Advancing Psychodynamic-Based Clinical Social Work Practice to Address Structural Trauma

Integrating Neuroscience and Attachment Theory

Bibliographic Data

ID6452595
AuthorsHong (0000-0003-2306-0906), Sunghyun Hong (0000-0002-7632-9414, School of Social Work and Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, 1080 South University Avenue Sunghyun Hong, MS, MSW, is a PhD student, , Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA), J Michael Ribaudo, Julie M Ribaudo (School of Social Work, University of Michigan Julie M. Ribaudo, PhD, LMSW, IMH-E, is clinical professor, , Ann Arbor, MI, USA), Paige Safyer (School of Social Work, Arizona State University Paige Safyer, PhD, is assistant professor, , Phoenix, AZ, USA), Irene Routte (0000-0001-8645-676X), Irene E Routte (School of Social Work and Deparment of Anthropology Irene E. Routte, MSW, is a PhD student), Daphne C Watkins (0000-0002-6350-7891, School of Social Work, University of Michigan Daphne C. Watkins, PhD, is Letha A. Chadiha Collegiate Professor of Social Work, university diversity and social transformation professor, and professor of social work, , Ann Arbor, MI, USA)
Year2025
Volume70
Issue2
Pages121-130
Publication date2025-01-17
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSocial Work (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0037-8046 • E-ISSN: 1545-6846
PublisherOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1093/sw/swaf003
PMID39938564
OpenAlexW4407560674
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited60

Psychodynamic-based practice (PBP), including approaches informed by attachment theory, is a widely used therapeutic modality in clinical social work for addressing trauma. Yet, in some clinical spaces, PBP has faced challenges due to its process-oriented nature, particularly in an era that increasingly favors manualized, short-term interventions. Meanwhile, sociocultural neuroscience has emerged as a field providing evidence for trauma interventions. Recently, both clinical social work and sociocultural neuroscience have begun highlighting the impact of structural trauma on mental health and the need to alleviate harms stemming from experiencing such trauma. Integrating neuroscience insights and methods may offer an opportunity to enhance PBP in clinical social work practice, particularly in addressing structural trauma. This article reviews recent developments in sociocultural neuroscience that is relevant for clinical social work practice with clients who have experienced trauma, outlines how these insights can inform PBP grounded in attachment theory, and discusses the potential implication of integrating sociocultural neuroscience with PBP in addressing structural trauma underpinning the place attachment framework

Attachment theory · Mental health · Political science · Psychiatry · Psychodynamics · Psychological intervention · Psychotherapist · Sociocultural evolution · Sociology · Counseling, Therapy, and Family Dynamics · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health · Psychology · Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications · Social Work · Clinical Psychology

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