Adult Attachment in Clinical Social Work

Editorial Reviews Review "This is a great, original book–clear, well-written, nuanced, and sophisticated. I loved the neurobiology and research summaries and the wonderful point the book makes and remakes: that one is not stuck in one's attachment style for life! Susanne Bennett and Judith Nelson have creatively and successfully synthesized attachment theory and research and applied it to practice, teaching, social problems, and social policies. A pioneering book, it is a "must read" for social workers working with individuals, groups, and families in a range of settings, and I think it will make a wonderful textbook." -Dr. Joan Berzoff, Professor, Director, End of Life Certificate Program, Smith College School for Social Work "This meticulously edited compendium of scholarship in the burgeoning field of adult attachment studies should be in every social worker’s library. Conceptually rigorous chapters range from new directions in theory development, through applications to adult clinical practice in a wide variety of settings, to implications for social policy, research, and education. By collecting contributions from leading attachment experts in our field, Drs. Bennett and Nelson provide an invaluable resource for practitioners and scholars in social work as well as those in other helping professions who will benefit richly from this splendid volume." – Jeffrey S. Applegate, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research, Bryn Mawr College From the Back Cover As John Bowlby’s studies of human attachment revolutionized developmental psychology in the 1960s, adult attachment concepts have similarly transformed social work in recent years, leading to a generation of innovative attachment-based clinical practice. Adult Attachment in Clinical Social Work highlights social work’s contributions to attachment theory and research and the potential of these contributions to enhance clinical practice, inform social policy, and further empirical investigations. Designed for readers new to adult attachment, as well as those familiar with it, this book examines the current state of the field, reviewing assessment measures and research methods, summarizing new findings and ongoing controversies, and clarifying terms toward a common language. Clinical applications in individual, family, and group contexts are featured, with case examples from various populations and settings demonstrating the practical utility of the theory and its application to cross-cultural treatment. Later chapters move beyond discrete cases to attachment issues that impact society as a whole (e.g., adoption, elder care) and training issues that affect future generations of clinicians. Among the topics covered: •Separation, loss, and grief in adults •The impact of neurobiology on affect regulation•Applications of attachment concepts to interventions with at-risk families of young children, adolescents, and elder adults •Clinical approaches for hard-to-reach individual clients and adults in group settings •The function of attachment in both familial and professional caregiving •Policy implications of adult attachment relevant to family preservation Adult Attachment in Clinical Social Work is an essential text, breaking new ground in the attachment literature with immediate relevance for professionals and scholars in clinical social work and related mental health professions.

Book Description

Hardcover: 313 pages
Publisher: Springer; 1st Edition. edition (October 6, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1441962409
ISBN-13: 9781441962409