Steps towards an integration of basic therapeutic skills: a qualitative study of the development of the ideas of 15 social work students about being helpful to clients

Social work students ( n =39) were shown 10 videotaped client situations prior to and after participating in a communication skills training course. At both times, they were asked to write proposals for helpful answers for each of these situations. Proposals made by a sample of 15 students were analyzed with regard to patterns in their answers before and after the training course. These 15 were selected by using quantitative data identifying those students who changed their level of communicated empathy during the training course and those who did not. The communication course is described. Patterns in the proposals are examined and discussed in relation to central concepts of helping; such as acknowledging, empathic communication and working alliance. Three steps in the development of skillfulness are described and suggested as more general steps in the acquisition of therapeutic competence. The validity and reliability of the study are discussed, as well as possible implications of the findings for social work education.     

The effects of physical and psychological health on life satisfaction among older adults with a physical disability in South Korea: focus on gender differences

This study aims to investigate whether (a) functional disabilities, self-rated health and depression influence life satisfaction among older adults with a physical disability, and (b) whether the effects of the predictors differ by gender. The study utilises 2008 Korea Welfare Panel Study data. The findings reveal that functional disabilities and depression are negatively associated with life satisfaction, whereas self-rated health is positively related with life satisfaction. In addition, the effects of functional disabilities and income on life satisfaction vary by gender. Implications for practice and policy are discussed.