Satir Theory and Sculpting in Social Work Education: Helping People to Help Themselves

Abstract

The Satir Model is valuable in the education and practice of social work. We can understand more deeply the practice of social work with the Satir Model due to its rich analyses that help practitioners understand human behavior and make sense of their own experience. Experiential learning, particularly sculpting, is suitable for case teaching and the practice of social work. Understanding the essence of human life using the view of the Satir Model is a very helpful lens through which practitioners can view client behavior and symptoms, as well as their own. This paper analyzes the connotation and the teaching process of "helping people to help themselves" in social work using the Satir Model. We trust that the theoretical knowledge of the Satir Model can be used to stimulate more research in many different academic subjects and areas of learning and practice.