40 The Life Model of Social Work Practice Competency 1 Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior • Make ethical decisions by applying standards of the NASW Code of Ethics, relevant laws and regulations, models for ethical decision making, ethical conduct of research, and additional codes of ethics as appropriate to context. • Use reflection and self-regulation to manage personal values and maintain professionalism in practice situations. • Use technology ethically and appropriately to facilitate practice outcomes • Use supervision and consultation to guide professional judgment and behavior. 3. Integrated Model of Practice Life-modeled practice consists of six modalities: work with individuals, families, groups, and communities, organizational intervention, and legislative advocacy and political action. Throughout the text, we discuss and present examples that illustrate the interdependence of the modalities and the need for workers to move back and forth between them as clients’ needs require. Some skills are unique to one modality, but many of the skills and strategies presented in the chapter will be applicable across client populations and micro, mezzo, and macro practice. 4. Practitioner Style We introduce students to a critical assumption that underlies life-modeled practice, which is the importance of workers presenting themselves as real and genuine. Throughout the text, we present examples that illustrate how students can integrate science (knowledge, values, and skills of social work) and artistry (their unique personal style). 5. Working Relationship In life-modeled practice, the professional relationship is conceived as a human- istic partnership, with power differentials between partners reduced as much as possible in accordance with age, physical, emotional, and cognitive capacities, agency constraints, and other considerations. The working relationship shifts from subordinate recipient and superior expert to a relationship character- ized by mutuality and reciprocity. Workers seek to minimize social distance and differences in power between themselves and their clients by maintaining openness, honesty, and authenticity in the relationship.