Mindfulness training as social work pedagogy: exploring benefits, challenges, and issues for consideration in integrating mindfulness into social work education
- Authors:
- GOCKEL Annemarie, DENG Xiaolei
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Religion and Spirituality in Social Work, 35(3), 2016, pp.222-244.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Mindfulness training is increasingly being integrated as a contemplative pedagogy in social work education. Social work educators are using mindfulness training to support student self-care, facilitate critical reflection and enhance dialogue around challenging topics, integrate spiritual and holistic perspectives, and to help students develop direct practice skills. In this article, the authors describe a course they developed, where mindfulness training is used as a means of enhancing student self-care and well-being. The authors draw on their own experience, student evaluations, and the existing literature to identify and reflect upon key considerations in introducing this innovative experiential pedagogy into the social work classroom. (Edited publisher abstract)
- Subject terms:
- mindfulness, social work education, self care, student social workers, wellbeing;
- Content type:
- research
- Link:
- Journal home page
- ISSN online:
- 1542 6440
- ISSN print:
- 1542 6432