This book has two principal purposes: to provide an introduction to interpersonal helping in the context of social work practice, and to develop a conceptual framework for interpersonal helping-called social treatment-that will enable the social worker and members of other helping professions effectively to use all the various methods and strategies currently practiced. The book offers an orderly and systematic way of proceeding through a complex and often confused area of practice; in it, large issues-such as remediation versus prevention-are explored, along with concrete suggestions for intervention with individuals, families, and small groups.