Relevance of Applied Mindfulness in Social Work Education and Practice

Abstract

Mindfulness is a constant state of meditation focused on self-awareness, ones feelings, emotions and thought patterns. It realigns the body, mind and soul of a person in one direction to realise ones existence and that of ones surroundings and environment at large. Mindfulness helps to understand and channelise these ethical considerations for their successful application in all realms of life. Social work profession being an experiential learning field explore the facets of self-awareness, exhibition of emotions and realigning thought patterns in order to achieve a state of well-being. In it, therapeutic skills are also exhibited in order to intervene through basic social work methods like case work, group work and community organisation. The current research attempts to understand the effects of mindfulness on social work practice. This research attempts to portray a wide canvas of how applied mindfulness in social work practice leads to achieving a state of overall well-being. It dwells into the past of mindfulness as a seed germinated from meditation, its applied aspects and move towards how it is seen in present context. It also sheds light on its future implications and the resultant effects it can have on social work education and practice. It also focuses on how the arena of mindfulness and its importance in social work field is gaining importance, considering the growing complex societies where it holds as a key for maintaining sustainable living and environment at large.

Keywords: Mindfulness, Social Psychology, Social Work Practice, Social Work Methods, Applied Mindfulness, Social Work Education, Methods of Social Work

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