What are the top social work theories and methods?

Social work is a great profession to consider if you're interested in helping the people and communities around you. The field is vast and there are a wide array of roles you can pursue depending on your skillset and areas of interest.

Social work has many unique methods and perspectives that can set it apart from other mental health fields. Read on to learn more about the theories, methods, and therapeutic perspectives you may most likely encounter as you begin your social work education.

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Why is social work important?

Social work serves a crucial role in our communities and aims to enhance people's wellbeing. As a social worker, you'll likely encounter a wide variety of roles and responsibilities, including working one-on-one, in groups, or on a broader policy level. You might pursue clinical roles providing and therapy, or work within an education or healthcare setting.

How do you become a social worker?

The opportunities are vast, but all begin with pursuing a bachelor's (BSW) or master's (MSW) in a social work program, either in person or .

Your will consist of coursework in human behavior, clinical work, and social policy, among others, along with a fieldwork component. Your fieldwork, or practicum, allows you to gain hands-on experience in the field while receiving supervision and guidance.

It's important to pursue an accredited program to ensure it meets all the requirements to pursue state licensure. Some social workers go on to pursue their clinical license to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), which allows you to practice clinical social work independently and without supervision.

While various social workers might end up specializing in different areas or fields, there are common theories and methods that you'll likely encounter during your social work education. While there are many similarities among various mental health-related programs and fields, you'll learn more about the methods and perspectives that make social work unique.

The section below will look at some common social work theories, perspectives, and methods and how they apply to social work practice and your future career path, with information provided by the National Association of Social Workers.

10 social work theories and methods

Micro social work

Micro social work is a method of working directly with a client on an individual level. Micro social workers often have clinical specialties and may hold an LCSW license.

In micro social work, social workers address individual mental health concerns, stressors, and symptoms while teaching coping skills and providing therapeutic interventions. They might also incorporate case management services.

Micro social work is also known as direct practice work, because the social worker works with a client on a one-on-one direct basis.

Application of this method

Micro social work can be found in almost all areas of the field and can have job titles such as clinical social worker, school social worker, or therapist.

If you're interested in pursuing micro social work, you likely enjoy working with people on an individual basis and helping them address their concerns and improve their overall wellbeing.

Mezzo social work

Mezzo social work falls between micro and macro work, which means it includes both individual-level work and incorporating larger systems and policies. Mezzo social workers often still work with clients individually to help solve problems and create change, but they may also incorporate working with larger groups, systems, and policies.

This could look like leading therapy groups or family sessions while also advocating for policy change, or working on supporting clients and staff within a school or hospital setting. Like all social workers, mezzo social workers maintain a person-in-environment perspective as they support clients and systems.

Application of this method

If you're interested in supporting clients on an individual basis while also incorporating larger systems work and policy change, mezzo social work might be a good fit for you.

In a mezzo-focused role, you might work within a community health center, creating programming initiatives to best support your clients — or you might lead groups and advocate for policies within a hospital-based setting.

Macro social work

Macro social work is focused on larger-scale policy change and community support. While a micro or mezzo social worker might work with clients individually, a macro social worker typically does not engage in individual client-based work and instead works on larger-scale initiatives to enhance and strengthen vulnerable populations.

Macro social work is informed by clinical theory but focuses on broader social change. This area could also include research, teaching, or working within a nonprofit or government-based organization. Macro social workers might have an LCSW, but it is not a requirement for most roles.

Application of this method

If you're interested in an impactful role advocating for change, conducting research, teaching, or building coalitions, macro social work might be a good fit. Social workers are needed at all levels of practice — micro, mezzo, and macro — and often work together to serve communities.

Through a macro social work role, you can enact widespread change and advocate for populations on a broad level.

Person-in-environment perspective

No matter what type of social work method you're using, all social workers maintain a person-in-environment perspective and theoretical orientation.

Person-in-environment (PIE) is the theory that all individuals are influenced by and operate within their environment and various systems. A PIE perspective helps social workers explore how an individual's life is influenced by the environment around them, as no one exists in a vacuum.

This theory explores the way a person's relationships and other social contexts influence their life and wellbeing. By applying this theory, social workers can attempt to practice a more holistic and comprehensive view of an individual.

Application of this theory

The PIE theory is likely one of the first things you'll learn as you begin your social work education. It serves as a foundational perspective through which to view your work and aims to incorporate and understand all the various environmental factors that influence the client and/or community that you're working with.

Through exploring this theory, you'll potentially begin to gain a more comprehensive and integrative view of your work and work toward a better understanding of how various systems are connected.

Biopsychosocial-spiritual perspective

The biopsychosocial-spiritual perspective is a core framework used by social workers. This framework takes a holistic and whole-person approach, taking into account all the various factors influencing a person's wellbeing and functioning.

This includes medical history, emotional needs, environmental factors, socioeconomic and sociopolitical status, cultural impacts, and spiritual needs and concerns. This approach and framework is used throughout all facets of treatment, from the initial assessment process to treatment planning and engaging in therapeutic interventions.

Application of this framework

Using a biopsychosocial-spiritual approach can help you to view your clients holistically and take into account all of the various environmental, social, and medical factors impacting their lives. Rather than a pathologizing approach, which focuses solely on the individual, a biopsychosocial approach aims to consider a more comprehensive view.

When you first meet with a client, you might guide them through a biopsychosocial-spiritual assessment, during which you'll gather information on various aspects of their lives, environment, functioning and goals.

Strengths-based approach

Taking a strengths-based approach is a core method of social work practice and largely informs other modalities and theories that a social worker might incorporate into their work. Through a strengths-based lens, a client is viewed in a non-pathologizing manner that recognizes their inherent values and strengths.

This approach commonly holds the belief that a client is inherently worthy, valuable, and capable of growth. It honors resilience and respects a client's agency, or right to self-determination. This approach can lead to collaborative treatment plans that empower clients to enact change in their lives and reach better outcomes.

Application of this method

Many social workers are drawn to the field because of a desire to help others. Something that can set social work apart from other mental health-related fields is the commitment to a non-pathologizing, strengths-based approach.

This, coupled with the person-in-environment and biopsychosocial-spiritual perspectives mentioned above, can create enhanced collaboration and rapport in your work. Whether you are practicing psychotherapy or case management, a strengths-based perspective can help you see the inherent worth and resilience within the people you work with.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is the method of a client and therapist (in this case, a social worker) working together within a therapeutic relationship. Through psychotherapy, a therapeutic relationship is formed to help explore and treat the symptoms of a mental condition, stress, relationship challenges, or difficulties with coping. This is what you might typically think of when you hear the term "therapy."

Various theories, such as psychodynamic or cognitive behavioral, can be applied within psychotherapy depending on your theoretical orientation and the setting in which you work. We'll explore these theories more below.

Application of this method

Social workers conduct psychotherapy in many different locations and with different populations. Psychotherapy can take place in one-on-one settings, with groups, or with families. It can be used to address multiple different conditions, ranging from stress and anxiety to substance use to mental conditions.

Part of the social work training process is developing your own skillset and therapeutic style for providing therapy to clients.

Psychodynamic theory

Psychodynamic theory is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on how an individual's unconscious thoughts influence their current thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This theory believes that our current thought processes are based on multiple factors, including genetic makeup, sociocultural influences, past and current experiences, cognitive distortions, and a person's own unique memories and life experiences.

Psychodynamic theory was traditionally used by psychoanalysts, though can still be incorporated into social work practice. Some therapists practice exclusively from this lens, while others may incorporate psychodynamic work among other perspectives or theories.

Application of this theory

A psychodynamically oriented social worker will likely focus therapy sessions on exploring how a client's past experiences and unconscious feelings influence their current functioning. A psychodynamic session can include exploring past experiences, family of origin concerns, and former memories and identifying how they impact current behaviors.

Sessions tend to be less structured than a more behaviorally oriented approach. Many social workers might take an integrative approach, meaning they incorporate psychodynamic theory among other theories and modalities.

Cognitive behavioral therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based therapy modality commonly taught in social work programs. CBT is known as a behavioral modality and focuses on the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

CBT identifies common cognitive distortions, also known as thought patterns, and works to reframe distortions and create new thought patterns (cognitions). Through this modality, a therapist can help empower a client to notice their current thoughts and the way their thoughts influence how they feel and act. With guided and structured exercises, a client can then potentially learn new thought patterns, challenge rigid beliefs, and take action that better serves them and their wellbeing.

CBT can be a more structured approach than other therapeutic modalities such as psychodynamic theory.

Application of this theory

You'll likely encounter coursework and practical experience learning CBT in your social work program. It is a great fit for therapists and clients who enjoy a more structured approach, with guided exercises and handouts for independent practice outside of session.

While some social workers practice CBT exclusively, many others take an integrative approach and incorporate some tenets of CBT while weaving in other modalities or theories.

Case management

Case management is a commonly employed method social workers use in numerous aspects of their work. Case management refers to the collaborative process of planning, resource-seeking, and advocating for clients to help them meet their needs and improve their functioning.

While psychotherapy employs various theories to help clients understand their emotional health and improve their wellbeing, case management focuses on more concrete resources. This could look like helping a client develop a comprehensive treatment plan with various supports, aiding a client in accessing housing resources or health insurance, or supporting someone within the medical system with discharge planning.

Case management is sometimes referred to as care coordination or patient navigation.

Application of this method

No matter what route you pursue with a social work career, your role will likely include some level of case management. Seeking a more case management-heavy role could be a great fit for you if you have strong organizational skills and enjoy planning, seeking concrete resources, and helping to strengthen the communities around you.

Case management roles are common in healthcare settings, school systems, and community-based organizations.