Utilization of alternative/holistic helping strategies by clinical/direct service social work practitioners

This descriptive study examined the utilization of alternative/holistic helping strategies in the professional practice of clinical/direct practice social workers in the United States (n = 321). Utilization by social work practitioners refers to the use of alternative/holistic strategies in the direct treatment of clients or indirect use with clients through referral and/or collaboration with non-traditional practitioners. This research also examined the personal use of alternative/holistic techniques, selected aspects of lifestyle related to health, and demographic characteristics of practitioners.;This study serves as a baseline for social workers' involvement in alternative/holistic helping strategies and to inform social workers and researchers as to their current role and future avenues to be explored.;A national sample was drawn from the list of direct practice social workers in the 1996 membership roster maintained by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). The NASW's computerized random sampling process was used to generate the mailing list of participants. A self-report survey design using single group cross-sectional correlational methodology was employed. Data collection was conducted by mailing 1,000 anonymous self-report surveys. The data reveal that clinical social work practitioners have begun to adopt alternative/holistic strategies. The utilization rate of alternative/holistic helping strategies for all respondents is approximately 18% with mind/body methods accounting for two-thirds and the remaining one-third were more esoteric methods. Personal use was even higher with 50.7% of respondents indicating that they personally used alternative/holistic strategies. Those practitioners with greater knowledge of alternative/holistic strategies are more likely to use such strategies.;The most popular methods, such as mind-body techniques and referral to self-help groups have been subjected to the greatest amount of scientific study and have the greatest amount of acceptance among helping professionals. This suggests that clinical social workers have adopted, for the most part, an open but conservative approach to alternative/holistic strategies.;There are several implications from this study, most importantly a need for additional inquiry into regulation, licensure, certification standards, and safety/liability issues for social workers who are utilizing these techniques. Also, there is a need to address the educational gaps in both social work curriculum and continuing education.