The unifying theme of this broad-reaching volume is that responsible, ethical, and effective social work practice rests on the diagnostic skills of the practitioner. Social work diagnosis refers to the conscious formulation of an ongoing set of decisions about the client and his or her situation, which serve as the basis for intervention-decisions for which the practitioner must be prepared to take responsibility. Diagnostic skill development is an ongoing process principally enhanced by a continuous commitment to remain at the cutting edge of the profession's body of knowledge, but one of the challenges for today's practitioner is keeping abreast of the rapidly expanding body of knowledge contained in some 200 important social work periodicals in circulation. Francis J. Turner, a preeminent clinical scholar, brings together in one volume some of the best work published since 2000, each reflecting new insights into understanding psychosocial situations and innovative methods of applying knowledge and skills in an increasingly effective manner. Each of the 78 articles in this volume highlights some of the critical dimensions of contemporary social work practice, guiding clinicians to address four key aspects in order to craft an accurate diagnosis. The first section presents articles covering the developmental spectrum, each of which fully explains various ages and stages of development. The second section focuses on a range of specific situations, helping practitioners and students enrich their understanding of different types of problems they meet in contemporary practice, whether they are based in mental illness, psychosocial issues, or physical ailments. The third section addresses the crucial component of diversity, demonstrating the complexity and critical importance of truly understanding clients and their lives. The last section of the book discusses innovative approaches to practice, selected to offer practitioners easy access to the latest interventions for a host of contemporary challenges facing clients and their therapists. Broad in scope and tightly focused on the goal of providing the most up-to-date information necessary for accuracy in the diagnostic process, this volume represents some of the best research available to today's social workers.

Francis J. Turner taught full time at Ottawa, Wilfrid Laurier, Memorial, Laurentian, and York Universities, as well as practising social work in the fields of child welfare, family counselling, and mental health, and publishing a range of written and edited texts. He is currently editor of the International Social Work Journal.

Francis J. Turner's profile page

"A resource that honors the profession." -Gerald Schamess, Smith College

"A must have and a must read for every social work educator, student, and practitioner."-G. Brent Angell, University of Windsor

"An extraordinary achievement and the author has my congratulations and gratitude for producing what will prove to be the essential guidebook for social work practitioners."-Barbara Thomlison, Florida International University

"This excellent contribution will be sure to enhance our understanding of diagnosis."-Florence Vigilante, Hunter College School of Social Work and Senior Editor, Journal of Teaching in Social Work

"A rich and impressive collection."-John R. Graham, University of Calgary

"These essays offer important guidelines for today's social workers. Taken together they present diagnosis not as an intellectual conclusion but as a relationship-based process." -Eric Sainsbury, University of Sheffield

"This volume can be useful to novice and experienced clinicians alike to quickly refresh their memories...easily accessible and is an important reference for any clinician."--Social Work Today

"This reference of 782 narrative pages extends over a breadth of diverse topics relevant to social work diagnosis and hence practice...a significant addition to any social worker's professional library."--Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare

"This volume continues Dr. Turner's work to encourage excellence in clinical social work and to guide professionals and students in understanding the importance of diagnosis."-Kathleen J. Farkas, Case Western Reserve University