When problems seem overwhelming: emphases in teaching, supervision, and consultation

The intractability of many of today's problems creates unusual stress for social workers. Traditional direct practice content taught by teachers, field work instructors, agency supervisors, and consultants provides a sound foundation on which to teach and learn practice skills. However, it also is essential for teachers, instructors, supervisors, and consultants to recognize the unusually stressful nature of practice and the frequent sense of pervasive hopelessness felt by practitioners. This article focuses on the preparation of social workers for effective work in today's complex social environment and suggests five major areas that need to be emphasized in teaching, supervising, and training.