Dissertations / Theses: 'Critical social work and spirituality'

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D'Amico, Melissa, and s2006851@student rmit edu au. "Critical postmodern social work and liberation spirituality." RMIT University. Global Studies, Social Science and Planning, 2008. http://adt.lib.rmit.edu.au/adt/public/adt-VIT20080722.143340.

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This thesis explores the relationship between emancipatory politics and spirituality, and what this has to offer a critical postmodern approach to social work. At the centre of this thesis is a focus on forming a connection between critical postmodern social work theory and liberation spirituality. Liberation spirituality is a framework proposed by Joel Kovel which has at its heart connects emancipation and spirituality. My first chapter outlines my research approach. Chapter two explores the diversity and complexity of spiritual meanings, examines the influence of the western context on spirituality, analyses the relationship between language and spirituality, and outlines my assumptions in relation to spirituality. Chapter three examines the historical and social context influencing social workers' engagement with spiritual issues. It also explores the engagement of current social work literature with issues of spirituality. Chapters four and five consider distinctions between critical social work in the modernist tradition, and critical postmodern social work. This establishes why critical postmodern social work approaches are more suited to engage with spiritual issues. The conceptual connection between critical postmodern social work and liberation spirituality is explored in chapter six and chapter seven. The latter in particular includes a detailed examination of the relationship between emancipatory politics and spirituality. The thesis concludes in chapter eight by analysing implications of this conceptual connection.

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Moss, Bernard. "Spirituality, social work education and workplace well-being : towards a critical framework." Thesis, Staffordshire University, 2011. http://eprints.staffs.ac.uk/1869/.

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Although social work as an international profession has begun to take spirituality seriously as part of its professional discourse and commitment to best practice, in the UK there has been considerable reluctance to regard it positively. This thesis argues for a comprehensive understanding of spirituality that relates to deep, human themes including meaning and purpose, mystery and awe, concepts which are by no means limited to, or restricted by, religious perspectives. Spirituality, it is argued, is ‘what we do to give expression to our chosen world-view’, and as such is an all-encompassing concept that helps us understand and appreciate the positive and negative aspects of humanity. The author builds upon and develops existing theoretical perspectives to demonstrate the relevance of spirituality to the professional social work discourse. A ‘co-creative’ /action research methodology was adopted to enable key ‘players’ in social work education and practice (students, academics, practitioners, service users and carers) to ‘co-create’ and own a theoretical framework that would enable spirituality fulfil a key role in the social work curriculum. The author’s new strap-line for social work -celebrating diversity with social justice - argues for an understanding of spirituality that is all-encompassing in its scope, and recognises the ways in which spirituality can be both a positive and negative influence at a wider level in society. His discussion of the key concept of authentic and inauthentic spirituality demonstrates its relevance to the core social work values of anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive practice. The discussion of workplace well-being in the thesis is a further distinctive development of the author’s understanding of spirituality and the contribution it can make to social work theory and practice.

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Austin, Marne Leigh. "Nomadic Subjectivity and Muslim Women: A Critical Ethnography of Identities, Cultures, and Discourses." Bowling Green State University / OhioLINK, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1371657565.

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Abrahamson, Kimberly. "SPIRITUALITY IN SOCIAL WORK: A SOCIAL WORKERS PERSPECTIVES ON THE ROLE OF SPIRITUALITY WITHIN THEIR PRACTICE." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2019. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/902.

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The purpose of this study is to examine the role of spirituality in the social work practice and social worker’s perspective on it. This project focuses on spirituality in social work and the role that it plays in a social workers practice. The data collected for this research project consists of qualitative data in which the researcher conducted one-on-one interviews of eight different clinical professionals in the social work field. The study employed a purposive sampling by recruiting LCSW’s, MSW’s, ASW’s, and other clinical professionals in the Northern California area. The average years of experience amongst the participants was 19.375 years. Each participant has a broad range of experience from individual clinical one-on-one counseling, working with groups, and supervision.

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Rocke, Catherine Ruth. "Spirituality and social work, a group intervention." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1998. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/tape15/PQDD_0011/MQ32237.pdf.

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Fjelstrom, Jo. "Spirituality and atheist social work students| Contributions for curriculum content on spirituality." Thesis, Colorado State University, 2016. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10138058.

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The purpose of this constructivist study was to gain information about a criterion sample of atheist social work students concerning their experiences and perspectives of spirituality and curriculum content on spirituality. Most of the twenty-two participants formed their atheist worldviews against the tide of a religious upbringing, primarily due to their assessment of a dissonance between their evaluations of reality and religious beliefs. From the findings and the literature, suggestions are made for curriculum content on spirituality: (a) educators should frame worldviews as constructions and treat mystical elements as cultural phenomena; (b) content should have a professional focus with academically appropriate content; (c) curriculum content should be planned around the goal of training social work students to effectively address issues about worldviews in practice; (d) inclusive language and content should be utilized that covers all worldviews, including atheist and other naturalist worldviews; (e) biases, stereotypes, and privilege should be addressed and countered; (f) specific dialogic techniques should be developed for use in the classroom; (g) educators who will teach content on worldviews should have specific training for teaching material on spirituality and worldviews; and (h) a task force should be formed to create guidelines for curriculum content on spirituality.

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Vera, Adriana, and Elena Marie Rendon. "THE ROLE OF SPIRITUALITY IN MEDICAL SOCIAL WORK." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2019. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/857.

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Incorporating spiritually-involved interventions into the treatment process for chronically ill patients is a trending subject in the field of medical social work. Literature suggests the integration of spirituality with patients diagnosed with a chronic medical illness appear to influence patient’s resiliency level. However, the lack of information and knowledge on the topic suggests medical social workers are still in the process of learning how to utilize spirituality as a form of intervention. This study explores how medical social workers in the Inland Empire perceive the practice of spirituality on resilience levels in adults diagnosed with a chronic medical illness. The data is collected through audio recordings from individual interviews with each participant. The audio recordings are transcribed into transcripts to identify themes and common categories among the participants. The results analyzed call for future research to continue on how to incorporate spirituality into the social work practice in the Inland Empire.

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Lusung, Daisy. "SPIRITUALITY AND WORK RELATED STRESS IN SOCIAL WORKERS." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2018. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/673.

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Social workers are subjected to experiencing job related stress due to high case loads, the severity of client cases, and vicarious trauma. In order to cope with these job stresses, it would be conducive for social workers to find alternatives to coping with job related stress. Practicing spirituality can be seen in many forms relating to religion, cultural practices, prayers, meditation, and to be one with nature to say the least. This research will explore the correlation between spirituality and job related stress among social workers. Quantitative data has been gathered amongst 133 social workers who have participated in answering the spirituality inventory and job stress questionnaire. Results from this data finds that spirituality brings forth positive attributes such as reducing stress and burnout. Furthermore, there is a negative correlation between spirituality and job stress. The greater spirituality is linked to lower levels of job stress. Therefore, it is vital to utilize spirituality as it may help with self care and lead to greater longevity in the social work field.

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Sierra, Marisol. "LEVELS OF COMFORT WITH SPIRITUALITY AMONG SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2016. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/318.

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This research study examined the spirituality comfort levels amongst social work students. This study examined 48 social work students who participated in this study with most participants being Hispanic females, however, there were other various participants. Quantitative research was used for this study by handing out surveys to Master of Social Work students at California State University, San Bernardino. Students were asked to state their opinions and views to the following: spirituality in social work practice, spirituality and professional interventions, need for spirituality education and training, personal ideology, and demographics. The results of this study suggest that students are open and comfortable with the idea of spirituality in social work practice, however, they are uncomfortable when applying concrete terms and ideology to practice. This is due to the fact that students have stated they are not satisfied with their spirituality education and need more of it to integrate it into practice. Students have stated they have not received the proper spirituality education needed to serve clients, and are willing to enroll in spirituality integration classes for further professional growth.

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Chavez, Stacey Lynn. "Spirituality and coping with Master's of Social Work education." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2003. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/2420.

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This study explored how students utilized spirituality as an effective coping mechanism for the stress they faced while in the Master's of Social Work program at California State University, San Bernardino. A stress and spirituality scale was used to measure each student's spirituality and perceived stress. Most students stated that spirituality and religious activity was helpful in coping with the stress of the MSW program. In addition, spirituality was found to have a strong positive impact on a person's abilities to cope with the stress of the program.

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Sasso, Matthew. "SPIRITUALITY OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELORS." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2018. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/669.

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The purpose of this study is to understand the impact of spirituality among substance abuse counselors for those who in the recovery process. The research demonstrates the effectiveness of how personal beliefs of substance abuse counselors influence the treatment experience. This study uses a qualitative post positivist paradigm to study the impact of practitioners’ personal beliefs towards spirituality in the treatment of clients. It addresses essential factors from a spiritual and religious framework and reveals the consideration of personal beliefs of substance abuse counselors and its impact on the treatment experience of an individual’s recovery. The content of the research is derived from personal experience and then interpreted through reason and logic to understand the layers of spirituality and religion. The results of this analysis can be used to illustrate the impact that spirituality has within the field of substance abuse treatment.

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El-Amin, Cheryl W. "Personal and professional spirituality: Muslim social workers' perspectives." ScholarWorks, 2009. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/676.

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Research in the area of religion and spirituality in social work practice is lacking minority practitioner representation. This phenomenological study explored the questions of how American Muslim social workers define and experience the religious/spiritual, and perceive the propriety of integrating either, in practice. Ibn Khaldun and Durkheim, early social theorists, suggested that group feeling and affiliation impact personal and professional perception and decision making. American societal views of Muslims are often negative and uninformed. A group of 15 Muslim practitioners with bachelor's or more advanced degrees in social work were recruited through a survey administered via an Internet survey site. In depth telephone interviews were conducted that clarified personal and professional descriptions and experiences of the religious/spiritual. Transcript statements were critically reviewed for range of meaning (horizonalization) and reduced to their thematic essences following the phenomenological thematic analysis paradigm. Trustworthiness of the study was verified through ongoing bracketing of the researcher's assumptions and maintenance of a data collection journal. Findings indicated that participants favored a client-centered approach based on the social work standard of self determination. Most participants differentiated and acknowledged the value of spirituality more than religion in practice. Practitioners, cognizant of possible negative interpretations of Muslims and Islam, rely on the client to initiate religious themes in therapy. This finding suggests the need for future study of client views. Implications for social change are evidenced in the clients' assurance that Muslim practitioners' professional integration of the religious/spiritual is client driven and bound by competent social work ethical practice.

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Sills, Deborah Elaine. "The prevalence of utilization of spirituality in clinical counseling." DigitalCommons@Robert W. Woodruff Library, Atlanta University Center, 2002. http://digitalcommons.auctr.edu/dissertations/2135.

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The purpose of this study was to ascertain the prevalence of the utilization of spirituality in clinical counseling and the need for spirituality to be integrated into counseling curriculums. The study was based on the premise that the prevalence of the utilization of spirituality is based on one's formal training, experience, knowledge, perception, and personal stressors. The researcher investigated five independent variables: formal training, experience, knowledge, perception, and personal stressors. These variables were examined in relation to clinical counselors' prevalence of utilization of spirituality in counseling. The following demographic variables were also analyzed: gender, race, education, license, employment, work experience, work setting, and annual income. The investigation included a review and critique of related literature. Primary variables addressed included the following: the use of spirituality, formal training, experience, knowledge, perceptions, and personal stressors.

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Pelayo, Aida Araceli. "BELIEFS ABOUT RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY AMONG SOCIAL WORKERS." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2016. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/334.

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The present study focused on the social workers perspectives regarding the integration of religion and spirituality in therapy. Understanding these components will expand the knowledge of social workers and it will enhance the therapeutic relationship among clients and clinicians. It also allows social workers to provide a comprehensive service to a multicultural and diverse population. In order to provide a holistic approach, social workers need to address the issues of clients through a biopsychosocial perspective that includes religion and spirituality. For the most part, religious and spiritual people use these components in their daily lives to cope with unanswerable questions of life. Then, social workers may utilize these concepts as coping mechanisms when treating clients. Eight participants provided their professional experiences regarding the integration of religion and spirituality in therapy and its effectiveness. Participants for this study average 17.6 years of experience. Participants have extensive experience in providing individual counseling and group therapy. Participants are from various educational background, ethnicity, age and gender.

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Garcia-Irons, Alexis. "THE PLACE OF SPIRITUALITY IN SOCIAL WORK: PRACTITIONERS’ PERSONAL VIEWS AND BELIEFS." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2018. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/656.

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ABSTRACT The integration of spirituality in Social Work is on the rise, but due to the lack of literature on spiritually-involved interventions and applicable integration of spirituality into ones practice, literature suggests social workers do not feel competent or confident in this area of practice. This study explores the attitudes and beliefs of social workers in San Bernardino County towards spirituality in their own practice and social work overall. The data is collected through audio recording individual interviews with each participant, which are then transcribed into transcripts. The transcripts are coded for themes and commonalities among the participants. Results lay the foundation for further research and conversation regarding spirituality and how to further integrate or continue integrating it into social work practice in San Bernardino County.

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Starnino, Vince. "Religion, spirituality, and social work education : taking the next step." Thesis, McGill University, 2001. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=32830.

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Despite calls for increased attention to religion and spirituality in social work education and practice, the topic remains a neglected area. This small exploratory study seeks to examine barriers that cause religion and spirituality to continue to be on the periphery in social work education. Involved are six faculty members, teaching a range of social work courses. Insights into some of the controversial issues that arise in the classroom when religion and spirituality are discussed are offered. Findings suggest a lack of uniformity in teaching approaches, indicating that educators may be unclear about how to address the topic.

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Coholic, Diana School of Social Work UNSW. "Exploring spirituality in feminist practices - emerging knowledge for social work." Awarded by:University of New South Wales. School of Social Work, 2001. http://handle.unsw.edu.au/1959.4/17873.

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This research study investigates self-identified feminist social workers??? conceptualizations of spirituality, how spirituality influences their practices, and their ideas about the effects of spiritually influenced practice. There is increasing interest in exploring and considering spirituality across social work approaches, accompanied by a strong demand for empirical research and the development of knowledge in this area. The past few years in particular have witnessed an expanding social work literature that discusses the incorporation of spirituality into practice. In this thesis spirituality refers to a complex construct that can be deeply personal and/or communal, and that can encompass a sense of connection with something bigger that transcends ordinary life experience. In order to examine spirituality in the context of feminist social work practice, the goals of this study needed to be exploratory and demanded the use of a qualitative methodology. In-depth individual interviews were conducted with twenty experienced direct practice social workers. Grounded theory analysis of the interview data uncovered surprising and significant convergences amongst research participants??? beliefs, values and practices. These unexpected commonalities invited a further analysis of the data that produced a set of practice principles. These practice principles reflected the participants??? understandings of spirituality and basic values, their ideas about processes of spiritual development and beliefs about the spiritual essence of human life, and their spiritually influenced practice methods and relationships. The process of developing practice principles included further data collection through the written feedback of participants and the use of three focus groups. This second round of data collection and analysis extended and refined the practice principles. The practice principles are particularly relevant for social work because they are based in the participants??? collective practice wisdom and represent an important step towards helping to legitimize spiritual knowledge. The practice principles also have important implications for social work practice, education and research in that they can promote discussions about spirituality, guide practice, provide a base for the future development of spiritually influenced models and frameworks, and direct curriculum development.

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Ramos, Nancy, and Jessica Chavez. "FACTORS OF RESISTANCE: SPIRITUALITY AND RELIGION IN SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2019. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/870.

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The discussion of spirituality and religion (S/R) in social work is a prevalent topic within the field. Literature suggests that social workers do not feel competent or comfortable discussing or utilizing S/R in practice. This study focused on identifying factors that may be causing resistance in social workers from the Inland Empire of Southern California towards addressing S/R with their clients. The researchers interviewed eight social workers from diverse areas of practice via telephone and in-person. Data was collected via audio-recording and later transcribed for thematic analysis. Participants were asked an array of questions including their own experience with their spirituality and current comfort level with asking their clients about S/R. Through the findings, it appears that social workers’ comfort level stems from various aspects including a sense of unease regarding their knowledge on various belief systems. The results indicated that once clients are asked about their spiritual and/or religious beliefs, clients are able to engage in a discussion about their definition of their own beliefs and determine the direction of the topic.

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Barker, Stacey L. "How Social Work Practitioners Understand and Utilize Spirituality in the Practice Context." Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies / OhioLINK, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1207085353.

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Canda, Edward R. "A conceptualization of spirituality for social work : its issues and implications." The Ohio State University, 1986. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1239808378.

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Wuest, Leslie Grace. "Factors Associated with Inclusion of Spirituality in Secular Social Work Education." PDXScholar, 2009. https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds/301.

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In a diverse society, social work practitioners must be able to work with and respect people from a wide variety of cultures and ethnicities and with different value systems and ideological perspectives, including spiritual or religious beliefs. Accordingly, social work education has begun to incorporate the topic of spirituality. This study builds upon previous studies by Dudley and Helfgott (1990) and Sheridan et al. (1994) which focused on views of faculty members regarding spirituality in social work education and support for a course on spirituality in the social work curriculum. This study goes on to examine inclusion of spirituality in general social work courses. The study involved a survey of social work faculty members who teach courses in direct practice, human development, and diversity, with a response rate of 52% (N = 222). The 40-item web survey replicated items regarding faculty views about spirituality and social work, and measures of personal experience with spirituality from Sheridan's (1994) survey. Items regarding faculty and student inclusion of spirituality, classroom management strategies, and discussion outcomes were original to this study.Results showed that in addition to 9 faculty who teach courses in spirituality, 75.1% of faculty members surveyed report a moderate or substantial discussion of spirituality in half of the courses they teach. Multiple regression analyses showed an association of faculty inclusion of spirituality to student inclusion and constructive discussions of spirituality, the school offering a separate course on spirituality, female gender, and full time status (p < .001). Faculty-reported student inclusion of spirituality was associated with faculty inclusion, conflictual discussions, constructive discussions, and use of classroom rules (p < .001). Constructive discussions of spirituality were associated with use of modeling and facilitation, faculty inclusion, and student inclusion of spirituality (p < .001). Several path models were compared using AMOS software. Results suggest that when faculty members include spirituality, students are more likely to discuss the topic. Faculty members report frequently including the topic of spirituality in the content of general social work courses. Classroom rules are related to increased student participation, and modeling and facilitation promote constructive discussion of spirituality.

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Rukambe, Zeldah U. "Spirituality and social work in the Namibian mental health practice: Guidelines for social workers." University of the Western Cape, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/11394/7056.

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Philosophiae Doctor - PhD
The aim of the study was to develop guidelines for social workers to be spiritually sensitive in their mental health practice. Spirituality in Namibia is an important part of the culture of the individuals that are served by social workers, as well as other caring professionals. For many, spirituality influences how they perceive their world. Spirituality is an important strength for individuals to manage their life challenges and for Namibians living with mental illness, spirituality is a source of comfort and strength during the recovery treatment process. However, the researcher determined that there is scant literature on the conceptualisation and utilisation of spirituality in the Namibian social work context and specifically among social work professionals’ practice with mentally-ill patients. Consequently, case studies were conducted to explore how Namibian social workers understand and utilise spirituality in their mental health practice, with the aim to develop guidelines for the practice. The research process was conducted in two phases. Phase one focussed on informationgathering through a scoping review, as well as two case studies through in-depth individual interviews. After the completion of the first phase of analysis, the data from the scoping review and the interviews were shared with the participants for the development of the guidelines. Phase two comprised two 1-day workshops for the purpose of developing guidelines for practice. The draft guidelines developed in the first 1-day workshop were forwarded for review to African experts in spirituality and social work from the University of the Witwatersrand and the Nelson Mandela University. The research participants for both the in-depth individual interviews and the workshops were social work practitioners who were or had been employed at the two mental health hospitals in Namibia. A purposive, non-probability sampling method was employed to select the participants for the research sample.

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Barker, Stacey L. "How social work practitioners understand and utilize spirituality in the practice contexts." online version, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view.cgi?acc%5Fnum=case1207085353.

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Vera, Cathy. "Coping through mindfulness and spirituality| A grant proposal project." Thesis, California State University, Long Beach, 2015. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=1605179.

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The purpose of this project was to locate a potential funding source and write a grant proposal to fund a mindfulness-based therapy program, entitled Coping through Mindfulness and Spirituality, for adults experiencing depression at Alma Family Services in Los Angeles County, California. A literature review was conducted to examine topics related to mindfulness and spirituality and their usefulness in coping with symptoms of depression. The purpose of the proposed program was to decrease depressive symptoms using Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT). The grant was written to the Weingart Foundation. The actual submission or funding for this grant proposal was not a requirement for the successful completion of the project.

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Granter, Edward. "Critical social theory and the end of work." Thesis, University of Salford, 2007. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.493516.

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This PhD research examines the development and sociological significance of the idea that work is being eliminated through the use of automated production technology. After examining historically, culturally and theoretically contested definitions of the concept of work, it looks at the idea of the abolition of work in Utopian writing, from More to Morris. Next, the argument that Karl Marx, perhaps surprisingly, can be seen as the quintessential end of work theorist, is presented.

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Fraser, Elizabeth Antoinette. "Religion and spirituality in social work practice with older adults: A survey of social workers." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2001. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/1955.

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Michelle, Katrina. "Exploring Resistance to Spiritual Emergence| A Heuristic Inquiry." Thesis, Sofia University, 2017. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10600590.

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Spiritual emergence is a natural part of the human developmental experience. The process is unique to each individual and may gradually unfold or suddenly arise. Yet, because there is no mainstream cultural framework to provide context for the broad spectrum of anomalous experiences that may occur within it, there can be resistance to the process. The purpose of this exploratory study was to elucidate the phenomenon of spiritual resistance within the spiritual emergence process. Using the heuristic method, 18 participants who self-identified as having experienced spiritual resistance were interviewed. Based on data gathered through this research, 5 types of spiritual resistance and 11 ways of overcoming it were named. Spiritual resistance has both a protective and inhibiting function. Although at times it may serve to stifle the progression of spiritual development, it may also be the intermediary in protecting the ego from the tumultuous process experienced during spiritual emergency.

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Goss, Glenn R. "Participatory action research on emerging practice in psychosocial interventions for survivors of religious persecution." Thesis, Capella University, 2016. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10038389.

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Religious persecution is a part of daily life for most of the world’s population. Religious freedom is elusive for many and the effect of violent religious persecution is potentially debilitating and traumatic. Despite research in the areas of refugee trauma and genocide studies, there is a lack of best practice methodology for psychosocial interventions on behalf of survivors of political and religious persecution. A literature review reveals both a lack of research in terms of best practice for this sub-group and a potential for consensus-based and participatory action research for best practice and staff team empowerment. A participatory action research framework was developed to enable our diverse, international staff trauma team and partners to work toward an inclusive, participative, consensus process leading to a collective narrative and action planning. The data collection and analysis included a consensus process, individual interviews, a focus group, field notes and document review. The joint analysis and narratives were presented as a written narrative with emerging themes that included: narrative and story, community and culture and identity and reconnection. The process allowed previously marginalized staff, voices from the Global South, to emerge along with staff of Western countries. Finally, action planning proposed organizational and community of practice change based on the emerging practice consensus and illuminative narratives.

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Bay, Uschi Ursula, and uschi bay@deakin edu au. "The Politics of Empowerment in Australian Critical Social work." RMIT University. Global Studies, Social Science and Planning, 2008. http://adt.lib.rmit.edu.au/adt/public/adt-VIT20080821.152656.

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Critical social workers seek to practice in empowering ways with marginal groups and to transform power relations in organisations and society generally. This thesis explores how Foucault's theorising has been used by Australian critical social workers to think about power and empowerment practice. However there are many authors who contest that Foucault's theorising is useful for any kind of liberatory thinking or practice. This makes the use of Foucault's insights on power to re-formulate empowerment practice contestable. In this study I aim to draw distinctions between aspects of Foucault's work that can make a contribution to empowerment practice and those aspects that do not or cannot assist critical social workers to think about empowerment. To draw these theoretical distinctions is particularly timely, as the term

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Choi, Moo Youl. "Korean Presbyterianism and social work: a critical analysis of the social work of four presbyterian denominations." Thesis, Oxford Centre for Mission Studies, 1996. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.421115.

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Jester, Vickie Marie. "A study of the perceptions of depression, spirituality, and treatment among African Americans." DigitalCommons@Robert W. Woodruff Library, Atlanta University Center, 2010. http://digitalcommons.auctr.edu/dissertations/150.

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This study examines the perceptions of depression, spirituality, treatment modalities including both traditional and nontraditional treatments among African Americans. Two hundred and four respondents were selected for this study utilizing non-probability convenience sampling. The survey participants were composed of African Americans who attended a large metropolitan Atlanta Christian church and self-reported no history of being clinically/medically diagnosed with depression. The survey questionnaire consisted of a demographic information section and questions that defined the four variables, depression, spirituality, traditional treatment and nontraditional treatment. The responses were measured in a four point Likert scale. Phi ( ϕ) test statistic was used to test the strength of the relationships among the variables. The chi-square test statistic used to test statistical significance of the results. The findings of the study indicated that eighty percent of the participants did not report depressive symptoms. Women reported more depressive symptoms than men. Spirituality was reported as being important in managing depression. However, the majority of the survey respondents would not seek or use traditional or nontraditional treatments for depression. There was a significant statistical difference in the report of depressive symptoms between men and women. Women reported more depressive symptoms. There were no significant differences in the responses among African American men and women in regards to spirituality, traditional and non-traditional treatments.

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Godoy, Andrew, and Nathan Allen. "DOES SPIRITUALITY REDUCE THE EFFECTS OF BURNOUT?" CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2017. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/478.

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Burnout is a topic that is drawing an increasing amount of attention in the social work field. The compassion and emotional energy that is used daily by these service providers can cause them to experience emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment. The effects of burnout are detrimental on several levels. Staff will experience decreased interest and efficiency in their work and may even leave their place of employment. Clients will not receive the help that they require and agencies will suffer from staff turnover and lowered productivity. Utilizing a survey including a burnout inventory and spirituality inventory, data was gathered regarding burnout and the spiritual attitudes and practices of 133 service providers. Results show that there is a negative significant relationship between depersonalization and spirituality. There was a positive significant relationship between personal accomplishment and spirituality. The correlation showed that personal accomplishment was negatively related to emotional exhaustion as well as depersonalization. These results are consistent with the literature in the way that it demonstrates that the use of spiritual beliefs and practices can reduce the effects of burnout on social workers.

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Lee, Debra A. "The Role of Relationships During Chronic Critical Illness." Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies / OhioLINK, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1307657748.

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Pandya, Samta. "Faith, spirituality and social work education : deliberating guru-led and Hindu-inspired faith movements." Thesis, University of Warwick, 2016. http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/89102/.

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This thesis presents a reflection on a series of published papers which attempt to explore, in the systematic way, the interface between guru-led and Hindu-inspired faith movements, Indic spirituality and social work through conceptual and empirical considerations. The context of guru-led and Hindu-inspired faith movements, and their spirituality, has been explored through a meta-analysis, followed by qualitative studies of five contemporary guru-led movements and their distinctive styles of seva or social service – “mission”-isation; syncretism, lived religion and organised charity; millenarianism, post-apocalyptic vision and social service; humanity, divinity and service; and austerity, nationalism and service. This is followed by a study of followers/adherents who participate in social services of these guru-led and Hindu-inspired faith-movements and beneficiaries, through five fairly large datasets. The first dataset is on adherents of these movements and what motivates them to join, serve and gain. The second dataset is on followers of a particular new movement and how they derive their sense of well-being from the same. The third dataset is on beneficiaries of social initiatives of these movements and organisations. The fourth dataset is beneficiaries of a particular spiritual programme of the Art of Living Foundation called the Sudarshan Kriya. The fifth dataset is on a similar spiritual programme for adolescents and how it positively influences them. Theoretically it can be said that the adherents and beneficiaries together form a habitus of these movements. I finally discuss, through two published works in social work journals, as to how a specific spiritual technique of a guru movement and spirituality in general is perceived as having critical bearings for the social work discipline in the contemporary Indian and South Asian contexts. The structure of the thesis illustrates the progressive nature of the research and demonstrates how the component parts come together to form a cumulative and coherent case. The collection of works argues the following contentions, to make critical contributions to the domain knowledge of guru-led movements, faith, spirituality and social work. Guru-led and Hindu-inspired faith movements use social service as a legitimising trope. Guru-led and Hindu-inspired faith movements have implicit and explicit spiritual techniques, which accompany the social service/work package. Followers and beneficiaries of these movements gain materially and spiritually, which keeps them motivated to be aligned. This in turn contributes to the fellowship of guru-led movements. For the social work discipline, the phenomenon of guru-led movements is an important aspect to be paid attention to. Their social service engagements call for a need for working in or with guru-led movements as a part of social work practice horizon. With this focus, in the published works, implications for the discipline of social work are drawn out and made explicit. The power of a cumulative study using a range of empirical tools is shown.

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Parton, Nigel. "Social work, child protection and social theory : a critical review and analysis." Thesis, University of Huddersfield, 2000. http://eprints.hud.ac.uk/id/eprint/4879/.

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This PhD by publication consists of two single authored books, five single authored papers in refereed journals, five single authored papers and one joint authored paper in edited books and covers the period 1985-2000. Two central ongoing themes are identified in the work: (1) the analysis of changing policy and practice in relation to child abuse in the UK from the late 1960's onwards; and (2), the changing nature of social work, again mainly in the UK. The themes are overlapping and in relation to both a number of concepts and debates in social theory are drawn upon both to analyse the changes and to make a positive contribution to policy and practice, particularly in the area of child welfare social work.

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Boos, April Lynn. "The post-abortion experience| A content analysis." Thesis, California State University, Long Beach, 2015. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=1588586.

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The purpose of this thesis was to explore the written accounts of women post-abortion, the experiences they faced associated with abortion, and how they found resolution through faith. The study included a content analysis of 15 women's published essays about the factors involved in making the decision to terminate their pregnancy, the effects of their abortion from a bio/psycho/social/spiritual model, and how resolution was achieved. A literature review was conducted to understand abortion from a systems perspective and to examine the history of the abortion movement, policies that have developed surrounding the topic of abortion, social stigma, and the possible negative effects and coping strategies for post-abortive women. This exploration will support social work professionals by providing an overview of possible abortion experiences and in turn, help them to provide improved care to clients, such as providing educational services to women with unplanned pregnancies and appropriate support for post-abortive women.

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Rice, Sue. "The golden thread : an exploration of the relationship between social workers' spirituality and their social work practice /." [St. Lucia, Qld.], 2005. http://www.library.uq.edu.au/pdfserve.php?image=thesisabs/absthe18665.pdf.

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Combs-Orme, T., Donna J. Cherry, and T. Leffman. "Learning Through Writing: Critical Thinking Exercises." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2012. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/7656.

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Ovalle, Kim. "Spirituality-focused support groups for HIV positive Latinos| A grant-writing project." Thesis, California State University, Long Beach, 2015. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=1586878.

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The purpose of this project was to write a grant to fund spirituality-focused support groups for Latino adults who are HIV positive and their family members or significant others. The groups will provide a safe place for participants to receive additional education and support to enhance their coping skills and promote healthy ways to manage stress. An extensive literature review was conducted regarding traditional Latino cultures, including their emphasis on spirituality and communal support.

The Elton John AIDS Foundation was chosen as an appropriate funder. The groups will be provided in both English and Spanish through The LGBT Center OC. The Center is located in Orange County, California, where there are large numbers of HIV positive Latinos and few resources specifically designed to meet their needs. The actual submission of the grant application was not a requirement of the thesis project.

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Ikebuchi, Johnathan Haruo. "A critical exploration into professional socialization in social work education." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/50744.

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A review of the literature on professional socialization in social work indicates that social work education produces inconsistent results in terms of assisting students to acquire values of the profession presented to them within their course of study, and in forming a professional social work identity. Values have been considered central to developing social work professionals. However, historic schisms and conflict within the profession surrounding its primary practice methods used to actualize its mission and goals, often characterized as a micro-macro practice debate, have led to divisions in the profession with respect to accepted identities and ambiguity about what social work values should be held in esteem. Social work values are prioritized differently and tend to cluster differently around various theoretical and practice methods. Thus, there is a range of value orientations presented to students by the profession. It is also argued that there is a field of internal and external influences on personal change and the socialization of students. Factors internal to students that they bring to their education, and factors external to students within the profession and in the teaching and practice environments where students learn make socialization challenging and problematic. Transformative adult learning theory, as conceptualized by Jack Mezirow, is presented as a theory to demonstrate the difficulty of transforming values in general, and a possible method to assist in socialization, if all messages from the profession surrounding values and identity were clear and unified. A review of the major reasons, motivations and personal histories that bring students to social work is undertaken. Social work education, specifically field education located within the context of a hostile neoliberal socio-economic and political climate and its effect on the socialization of students is critiqued. Non-conscious and unconscious psychological processes of students in learning and change have been overlooked within the study of professional socialization in social work. This omission is salient to this discussion. Suggestions for future research are discussed.
Health and Social Development, Faculty of (Okanagan)
Social Work, School of (Okanagan)
Graduate

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de, Haymes Maria Vidal. ""Successful Minorities": A Critical Reexamination of the Cuban American Case." The Ohio State University, 1991. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1392059327.

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Vidal, de Haymes Maria. ""Successful minorities" : a critical reexamination of the Cuban American Case /." The Ohio State University, 1991. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1487759436326509.

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Boldi, Juliet Suzanne, and Jamileth Lara. "An exploration of the role of spirituality in recovery from alcoholism." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2000. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/1609.

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This study investigates the relationship between spirituality and recovery for alcohol abusers. The data was gathered by administering a survey questionnaire that explored background information, alcohol use and recovery, and spirituality.

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Webster, Paul. "A critical analytic literature review of virtue ethics for social work : beyond codified conduct towards virtuous social work." Thesis, University of Sussex, 2011. http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/7085/.

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This submission is based on a critical analytical literature review of the moral paradigm of virtue ethics and a specific application of this to social work value discourse in search of lost identity. It echoes the philosophical academy's paradigmatic wars between 'act' and 'agent' appraisals in moral theory. Act appraisal theories focus on a person's act as the primary source of moral value whereas agent appraisal theories - whether 'agentprior' or stricter 'agent-based' versions - focus on a person's disposition to act morally. This generates a philosophical debate about which type of appraisal should take precedence in making an overall evaluation of a person's moral performance. My starting point is that at core social work is an altruistic activity entailing a deep commitment, a 'moral impulse', towards the distressed 'other'. This should privilege dispositional models of value that stress character and good motivation correctly applied - in effect making for an ethical career built upon the requisite moral virtues. However, the neo-liberal and neo-conservative state hegemony has all but vanquished the moral impulse and its correct application. In virtue ethical language, we live in 'vicious' times. I claim that social work's adherence to act appraisal Kantian and Utilitarian models is implicated in this loss. Kantian 'deontic' theory stresses inviolable moral principle to be obeyed irrespective of outcome: Utilitarian 'consequentualist' theory calculates the best moral outcome measured against principle. The withering of social work as a morally active profession has culminated in the state regulator's Code of Practice. This makes for a conformity of behaviour which I call 'proto-ethical' to distinguish it from 'ethics proper'. The Code demands that de-moralised practitioners dutifully follow policy, rules, procedures and targets - ersatz, piecemeal and simplistic forms of deontic and consequentualist act appraisals. Numerous inquiries into social work failures indict practitioners for such behaviour. I draw upon mainstream virtue ethical theory and the emergent social work counter discourse to get beyond both code and the simplified under-theoretisation of social work value. I defend a thesis regarding an identity-defining cluster of social work specific virtues. I propose two modules: 'righteous indignation' to capture the heartfelt moral impulse, and 'just generosity' to mindfully delineate the scope and legitimacy of the former. Their operation generates an exchange relationship with the client whereby the social worker builds 'surplus value' to give back more than must be taken in the transaction. I construct a social work specific minimal-maximal 'stability standard' to anchor the morally correct expression of these two modules and the estimation of surplus value. In satisficing terms, the standard describes what is good enough but is also potentially expansive. A derivative social work practice of moral value is embedded in an historic 'care and control' dialectic. The uncomfortable landscape is one of moral ambiguity and paradoxicality, to be navigated well in virtue terms. I argue that it is incongruous to speak of charactereological social worker virtues and vices and then not to employ the same paradigm to the client's moral world. This invites a functional analysis of virtue. The telos of social work - our moral impulse at work - directs us to scrutiny of the unsafe household. Our mandate is the well-being of the putative client within, discoursed in terms of functional life-stage virtues and vicious circumstance. I employ the allegorical device of a personal ethical journey from interested lay person to committed social worker, tracking the character-building moral peregrinations. I focus on two criticisms of virtue ethics - a philosophical fork. It is said that virtue ethical theory cannot of itself generate any reliable, independently validated action guidance. In so far as it does, the theory will endorse an as-given, even reactionary, criterion of right action, making 'virtue and vice' talk the bastion of the establishment power holders who control knowledge. I seek to repudiate these claims. Given that this demands a new approach to moral pedagogy, the practical implications for the suitability and training of social workers are discussed.

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Rosenbohm, Clifford James Michael. "Perceptions and experiences of BSW students with religion and spirituality in social work education and practice." Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies / OhioLINK, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1301599325.

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Gilligan, Philip A., and Sheila M. Furness. "The role of religion and spirituality in social work practice: Views and experiences of social workers and students." Oxford University Press, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10454/2720.

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No
Findings from surveys of qualified social work practitioners and students indicate a need for social work education and practice to focus attention both on the importance of religious and spiritual beliefs in the lives of many service users and on the potential usefulness of religious and spiritual interventions. In this British study, undertaken in 2003 and 2004, students were less likely than their qualified colleagues to consider religious or spiritually sensitive interventions as appropriate. Attitudes varied little between those students who held religious beliefs and those who did not, but Muslim students and qualified social workers were more likely to view these types of interventions as appropriate. The authors conclude that there is a clear need for all social work practitioners and educators to give greater priority to exploring the potential significance of religious and spiritual beliefs in their training, in their professional practice and in the lives and perspectives of service users and colleagues. Social workers need to be able to respond appropriately to the needs of all service users, including those for whom religious and spiritual beliefs are crucial. `Culturally competent¿ practice depends, amongst other things, on an understanding and appreciation of the impact of faith and belief.

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Griffiths, Mark, and mark griffiths@jss org au. "Teaching Yoga in Addiction Recovery A Social Work Perspective." RMIT University. Global Studies, Social Science and Planning, 2007. http://adt.lib.rmit.edu.au/adt/public/adt-VIT20080215.161527.

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This thesis explores the personal and social challenges of teaching yoga in addiction recovery from a social work perspective. It is informed by an action research perspective using interviews and focus groups with yoga teachers and allied health professionals and the personal experiences of the researcher teaching yoga in an addiction recovery centre as well as a literature search on existing yoga and meditation programs used in addiction recovery and corrections. The research explores whether yoga could be applied as a complementary therapy in social work and how yoga assists in addiction recovery. Further it explores what programmatic requirements are needed for a constructive yoga program that addresses the needs of yoga teachers in this field and the participants who are very marginalised. The emerging themes and issues from the data and literature were explored and triangulation was used to draw one conclusion that was found consistently across all research methodologies. This was the importance of Kriya yoga. or the yoga of action, to achieve results with yoga as a complementary therapy. Kriya yoga has three elements: a commitment to regular practice, allowing time to reflect on how this practice is affecting your life and having faith in the yoga process. Undelying this notion of kriya yoga is the importance of the yoga teacher-student relationship and the value of a yoga community that supports the student in their commitment to practice. Recovery from addiction is viewed as a journey involving many stages in which the yoga student deals with relapses. The exemplary yoga programs are forms of karma yoga or the yoga of selfless action. The development of a karma yoga network that forms an on-line bridge between the yoga communities and addiction recovery services is suggested by the research as one way forward in promoting yoga as a complementary therapy in addiction recovery.

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Rush, Cecilia Jackson. "Hoping and coping: a descriptive study of the use of spirituality as a coping mechanism among African-American women who experience depression." DigitalCommons@Robert W. Woodruff Library, Atlanta University Center, 2002. http://digitalcommons.auctr.edu/dissertations/2162.

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This study describes the use of spirituality among African-American women who experience depression. A survey was used to obtain the data for this convenience study. The data were analyzed using SPSS and the findings are displayed using frequency tables. This researcher found that a large majority of African-American women experienced depression but did not seek professional counseling. The study also revealed that church attendance was reported among more than 90% of the participants. These findings suggest that a relationship with other unconventional venues is needed to reach this population.

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Waller, Henry. "Spirituality and aging." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2005. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/2885.

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Explores the beneficial effects and values that spirituality and religion present when addressing the elder population aged 60 and over. Also, examines the potential implications of integrating spirituality as a treatment model approach into direct social work practice and recommends possible changes for social work curriculum. Quantitative data was obtained through a convenience sampling to obtain a true representation of the population of residents in regions of San Bernardino County, California. Qualitative data was obtained through the use of open-ended questions that provided for greater validity, understanding and interpretation of spirituality and how external forces affect this population. Results indicate that elders 60 years and older with spiritual/religious values are better equipped to face the challenges of late life and report higher levels of satisfaction compared to elders that do not share the same ideals.

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Carlisle, Patricia A. "Meaning in distress : exploring religion, spirituality and mental health social work practice in Northern Ireland." Thesis, University of Stirling, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/1893/21736.

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This empirical study explores if, and how, religion and spirituality are relevant subjects for those experiencing mental distress in Northern Ireland (NI) and how, if at all, the subject is engaged with in mental health social work practice. Although there is some controversy in United Kingdom based research regarding the apparent benefit of religion and spirituality within mental health, service user research and literature suggests its importance within recovery. Literature on religion, spirituality and social work practice suggests the need to examine the social and political processes which persist around this subject in social work practice (Henery, 2003; Wong and Vinsky, 2009). This examination is appropriate given the role of religion within the political conflict in NI, the impact of the conflict upon social work practice (Campbell et al, 2013), the high incidence of mental ill health in NI and the apparent role of religion and spirituality within mental distress. This study considers how mental health social workers may engage with this subject within their practice not only as an aspect of service users’ identity but also within post conflict Northern Ireland. The study methodology and design drew upon narrative theory and grounded theory. I interviewed twelve mental health service users and twelve mental health social workers, and half of the participants from each group also took part in a follow-up telephone interview. All of the participants were invited to bring an object which expressed what religion and spirituality meant to them. Analysis explored the views and experiences of mental health service users and social workers about religion and spirituality, within specific aspects of the wider social field. Service user and social worker participants’ accounts suggested that whilst the role of religion and spirituality within mental distress was recognised, its inclusion in mental health social work practice was marked with questions of legitimacy. Some of these questions were explicitly framed within the conflict, whilst others were less so. The study found that although religion was associated with politics, sectarianism and violence, its role, and that of spirituality, as an aspect of identity and meaning-making, appeared to be underdeveloped. Two key findings are of particular note. 10 Firstly that service user participants had their own ‘hierarchy’ of religious and spiritual expression, which on occasion appeared to result in their being critical of other service users’ expressions. Secondly, some service users preferred to keep their spirituality to themselves as a strategy of empowerment. In addition the study also found that service users viewed the mental health professional relationship as focusing upon medical aspects of their care, for example physical health and medication management, with no scope to explore religion, spirituality and mental distress. Thus questions of legitimacy focused around the notion of privacy and whether talking about religion and spirituality within the mental health service user and social worker relationship was too sensitive, given its association with sectarianism. Furthermore, mental health service users were concerned about how a disclosure of religion and / or spirituality within mental distress would be viewed by the mental health professional: would it be viewed as indicative of deteriorating mental health? Overall the study identified a significant gap between how service users draw upon spirituality and / or religion within mental distress, and the space given to this within mental health social work practice. This gap is due to a myriad of factors ranging from the social worker’s biography, to wider issues around how religion and spirituality are conceptualised in contemporary society. This study also highlights the continuing impact of the Northern Ireland conflict on frontline social work provision. There is a need for policymaking to acknowledge the ambivalence that exists around spirituality and religion in mental health social work practice due to the conflict and other relevant factors. Finally, support is needed for practitioners and service users to acknowledge this aspect of mental well-being in a manner that gives service users choice about its inclusion in their mental health care.

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Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Critical social work and spirituality'

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