Clinical Sociology is a creative, humanistic, rights-based and interdisciplinary specialisation that can improve life situations (with assessment and intervention) for individuals and groups around the world. Clinical sociologists have many areas of expertise including environmental protection, challenging social inequalities, counselling, improving health policies and prevention strategies, social and economic community development, disaster management, community organising, as well as needs assessment and evaluation research.

Clinical Sociology for Southern Africa is the first volume to focus on developments in the field of clinical sociology in and for Southern Africa. Edited by two well-known senior scholar-practitioners, the book features the work of 17 authors – including Eddie Webster, Jacklyn Cock, H.W. van der Merwe and Harold Wolpe - writing about social intervention in important areas such as work, family, counselling, organisations, ethics, conflict intervention and education.

There are at least three important historical emphases in sociology: science, humanities and sociological practice. Sociological practice - clinical and applied sociology - should be part of all university programmes and help make a difference in our communities at all levels. This book assists social scientists, practitioners and scholar-practitioners in Southern Africa, who are involved in or studying interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary social interventions, as well as those who are interested in developing clinical sociology initiatives, including courses, programmes and workshops.

Key Features and benefits

• Clinical Sociology is a creative, humanistic, rights-based and interdisciplinary specialisation that can improve life situations (with assessment and intervention) for individuals and groups around the world.
• Clinical sociologists have many areas of expertise including environmental protection, challenging social inequalities, counselling, improving health policies and prevention strategies, social and economic community development, disaster management, community organising, as well as needs assessment and evaluation research.

Support material

• MCQs, Case Studies, Lecturer Powerpoint slides

• Chapter 1: Clinical Sociology: A Global Perspective
• Chapter 2: Using your Sociological Imagination to Engage with Social Problems
• Chapter 3: Social Intervention
• Chapter 4: Clinical Sociology Research
• Chapter 5: Ethical Decision Making
• Chapter 6: Counselling Practice for Southern Africa
• Chapter 7: Families in Southern Africa: History, Context, and Interventions
• Chapter 8: Developing Resilient Organisations: The Importance of Analysis and Intervention
• Chapter 9: Rethinking the World of Work in Southern Africa: Building a Social Floor
• Chapter 10: Social Entrepreneurship, Unemployment, and the Gig Economy
• Chapter 11: Social Impact Assessment
• Chapter 12: Understanding health and health systems in Southern Africa
• Chapter 13: Harold Wolpe, The Freedom Charter and Educational Transformation
• Chapter 14: HW van der Merwe: Peacebuilder
• Chapter 15: Civil Society Interventions: The Role of Non-Governmental Organisations in Resolving Southern Africa’s Challenges
• Chapter 16: Social Policy Implementation: Analysing Selected Efforts for Adequate Housing in South Africa, Malawi, and Zimbabwe

There are at least three important historical emphases in sociology: science, humanities and sociological practice.  Sociological practice - clinical and applied sociology - should be part of all university programmes and help make a difference in our communities at all levels.  This book assists:

• social scientists
• practitioners and scholar-practitioners in Southern Africa

who are involved in or studying interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary social interventions, as well as those who are interested in developing clinical sociology initiatives, including courses, programmes and workshops.