Critical Thinking skills in Social Work (General) – VIRTUAL

This presentation reviews the literature on critical thinking in social work education and practice with individuals and client systems. It aims to assist social workers , human services educators with skills and information to help them to challenge their decision making and to think more critically. This presentation was motivated by the desire to awaken clinicians to think outside the box and to self evaluate any erroneous or bias thinking that may interfere with the delivery of services to their clients. During this presentation we will become more familiar with critical thinking skills and examine models and strategies for promoting critical thinking in social work practice. Research suggests critical thinking should be taught in both explicit and disciplinary-specific ways. This presentation reviews the literature on teaching critical thinking in social work and human services education. In doing so, it outlines educational strategies that have been used to promote critical thinking in social work and argues that understanding the client or consumer perspective is a vital part of the critical thinking process.

Learning Objectives:

• This presentation hopes to challenge participants to think more critically when applying and assessing clients and systems.
• Participants will be able to summarize the definition of critical thinking and importance of thinking critically when making decisions that impact clients.
• Attendees will review the literature on critical thinking in social work education and practice with individuals and client systems.
• Participants will be challenged to identify biases in their thinking and how erroneous thinking and biases interfere with the helping process.
• Participants will be engaged in a discussion on self-awareness and encouraged to take a comprehensive inventory of our feelings, values, behaviors, and attitudes and how they may hinder the client’s progress.
• Attendees will examine models and strategies for promoting critical thinking in social work practice.