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Starting Where the Client Is: Harm Reduction Guidelines for Clinical Social Work Practice

Clinical Social Work Journal volume 45, pages 65–76 (2017)Cite this article

Abstract

Harm reduction has gradually entered social work discourse and is now seen as a promising approach for treating individuals with drug and alcohol problems. However, beyond statements and data supporting the utility of a harm reduction approach, few guidelines for clinical practice have been detailed in the social work literature. This lack of concrete detail regarding how harm reduction is actually practiced limits the potential implementation of the model into day-to-day clinical work. This article reiterates that harm reduction is a viable approach to clinical social work practice with individuals who have drug- and alcohol-related problems and for whom traditional approaches may be inappropriate. It focuses on harm reduction therapy as an emerging treatment model that can be implemented by clinical social workers and mental-health and substance use treatment providers. The article identifies and elaborates several basic tenets that can be incorporated into clinical social work. It is hoped that social workers who learn how harm reduction is implemented in clinical practice will be more apt to incorporate its principles into their work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Social Work Department, Long Island University – Brooklyn, 1 University Plaza, Brooklyn, NY, 11201, USA

    Sheila P. Vakharia

  2. The Center for Harm Reduction Therapy, 45 Franklin Street, Suite 320, San Francisco, CA, 94102, USA

    Jeannie Little

Authors
  1. Sheila P. Vakharia
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  2. Jeannie Little
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Correspondence to Sheila P. Vakharia.

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Vakharia, S.P., Little, J. Starting Where the Client Is: Harm Reduction Guidelines for Clinical Social Work Practice. Clin Soc Work J 45, 65–76 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-016-0584-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-016-0584-3

Keywords

  • Harm reduction
  • Clinical social work
  • Harm reduction therapy
  • Addiction
  • Addiction treatment
  • Drug and alcohol treatment