Strategies for Promoting Client Self-Determination: A Review of the Literature

Abstract

This article reports the results of a systematic literature review that sought to understand strategies used by social work practitioners to promote client self-determination. The results showed that practitioners are using a variety of strategies that range from giving clients voice or choice to integration of best practices including elements of self-determination theory, shared decision making, or the Lundy Model. Further analysis of the strategies suggested that they could be enacted at two key stages that include worker-client interactions and the organizational level. Both agency administrators and practitioners have essential roles to play in defining and implementing processes that can promote self-determination in social work settings.