Objective Narrative Approach to Social Work: Theory and Application

This article discusses the Objective Narrative Approach (ONA) to social work, a model that combines the narrative approach and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy. It explores the theories that inform the approach, including the psychosocial approach, psychodynamic theory, social learning theory, and systems theory. The article also discusses how the ONA can be applied in social work practice and its benefits over other models such as the Task-Centered Practice, Narrative Approach, and Cognitive Behavior Therapy.

Running head: SOCIAL WORK MODEL 1
Social Work Model
Name
Institutional Affiliation

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Social Work Model
During the BSW course, I have been exposed to a variety of social work theories and
models that have significantly influenced my approach to the practice of social work. Practical
experience has enabled me to put the concepts learned in class into actual application and
enabled me to gauge the benefits and disadvantages of each approach. Based on these
experiences, I have decided to design an objective narrative approach to social work. This model
borrows from the ideas of the narrative approach and the Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
(SFBT). Whereas the narrative approach entails clients verbalizing their problems and view them
from an outsider perspective, the SFBT approach takes the view that clients are experts at
solving their own problem and that they should participate in the development of the solutions.
The Objective Narrative Approach (ONA) that I propose will introduce objectivity into the
narration and enable clients to talk about their problems in a guided manner. The narrations will
not be random but will take a specific direction based on guidelines developed by both the client
and the therapist. By enabling the client to talk about specific aspects of their story, the ONA
approach will ensure that as much detail as possible is covered by the client so that the solutions
achieved are enduring. While building from the experiences of the narrative approach, ONA will
remove the challenge where the client has to develop their own narration style and may
consequently forget to mention critical aspects which can help the therapist initiate the requisite
interventions. In addition, the client, out of fear of stigma, may leave out embarrassing aspects of
his story and thus jeopardize the recovery process. In this regard the therapy process will be
more objective and save the time spent with the client.

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My Values
My value systems have informed my choice of this approach. I believe that every client
must be treated with human dignity and not be stigmatized based on the problem that confronts
them. In this regard, I separate the client’s problem from their personality in the belief that once
they solve the problem, they can be able to lead a normal life. In addition, I believe in
professionalism where I hold ethical practices in social work to the highest level. I therefore do
not engage my clients beyond what I am expected to do as a social worker and strive to ensure
that they obtain solutions to the problems they face. In addition, I value time and ensure that I
use the time allocated to professional work optimally. I therefore desist from practices that fill up
time and ensure that I finish the tasks allocated in the shortest time possible. However, I
acknowledge that some forms of therapy need more time listening to the client and allowing
them to go through such practices as mindfulness. In this respect, I strive to stick to the task at
hand without wasting time on unrelated conversations in a therapy environment. I also hold
empathy as a critical value in the social work experience. Although I appreciate the fact that I
can never fully comprehend the client’s circumstances, I try to base my intervention from their
point of view as I engage them without emotional attachment. Consequently, I desist from
expression of anger, disgust or sorrowfulness as I converse with the client.
Overview of the Theories
Through the BSW class experience and my interactions with the clients I have been able
to appreciate the place of the various theories to social work practice. The psychosocial approach
has been proposed by Erik Erikson; this theory opines that the behavoiur of individuals are
influenced by their environment (Basham et al, 2016). Aspects of trust and mistrust as

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experienced by an individual as he grows up significantly influence an individual and shape their
perspectives in life. Consequently, individuals exhibit such contrasting traits as industry and
inferiority, intimacy and isolation and create the basis for affection (Erikson, 2016). However,
critics have questioned Erikson’s method of testing that heavily relies on biographical case
studies of famous personalities. In addition, the theory lays more emphasis on childhood
experiences and provides little details about experiences that people have in their adulthood
(Jacobs, 2018). The Psychodynamic theory provides a more intimate explanation for the reason
for people’s behavior. In this theory, Sigmund Freud proposes that individuals are influenced by
the id, ego and superego (Ewen and Ewen, 2014). The id is the primary instinct that seeks
pleasure while a voiding pain. The ego constrains an individual to find practical ways to enjoy
pleasure while the superego is a combination of societal expectations that influence the
conscience. Ewen and Ewen (2014) postulate that according to this theory, individuals are in
constant conflict between the ego and superego that lead to the development of defenses that
determine how an individual deals with internal conflicts. This theory has gained popularity
among social workers but it lacks scientific proof of some of its key propositions. In addition, it
takes a lot of time to conduct therapy using this theory.
The Social learning theory popularized by Albert Bandura states that the adoption of
behavoiur by individuals is determined by their perception about what others think about the
trait. Based on this theory, when individual perceive that a certain trait is desirable by significant
individuals in their lives, they easily adopt it regardless of their personal opinion about the
change (Bandura, 2014). The systems theory, on the other hand, postulates that the behavoiur of
an individual is determined by a number of factors that form a system. Systems around school at

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home and in the context of work constrain an individual into specific kinds of behavior. These
theories inform the perspectives of the various social workers in their routine practice.
Application of Theories to the Objective Narrative Approach
The objective narrative approach is based on my personal conviction that both the
therapist and the client must work together in a sincere exercise in order to find solutions to
social problems. The ONA approach seeks to constrain the client into an organized narration and
is a time saving technique for both the client and the professional. The use of the narrative is the
belief that there are clear patterns in an individual’s life that determine their current behavoiur
(Musgrave, 2017). Based on the ideas of the Systems theory, the client has to identify factors that
form a system around him in order to find sustainable solutions to the social problems.
Consequently, the client is expected to be sincere in his narration and enable the therapist to
identify the systems that constrain him. Such systems may have a relationship with the Ego and
superego forces as proposed by Sigmund Freud in the Psychodynamic Approach (Rothe, 2017).
Freud proposes that social workers must acknowledge the existence of conflict and this
discovery will enable them to develop appropriate activities for the client (Bokanowski, 2018).
Through empathy, I will enable the client to verbalize his problem in a structured manner
and develop suitable interventions under the ONA approach. Bandura is of the view that
motivations towards behavior are not based on false reality created by the client’s misconception
of the opinion of others. This approach determines the adoption of both positive and negative
traits. ONA uses professionalism in narration to determine behaviors which are adopted by the
client that are as a result of false reality in his mind. False reality is formed partly by societal
systems that create expectations of behavoiur as stated by the Systems Theory (Bandura, 2017).

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The Objective Narration Theory will therefore apply the ideas of the Systems theory, the social
Learning theory and the Psychodynamic theory while providing therapy in social work practice.
Models of Social Work
Several approaches are used by Social workers in practice with varied results. The Task-
Centered Practice (TCP) is a model that has been used in social work for over forty years
(Turner, 2017). In this model, social workers and clients work together to develop specific and
achievable goals to solve identified problems. The process begins with the identification of the
problem through the joined efforts between the client and the professions. The second step is the
setting of goals which enables the client and the social worker to establish personal contact. The
parties then take some time in therapy sessions and at the end of the process, the two evaluate the
success of the process. The evaluation process entails examining how the process has contributed
to solving the initial problem. The Narrative Approach is a social work model where the client is
encouraged to speak about his problem with a detached attitude. The purpose is to help the
individual visualize the problem from an outsider’s perspective (Fraser and MacDougall, 2017).
Through this approach, the client sees the problem as an external challenge rather than
something that defines them. Furthermore, the client is able to decipher the extent to which the
problem affects them in a bid to evoke positive responses. The narrative approach is ideal where
the social worker wishes to give power to the client to manage their problem (Morriss, 2015).
However, this problem has been criticized for lacking a proper theoretical basis. The narrative
approach is based on philosophy and has little grounding in theory. Nonetheless, it is an
excellent approach for problems that are short-term.

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The Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) is another model of social work that is
premised on the view that clients are the architects of their problems and consequently, the
shapers of their reality. According to this theory, clients already bear solutions to their problems
and only need assistance to bring them to the fore (Bond, Woods, Humphrey, Symes and Green,
2015). The role of the therapist is therefore to trigger responses from the client to enable him
solve his own problems. In this regard, the professional asks a number of questions that are
retrospective in nature. The social worker and the client, through this approach, work to develop
achievable goals in solving the problem. However, there is more emphasis on the client’s present
circumstances without making reference to the past. The result of this perspective is that the
client may only receive temporary treatment because some causes of social problems stem from
childhood. The Cognitive Behavoiur Therapy (CBT) on the other hand is based on the principle
that thoughts and feelings influence the reality of individuals and by changing them, an
individual is able to alter the way they perceive the world (Reinholt and Krogh, 2014). The
therapist therefore uses such techniques as mindfulness and meditation to achieve this goal.
Application of the Models to the Objective Narrative Approach
The task Centered practice and the narrative approach have marked similarities with the
Objective narrative approach. The narrative approach uses the traditional talk therapy to
encourage the client to verbalize his story in order to enable him visualize the extent to which the
problem affects his life (Graham, 2017). However, this approach lacks a sound theoretical
grounding and several scholars do not comprehend its philosophy (Fook, 2016). The ONA
approach seeks to maximize on story-telling by developing specific guidelines for the therapist.
The narrative approach accords much of the power in a therapy process to the client (Payne,

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2015). However, ONA seeks to grant the professional power to exert reasonable control on the
process. I propose this process because I believe that the professional has more expertise in
handling client emotions and attitudes because of training. Kadushin and Harkness (2014)
propose that when the client takes control in a counseling session, the therapist has minimal
control of the process. Consequently, the client may unnecessarily stretch the process with
narrations that may not add value to the solution of the problem. Although the Narrative
Approach enables the social worker to come up with alternative stories to guide the client, the
process is mechanical and may put the client in situations where they conceal crucial information
(Nelson, Price and Zubrzycki, 2017). Both the Narrative Approach and the Objective Narration
Approach seek objectivity is dealing with the clients problem. Talking about a problem removes
the mystery out of the situation and thus makes the burden lighter. ONA goes beyond the
relaxation that comes with the narration and seeks to confront the problem in a decisive manner
through the efforts of both the client and the social worker.
The Solution Centered Brief Therapy agrees with the philosophy that individuals are the
experts of their own lives as upheld by the Objective Narration Approach. Based on the values of
empathy and professionalism, ONA offers a candid way of looking at social problems and yet
shows empathy towards the client. Under ONA, the therapist has greater control over the process
while greater power is given to the client in solving the problem. During the questioning process,
the therapist asks specific problems to the client about both the past and the present and lays less
emphasis on an imaginary future. Provoking the client to think about the future may discourage
him especially when his present circumstances are bleak (Healy, 2014). The ONA therefore
borrows from the ideas of the Narrative approach and the Solution-focused Brief Therapy
approaches but enriches the experience to achieve solutions in a more focused manner.

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The Objective Narrative Approach bears the challenge of affording the client limited time
for self expression. However, I believe that social work is an objective practice and the social
worker must only obtain the information necessary to get to the solution of the problem.
Respecting the privacy of individuals regarding the dispensation of information is a show of
respect will raise the public confidence in Social work practice and lead to the growth of the
discipline.
Social work is a critical discipline in society and there is need for creativity in order to
increase its utility. The Objective Narration Approach seeks to break the traditional bounds of
the practice and instill greater precision in the solutions of social problems. Both clients and
social world professionals will find this approach appealing as saves their time and provides
specific guidelines for engagement between the two parties. The client will be guided in his
narration to ensure that he provides the information that is critical to the engagement. ONA will
enrich the social work practice and obtain economy on time and enhance effectiveness in solving
clients’ problems.

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