In her doctoral dissertation Master of Health Psychology Justina Kievišienė maps what is present in practice at social worker’s support for people facing alcohol problems and where social worker’s could improve.

A national study of 149 Lithuanian social workers shows that professionals assisting people struggling with alcohol use combine consultation skills and emotional support with accepting the professional responsibilities and trusting in their knowledge to support individuals in such situations. The study claims that professionals’ attitudes towards individuals having alcohol usage problems, together with professional competencies, form the foundation of the Use of Self – which is understood as a dynamic process where self-awareness activates and integrates both attitudes and competencies into practice, enabling social workers to create effective support and build empowering, reflective relationships with clients.

Kievišienė’s doctoral dissertation also pinpoints several urgent development areas: enhancing secondary social work methods within this client group, strengthening professional resilience (to manage emotional strain and burnout risk), expanding community-level work, and improving work satisfaction—all of which are crucial for lasting change.

Why this matters for practice and public health

“Globally, social workers are recognized as central actors in alcohol misuse settings—not only for delivering care but for shaping recovery through relationship-based practice,” Kievišienė says.

In this context, attitudes and competencies are equally important alongside knowledge, as they determine how effectively evidence-based methods are applied.

Alcohol-related harm remains a major social and public health challenge in Lithuania, historically among Europe’s highest in consumption and mortality, despite recent policy successes. When social workers meet clients in non-specialist settings—municipal centres, family services, NGOs—their attitudes (motivation, satisfaction, role legitimacy and ect.) and competencies (consultation, emotional support, resilience, community work and more) influence the quality and effectiveness of interventions.

By bringing both attitudes and competencies into one evidence-based picture Kievišienė’s dissertation offers a practical roadmap for social work practice to be more effective, holistic, and responsive—helping professionals integrate self-awareness into everyday decisions and build empowering relationships that reduce stigma and improve outcomes for individuals and families.

Practical Applications

The study highlights several practical applications for strengthening social work with people facing alcohol-related challenges.

First, professional resilience can be enhanced through targeted programmes that focus on emotional regulation, high-quality supervision, and peer support. These approaches help build the kind of resilience that predicts stronger commitment and higher job satisfaction, especially in demanding client situations.

In addition, the findings emphasise the value of community-based methods. Expanding group work and broader community engagement can effectively complement individual casework, aligning with international recommendations that view community participation as a cornerstone of both prevention and recovery.

The dissertation also points to the need for more systematic alcohol-focused training within social work education. Integrating approaches such as motivational interviewing, SBIRT, and content related to role legitimacy and adequacy into mainstream curricula would better equip practitioners—particularly those who are not specialists but nonetheless encounter alcohol-related issues in their daily work.

Finally, the results underline the importance of advanced education. Professionals with Master’s-level qualifications demonstrate more positive attitudes in specific areas, reinforcing the case for embedding substance-use competencies in both basic training and ongoing professional development.

“Together, these insights provide a clear direction for strengthening social work practice—locally and globally—by integrating knowledge, attitudes, and competencies through self-awareness to achieve more effective, stigma-free support for individuals and families,” Kievišienė states.

Information on the public defence

The academic dissertation Use of self in social work with individuals having alcohol usage problems in Lithuan by Justina Kievišienė, Master of Health Psychology, will be publicly examined in the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Lapland on Friday 12 February 2026 starting at 12:00 (pm) (UTC +2) in Lecture hall B127 (the main building of the University of Lapland, address: Yliopistonkatu 8, Rovaniemi, Finland).

The opponent is professor Johanna Kallio, University of Turku. The custos is professor Merja Laitinen, University of Lapland.

The language of the event is English.

Information on the doctoral candidate

Justina Kievišienė is a psychologist and researcher specialising in alcohol use and mental health. She completed her Master’s studies in Health Psychology at Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas and is currently a PhD candidate in Social Work at the University of Lapland. Her research integrates quantitative methods, mental health assessment, and practice-based evidence to advance understanding of alcohol-related behaviours and psychological well-being.

Further information

Justina Kievišienė
justina.kievisiene@gmail.com

Information on the publication

Kievišienė, Justina (2026) Use of self in social work with individuals having alcohol usage problems in Lithuan. Acta electronica Universitatis Lapponiensis 424 University of Lapland, Rovaniemi. ISBN 978-952-337-524-6, ISSN 1796-6310.

Permanent address of the electronic publication: https://urn.f/URN:ISBN:978-952-337-524-6