The Knowledge and Use of Alternative Therapeutic Techniques by Social Work Practitioners
- 12 May 2000
- journal article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in Social Work in Health Care
- Vol. 30 (3) , 55-71
- https://doi.org/10.1300/j010v30n03_04
Abstract
A survey of use of alternative therapeutic methods was distributed to 1,000 clinical/direct service social work practitioners; a sample of 321 reported on their use of alternative techniques. Approximately three-quarters of the respondents used or referred mind-body techniques or community health alternatives. These two techniques accounted for about two-thirds of all alternative practices. Manual healing was used or referred by about one-third of all practitioners and professionalized alternative medicine was used by about 30%. Other methods, including botanical, pharmacological, and biological alternatives, diet and nutrition, and parapsychology were each used by fewer than 10% of the respondents. Social workers were most knowledgeable about mind-body techniques and community-based alternatives.Keywords
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