Strategies for Work with Involuntary Clients

First published in 1992, this textbook, which provides guidelines on how to work with involuntary clients, was truly ahead of its time. Interacting with involuntary clients is becoming more and more a part of every social worker's daily routine, making this book more necessary than ever. Involuntary clients are individuals who are required to see a professional (such as juveniles on probation) or pressured to seek help (such as alcoholics threatened with the desertion of a spouse). Guidelines in this book suggest effective legal and ethical interventions that lead to more cooperative encounters, successful contracts, and less burnout on both sides of the treatment relationship. Ronald H. Rooney presents an honest analysis of the involuntary transaction and suggests ways to act within it. For this second edition, Rooney has invited experts to write chapters that address recent theories and provide new information on the best practices for specific populations and settings. He then adds practical examples and questions to each chapter to better facilitate the involvement of students and readers.