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Mindfulness and Social Work: Paying Attention to Ourselves, Our Clients, and Society

Steven F Hick

Mindfulness and Social Work June 1, 2009 DOI: 10.1093/oso/9781933478609.003.0001 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed
Topics Meditation
Key points Proposes that mindfulness can help social workers by fostering understanding of psychological and sociological experiences, enabling more thoughtful responses, and reducing habitual reactions. Identifies three applications: self-care, direct practice intervention across micro, mezzo, and macro levels, and improving the therapeutic relationship.

Abstract

Abstract What is mindfulness? What are its foundations, and how can it help social workers in their practice? Mindfulness is an orientation to our everyday experiences that can be cultivated by means of various exercises and practices. By opening up in a particular way to their internal and external experiences, social workers and clients are better able to understand what is happening to them in both a psychological and sociological sense. With this understanding, people are better able to see the variety of ways in which they can respond. Habitual reactions are more easily avoided, and inner peace and balance are developed. Social workers are increasingly using aspects of mindfulness in three ways: (1) as a means of self-care, looking inward, and cultivating mindfulness within themselves; (2) directly in their practice as an intervention within micro-practice (direct intervention with individuals, families, and groups) and in mezzo- and macro-practice (community work and policy); and (3) as a means to positively affect the helping or therapeutic relationship between social worker and client.

Comparable studies

Other theoretical and historical papers on meditation, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. 2004 Theoretical or philosophical paper
Mechanisms of mindfulness 2005 Theoretical or philosophical paper
How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective 2011 Theoretical or philosophical paper
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression 2006 Theoretical or philosophical paper
Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART): a framework for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness 2012 Theoretical or philosophical paper

Citations in the library

Cited by 4

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