Trauma work with people who have been in natural disasters or involved in scarcity related conflicts, including refugees. Working with people who are feeling increased stress, depression, anxiety, other mental health concerns. People struggling with loss: of jobs, of homes and financial security, of sacred natural place, of community.įamily therapy due to increasing conflict in the home as stress increases. The following are just some of the examples of possible eco-social work actions for all three levels of practice:Įxamples of Micro Eco-Social Work Practice:Ĭlinical therapy with individuals, families, and groups: Effective macro practice can empower clients by involving them in systemic change (references 2 and 3). Macro social work also generally addresses issues experienced in mezzo or micro social work practice, as well as issues in social work research.

Macro practice is often touted as being one of the key distinctions between social work and other helping professions (such as psychiatry or medicine).

Examples of macro social work include lobbying to change a health care law, organizing a state-wide activist group, or advocating for large-scale social policy change. Macro social work involves intervening in large, high-level societal systems. Social workers engaged in mezzo practice are often also engaged in micro and/or macro social work (as this ensures the needs and challenges of individual clients are understood and addressed in tandem with larger social issues) (references 2 and 3). Examples of mezzo social work include community organizing, management of a social work organization, and practice that focuses on institutional or cultural change (rather than individual clients). Mezzo social work practice deals with small-to-medium-sized groups, such as neighborhoods, schools or other local organizations. Family therapy and individual counseling services also fall under the auspices of micro practice, as does the treatment of people suffering from a mental health condition or substance abuse problem (references 2 and 3). Common examples of micro social work pratice settings include counselling centers, hospitals, and social service agencies, where social workers help individuals to find appropriate housing and access mental, health, and social services. In micro social work, the social worker engages with individuals and families in order to solve intrapersonal and interpersonal problems. Micro social work is among the most common type of social work practice (and is often how most people imagine social workers providing services). Although these levels are often spoke of as if they are distinct, it is important to recognize that these 'different levels' occur in tandem and constantly influence the other levels. 1, reference 1)Ĭurrently, there are three widely recognized levels of social work practice: micro, mezzo (meso), and macro social work. Generally, talk about social work practice taking place at various or different levels and by this is meant social workers work with individuals and families (direct practice, which can be therapeutic or clinical, though this is less likely within a developmental social work model), with groups of people, with communities (through groups of people or advocating on behalf of sectional interests) and at the policy level to change unjust policies and practices and achieve a more just and equitable distribution of resources for those whom they serve.

Gray and Bernstein (1996) offer a succinct summary of the concept of different 'levels' of social work: A consequence of this is that social workers are sometimes require to engage in social work practice that takes place at different 'levels.'

Because of the complex, interdisciplinary nature of social work, social workers are often required to work in increasingly diverse contexts and settings.

Mezzo practice in social work