CHARACTERISTICS AND THEORETICAL ORIENTATIONS OF CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKERS

This paper presents the characteristics and preferred theoretical orientations of a national sample of clinical social workers. The respondents am primarily white, and about two-thirds are female. Over half of the respondents received their MSWs after 1960, and a surprising 65.8% report at least part-time involvements in private practice. The preferred theoretical orientation among all respondents is psychoanalytic, although the vast majority report an eclectic a p proach to practice. Some differences appear with respect to the use of various theoretical orientations based on ethnicity. year of receipt of MSW, and whether or not the respondent is in private practice.