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Book Review: Freedberg, S. (2009) Relational Theory for Social Work Practice: A Feminist Perspective. New York: Routledge, 128 pp., $150 (hardbound), $39.95 (paper)

Book Review: Freedberg, S. (2009) Relational Theory for Social Work Practice: A Feminist... Book Reviews Affilia: Journal of Women and Social Work 24(4) 429-435 Book Reviews ª The Author(s) 2009 Reprints and permission: http://www. sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav http://aff.sagepub.com Freedberg, S. (2009) Relational Theory for Social Work Practice: A Feminist Perspective. New York: Routledge, 128 pp., $150 (hardbound), $39.95 (paper). Reviewed by: Carol G. Deanow, Salem State College, Salem, Massachusetts DOI: 10.1177/0886109909344061 I have always been puzzled about why the work of the Stone Center’s (Wellesley College) relational theory and model of practice is not more widely taught in schools of social work, given its con- gruence with social work values, its reframing of conventional wisdom from a feminist perspective, and its enormous applicability to work with women who make up the bulk of our social work clientele. Sharon Freedberg’s small book goes a long way to remedy this omission. Building heavily on the work of Jean Baker Miller and her colleagues at the Stone Center and other feminist scholars, Freedberg summarizes the key concepts of relational theory clearly and links these concepts to more familiar social work concepts, such as the ecological framework and person-in-environment. Freedberg articulates how relational theory grew out of and is related to both classic social work theory and the work of well-known psychoanalytic and object-relations theorists. For instance, in the first chapter, she takes an historical perspective, showing how the social work concept of relation- ship evolved as social work was influenced by the settlement house movement, Freudian theory, and the functional school, among others. In the next chapter, she takes a more clinical perspective, dis- cussing various object-relations theorists and introducing the feminist relational models of the Stone Center, Nancy Chodorow, Carol Gilligan, and others. She notes the congruence and similarities between relational theory and classic social work theory but highlights the way core concepts, such as mutuality, assessment, empowerment, transference/counter-transference, and dependence, are reframed and emphasized differently in relational theory and practice. Concepts, such as relational authenticity and the worker’s use of self, which are usually in the background of social work prac- tice, are brought to the foreground. In the middle chapters, Freedberg emphasizes the contribution of relational theory to social workers’ understanding of the social work relationship and to the role of empathy in practice. She intersperses her narrative with vivid case vignettes, which not only illus- trate the theoretical points but also reveal her to be a skilled relational therapist. For a social work student or practitioner who is not familiar with feminist relational theory and the Stone Center’s framework, this book is an excellent introduction. Even for a practitioner who is well-versed in the relational model, Freedberg’s book provides a helpful way of integrating these ideas with core social work concepts, thus deepening one’s historical and conceptual understanding. I hope that the book will spur social workers to read more extensively in the literature produced by the Stone Center, but even if this one book is all that someone reads about the model, it is well worth the effort. I would especially recommend this book as a supplemental text for courses in social work practice. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Affilia: Journal of Women and Social Work SAGE

Book Review: Freedberg, S. (2009) Relational Theory for Social Work Practice: A Feminist Perspective. New York: Routledge, 128 pp., $150 (hardbound), $39.95 (paper)

Deanow, Carol G.
Affilia: Journal of Women and Social Work , Volume 24 (4): 1 – Nov 1, 2009
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Publisher
SAGE
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2009
ISSN
0886-1099
eISSN
1552-3020
DOI
10.1177/0886109909344061
Publisher site
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Abstract

Book Reviews Affilia: Journal of Women and Social Work 24(4) 429-435 Book Reviews ª The Author(s) 2009 Reprints and permission: http://www. sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav http://aff.sagepub.com Freedberg, S. (2009) Relational Theory for Social Work Practice: A Feminist Perspective. New York: Routledge, 128 pp., $150 (hardbound), $39.95 (paper). Reviewed by: Carol G. Deanow, Salem State College, Salem, Massachusetts DOI: 10.1177/0886109909344061 I have always been puzzled about why the work of the Stone Center’s (Wellesley College) relational theory and model of practice is not more widely taught in schools of social work, given its con- gruence with social work values, its reframing of conventional wisdom from a feminist perspective, and its enormous applicability to work with women who make up the bulk of our social work clientele. Sharon Freedberg’s small book goes a long way to remedy this omission. Building heavily on the work of Jean Baker Miller and her colleagues at the Stone Center and other feminist scholars, Freedberg summarizes the key concepts of relational theory clearly and links these concepts to more familiar social work concepts, such as the ecological framework and person-in-environment. Freedberg articulates how relational theory grew out of and is related to both classic social work theory and the work of well-known psychoanalytic and object-relations theorists. For instance, in the first chapter, she takes an historical perspective, showing how the social work concept of relation- ship evolved as social work was influenced by the settlement house movement, Freudian theory, and the functional school, among others. In the next chapter, she takes a more clinical perspective, dis- cussing various object-relations theorists and introducing the feminist relational models of the Stone Center, Nancy Chodorow, Carol Gilligan, and others. She notes the congruence and similarities between relational theory and classic social work theory but highlights the way core concepts, such as mutuality, assessment, empowerment, transference/counter-transference, and dependence, are reframed and emphasized differently in relational theory and practice. Concepts, such as relational authenticity and the worker’s use of self, which are usually in the background of social work prac- tice, are brought to the foreground. In the middle chapters, Freedberg emphasizes the contribution of relational theory to social workers’ understanding of the social work relationship and to the role of empathy in practice. She intersperses her narrative with vivid case vignettes, which not only illus- trate the theoretical points but also reveal her to be a skilled relational therapist. For a social work student or practitioner who is not familiar with feminist relational theory and the Stone Center’s framework, this book is an excellent introduction. Even for a practitioner who is well-versed in the relational model, Freedberg’s book provides a helpful way of integrating these ideas with core social work concepts, thus deepening one’s historical and conceptual understanding. I hope that the book will spur social workers to read more extensively in the literature produced by the Stone Center, but even if this one book is all that someone reads about the model, it is well worth the effort. I would especially recommend this book as a supplemental text for courses in social work practice.

Journal

Affilia: Journal of Women and Social Work – SAGE

Published: Nov 1, 2009

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