What is 'disengagement' in social work practice?

Disengagement in social work practice refers specifically to the process of concluding services and transitioning clients out of treatment. This stage is crucial as it allows clients to reflect on their progress, reinforces their gains, and prepares them for independence. The disengagement process typically involves discussing the success of the intervention, ensuring that clients have the resources and strategies they need going forward, and providing closure to the therapeutic relationship.

By effectively managing disengagement, social workers help clients feel empowered and confident in their abilities to cope after the formal services have ended. This approach aims to support clients in maintaining the changes they have made and minimizing the risk of returning to old patterns of behavior or dependence on services.

The other concepts presented—enhancing client-therapist relationships, evaluating client goals, and increasing client dependency—do not align with the established definition of disengagement in social work. Each plays a role in different aspects of practice but does not specifically address the conclusion of case management or therapy as disengagement does.