Abstract
The current social work stress the participation and empowerment of the individual clients, families, target groups and communities as the most important principals. These approaches are firmly rooted in critical theory, humanistic and psycho-environmental psychology, theory of participatory democracy.
There are many examples in social work that present the practical application of these theories.. However, these practices are often threatened by the formal management and the related bureaucracy which emphasize economic criteria that are presented as the expert and efficient know-how.
Moreover, there are pressing tendencies of quantification and monetization of social intervention impacts that, in fact, often go against the participatory principles. The paper presents both theoretical principles and discuss the obstacles to implement participatory approaches.