The Sociologist in Private Practice / Roger A. Straus.

The nature of professional sociological roles and the problems faced by the clinical sociologist are addressed. Professional sociologists are those whose primary occupational identity is that of counselor, consultant, or administrator working in a non-academic setting. Clinical sociology is defined as counseling or other actions for intervention to alter, influence, and change social process and/or structures at any level of social organization. These levels include the individual and intimate group; the organization, agency, corporation or other bureaucratic organization; and the community or entire society. Most clinical sociologists seek to restore people to control or power over these processes and structures. Two problems face the practicing sociologist: the extent of the practioner's power over the client and the irony of selling services on the marketplace. The clinician can check abuse of his/her power over the client through minimal intervention and through providing the client with means for continued self-management. The second problem forces the practitioner to confront the ethical dilemma of how one can sell services and continue to help the client. The conclusion is that the freedoms of private practice outweigh the disadvantages and compensate for the difficulties in establishment. (Author/KC)

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