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Because of its focus on clients, Social Work often connects to Spirituality. When considering working with clients, social workers must be aware of spiritual elements and best practices for working within faith based environments.

Introduction[edit]

The National Association of Social Workers’ Code of Ethics makes two statements regarding the role of a social worker when considering a client’s religious and spiritual beliefs ^[1]. The first pertains to discrimination stating that "social workers should not practice, condone, or collaborate with any form of discrimination on the basis of...religion"^[1]. The second refers to cultural competency stating that "social workers should understand culture and its function in human behavior and society, recognizing the strength of all cultures" ^[1].

Along with that, the NASW Code of Ethics instructs social workers to demonstrate this cultural competency in their practice by "providing services that are sensitive to clients' cultures and differences among people and cultural groups" ^[1]. Overall, it encourages social workers to "obtain education and to seek to understand the nature of social diversity and oppression" ^[1]. All of these guidelines lead to social workers considering their own spirituality and considering the spiritual backgrounds of clients when developing their social work practice.

Spirituality in Macro Practice[edit]

Faith Based Community Organizing, is a common part of macro social work practice. Saul Alinsky, the father of community organizing stated, “To know a people is to know their religions. It is to know the values, objectives, customs, sanctions, and the taboos of these groups. It is to know them not only in term of their relationships and attitudes toward one another but also in terms of what relationship all of them have toward the outside.”^[2]

Activists are often inspired by religious teachings and reference spirituality in their practice. Some notable activists and community organizers using religion are Mahatma Gandhi who was inspired by his Hindu Faith; Martin Luther King Jr. who often referenced religion when conducting civil disobedience; Dorothy Day, a pioneer in the catholic movement who focused on pacifism. Many religious based organizations, such as the Direct Action and Research Training Center (DART) and the Catholic Worker Movement, incorporate religion and spirituality into their community organizing practices ^[3].

Overall, scholars have identified five major ways that spirituality supports community based social work ^[3].

Legitimization for protest rooted in sacred moral teachings, icons, and music, including love, justice, and peace
Self-discipline and sacrifice
Resources, including money and leadership
Institutionally based communications channels, hierarchical structures, and social control mechanisms.
Common identification and solidarity, including shared transnational identities beyond nations and languages.

Spirituality in interpersonal practice[edit]

Prior to psychiatry, counseling, and interpersonal practice, mental illness was often interpreted through a religious, moral, or existential lens^[4]. As therapeutic practice developed, psychologists Karl Jaspers and Carl Jung integrated aspects of spirituality into their psychiatry practice. Meanwhile, psychologists Sigmund Freud and B.F. Skinner took anti-religious stances in their psychiatry practice^[4].

The use and discussion of religion within counseling and therapeutic practice remains controversial. On one hand, "attention to religion can aid in the development of culturally competent and accessible services" ^[4]. On the other hand, "few studies have analyzed the correlation of well-being and spiritual struggles"^[5]. Further research is being done to find correlations between individual well being and religious or spiritual life.

Some research has shown "evidence of a growing rapprochement between religion and psychiatry, with the aim of better integration of the two in order to enhance recovery and healing" ^[4]. This has resulted in the use of meditation and mindfulness in clinical practice. Meditation is one of the most widespread and researched psychotherapy methods^[6], and has been proven to alleviate stress disorders including ameliorate insomnia, eating, anxiety, panic, and phobic disorders. Along with this, studies have also focused on medical anthropology, investigating religious healing, shamanism, and religious worldviews of mental illness^[4]. Research has identified that religion can be a protective factor for people with and without mental illness.

Research has also identified religion as a potential risk factor for individuals. Social workers in counseling and interpersonal practice consider their clients' struggles with religion. This can include troubled relationships with God or the divine, negative encounters in religious settings, and chronic religious doubting ^[5].

In the past couple decades, research has documented links between religion, spirituality, and health. Evidence demonstrates that religion and spirituality have effects on mental health (e.g. depression, subjective well-being) and physical health (e.g. hypertension, physical mobility, mortality risk)^[5]. Clinical social workers and counselors consider their clients' religion and spirituality and consider ways to incorporate those factors into interpersonal practice.

Organizational examples[edit]

The Council on Social Work Education formed the Religion and Spirituality Work Group in 2011. Along with the NASW Code of Ethics, they state that “social workers need to understand religion and spirituality to develop a holistic view of the person in environment and to support the professional mission of promoting satisfaction of basic needs, well-being, and justice for all individuals and communities around the world.”^[7]

Indian Health Services serves the American Indian community across the United States. They offer behavioral health services with a holistic view that encompasses the spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical well-being of individuals and communities.^[8]

The Society for Spirituality and Social Work seeks to develop “innovative approaches to spiritually sensitive social work practice and education”.^[9] They are a network of social workers and helping professionals who are interested in applying spiritual practices in their work.

Reference[edit]

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "NASW Standards and Ethics".
^ Alinsky, S. (1969). Community Traditions and Organizing. New York: Vintage Books. p. 78.
^ ^a ^b Pyles, L. (2009). Religious and Spiritual Aspects of Organizing (2nd ed.). Routledge. p. 153-156.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Whitley, Rob (2012). "Religious Competence as Cultural Competence". Transcultural Psychiatry: 245.
^ ^a ^b ^c Ellsion, Christopher G.; Lee, Jinwoo (2010). "Spiritual Struggles and Psychological Distress: Is There a Dark Side of Religion?". Springer Science and Business Media (98): 502.
^ Walsh, R; Shapiro, S (2006). "The Meeting of Meditative Disciplines and Western Psychology: A Mutually Enriching Dialogue". American Psychologist: 227-232.
^ "Religion and Spirituality Work Group". The Council on Social Work Education. {{cite web}}: line feed character in |title= at position 31 (help); line feed character in |website= at position 4 (help)
^ "Behavioral Health". Indian Health Services. {{cite web}}: line feed character in |title= at position 11 (help); line feed character in |website= at position 14 (help)
^ "Mission Statement". Society for Spirituality and Social Work. {{cite web}}: line feed character in |title= at position 8 (help); line feed character in |website= at position 12 (help)