that 40 - 60% of clients attend 1-2 sessions and that  it is difficult to predict who will attend only one session and who will attend more. For example, 50% of the  25,000 counselling clients seen in Victoria by community health counsellors each year only attend 1-2 sessions.

  

Principles

Whilst it is a service-delivery model, rather than a model of counselling, SSW will influence all counselling models in many ways.  

  

The following principles are basic to SSW:

  

• Create working contexts where there is a belief that one session may be enough, even for difficult problems, whilst at the same time ensuring there is always the possibility of further work;

  

• Link your work to the clients' goals;

• Negotiate a fit between you and your clients' preferred ways of working;

  

• Check in several times throughout each encounter that the work is on track;

  

• Respond to what clients want, including sharing information, ideas, feedback and advice in a thoughtful way;

  

• Create opportunities for clients to try out things before assuming they need further professional help;

  

• Keeping an 'open door' to further contact.