Clinical social work in Türkiye from the perspective of social work academics

Clinical social work is a professional field of practice that includes psychosocial assessment, psychotherapy, counseling and intervention to improve the biopsychosocial, emotional and spiritual functioning of individuals, families and other small groups. Psychosocial dysfunctions, crisis intervention, substance abuse, chronic diseases and disability are within the intervention area of clinical social work. Clinical social work practice focuses on a holistic approach and the client's relationships with his/her environment. Although the professional definition and standards of clinical social work at the institutional level have not been determined in Türkiye, it is an area of specialization that has been gaining importance and is in the process of development in relation to the increase in practice and academic studies with the orientation of social workers and social work academics to the clinical field in recent years. The aim of this study is to evaluate clinical social work in Türkiye by social work academics. Qualitative research methods and a phenomenological design were used in the study. Data were obtained from 18 participants through interview forms. The data obtained from the interviews were categorized into themes and analyzed using the MAXQDA 2024 data analysis program The findings of the study were divided into 11 sub-themes under the theme of clinical social work. The sub-themes are: Definition, Comparison Between Türkiye and Abroad, Areas of Intervention, Topics and Environments, Importance, Conceptual Confusion, Academic Studies and Number of Academics, Current Practice and Legal Equivalents, Awareness, Representation, Subjective Experiences, Barriers and Recommendations, and Clinical-Focused Graduate Programs. According to the results of the study, there is no unity in the definition of clinical social work in Türkiye and there is a need for definition at the institutional level. There is no official master's degree program in clinical social work in Türkiye. There is only one clinically focused social work doctoral program. There is a need for clinically focused programs in postgraduate education in Türkiye. Since there are no legal regulations for clinical social work in Türkiye, social workers working in some institutions, organizations and non-governmental organizations carry out clinical social work practices in a limited way on their own initiative. In Türkiye, social workers who receive therapy schools provide psychotherapy and counseling services in private counseling centers. Although academic studies on clinical social work in Türkiye have started to be conducted recently, academic studies are insufficient. The number of academics specialized in this field is small. The awareness of clinical social work in Turkey is not at a sufficient level. There are no civil society organizations advocating for clinical social work in Türkiye.