Learning to Change Lives

Book excerpt: The Strategies and Skills Learning and Development (SSLD) system is an action-oriented model for enabling clients in social work, health, mental health, and human services settings to address their needs and life goals. In Learning to Change Lives, author A. Ka Tat Tsang introduces SSLD’s powerful framework and practice, which has been developed based on three decades of experience in psychotherapy, counselling, education, training, consultation, and community service. Learning to Change Lives provides detailed, step-by-step guidelines for SSLD intervention – starting with engagement with the client, assessment, translating problems into intervention plans, systematic learning and development of appropriate strategies and skills. Key practice procedures are described clearly and illustrated by case examples, specific instructions, and sample worksheets. Aimed at clinical practitioners, mental health professionals, social workers, and other human service professionals, this book can be used as a manual by practitioners and as a textbook for courses and training programs.