Social Work Practice Behaviors and Beliefs: Rural-Urban Differences?

Abstract

There is continuing debate within the social work profession on whether there are significant differences in the practice behaviors and beliefs between rural and urban clinical social workers and whether different standards should be applied in defining ethical practices. This study measures those differences with regard to five practice behaviors: bartering, maintaining confidentiality, competent practice, dual relationships, and social relationships. Differences were found in beliefs regarding the appropriateness of professional behavior though such differences did not translate into practice behaviors. More significantly, the research suggests considerable confusion about the meanings of ethical standards and the utilization of intervention techniques without formal training across both urban and rural social workers.

The Ethical Implication of Bartering for Mental Health Services: Examining Interdisciplinary Ethical Standards

“…In these situations, the therapist may feel that voicing dissatisfaction or disengaging from the bartering agreement would interfere with therapy (Zur, 2008), and therefore feel pressured to continue with the arrangement despite the dissatisfaction. Such complexities and pressures could easily harm the therapeutic relationship, resulting in a multidisciplinary consensus that service-for-service bartering should be avoided (Canter et al, 1994;Croxton et al, 2002;Haas, Malouf, & Mayerson, 1986;Koocher & Keith-Spiegel, 1998;Peterson, 1996;Syme, 2006;Woody, 1998).…”

“…Other authors (Croxton et al, 2002;Hill, 2000;Syme, 2006;Zur, 2008) mentioned the cultural implications of accepting barter. In some rural or agricultural communities, bartering with neighbors and with community professionals is common practice.…”

“…In some rural or agricultural communities, bartering with neighbors and with community professionals is common practice. Therapists within those communities should be allowed to barter as long as all necessary ethical precautions are taken (Croxton et al, 2002). In working with culturally diverse clients, Syme (2006) noticed that accepting barters from those for whom bartering is a culturally emphasized practice can be therapeutically beneficial in that it portrays the practitioner as valuing of the client's background.…”

“…bartering is both scarce and polarized, as most seem to think the practice either is ill advised and should be entirely avoided (Canter, Bennett, Jones, & Nagy, 1994;Gutheil & Gabbard, 1993;Woody, 1998), or has therapeutic potential that, when used sparingly, outweighs the risks (Croxton, Jayaratne, & Mattison, 2002;Hendricks, 1979;Hill, 2000;Syme, 2006;Thomas, 2002;Zur, 2008).…”

An Exploration of Nonsexual Dual Relationships in Rural Public Child Welfare Settings

“…Croxton, Jayaratne, & Mattison (2002) sum it up by acknowledging that "we know little of the extent to which rural social workers maintain such relationships nor what they believe about the ethics of these behaviors" (p. 122). Kagle, Giebelhausen, & Northrup (1994) speculate that one reason for this may be due to an erroneous assumption by social workers that these kinds of relationships are not entered into with clients.…”