Promovarea sănătăţii mintale şi supervizarea: condiţii de bază ale profesionalizării muncii asistenţilor sociali în relaţia lor cu benficiarii [Promoting Mental Health and Supervision: the Basics of Professional Social Work in Relation with Clients]

The paper is built on the idea that mental health issues are paramount for professionalizing social work. The concern for social worker’s mental health represents a priority, analyzed here from two points of view: on one hand, working with clients requires emotional involvement (relation work) from the part of the social worker; on the other hand, the helper must manage not only his or her own problems but also those of the clients. Further, our interest for mental health derives from the fact that any form of intervention at individual, family, group or community level aims to harmonize social functioning and mental health. To accomplish their goal, social workers need supervision. The study presents a model in which both the premises – at the level of the social worker – and the results of the work – at the level of the client – are directed towards mental health. Its achievement is only possible via supervision.

Keywords: mental health – supervision – model of work and professional preparation for promoting activities concerning mental hygiene through supervision