"In this time of Covid craziness, who doesn't need some healing? Making use of his 40-plus years of practice, supervision, training, and teaching Dr. Michael LaSala presents us in ten chapters with a volume that describes a model of clinical practice that focuses on healing relationships including the relationship the worker has with themself, with their clients, and the relationships between clients in couples, families, and groups.
This is a wonderful book for clinical practitioners, for students of social work and for mental health professionals of all disciplines who may feel worn out and in need of regeneration and reminders about the healing nature of individual, couples, families, and group relationships.
This book
is an important reminder that the healers also need to be healed. It should be required reading for all clinicians - not just during these challenging times that we are living in, but for sustaining and replenishing our clinical practice in everyday life." -
Gerald P. Mallon, LCSW, DSW, Associate Dean of Scholarship and Research, Julia Lathrop, Professor of Child Welfare"Drawing on 40+ years of social work practice, supervision, training, and teaching and his own life experiences, Dr. Michael LaSala's book,
The Healing Power of Relationships: Clinical Social Work with Individuals, Families, and Groups, provides a unique perspective on clinical practice that focuses on healing relationships. The book is ideal for students and new practitioners as they begin their journey to understand the importance of relationships in all aspects of clinical social work practice through research, case examples and reflection exercises that also includes a focus on the impacts of the pandemic and racial justice issues. As dean of a social work program with a focus on preparing students for clinical practice, this book should be on the syllabus and required reading for any courses on clinical social work practice!" - Jo Ann R. Regan, PhD, MSW, Dean, National Catholic School of Social Service at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C
"LaSala, a well-known and admired social work educator and scholar, has created a highly readable and instructional book that is based on his 40 plus years of practice experience. It incorporates key theoretical concepts with recent evidenced research and practice wisdom and underscores the importance of self-reflection, the use of self, and a relational approach. I would highly recommend this book that also includes vivid case examples and engaging exercises for social work practice courses and early career clinicians who are interested in furthering their knowledge and skills." - Andrew W. Safyer, Academic Dean, Institute for Clinical Social Work
