Spiritual Diversity in Social Work Practice The Heart of Helping

by Canda, Edward R.; Furman, Leola Dyrud

• ISBN13: 9780195372793
• ISBN10: 0195372794
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2009-10-01
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Many of the people served by social workers draw upon spirituality, by whatever names they call it, to help them thrive, to succeed at challenges, and to infuse their resources and relationships with meaning beyond mere survival value. This revised and expanded edition of a classic provides a comprehensive framework of values, knowledge, skills, and evidence for spiritually sensitive practice with diverse clients. Weaving together interdisciplinary theory and research, as well as the results from a national survey of practitioners, the authors describe a spiritually oriented model for practice that places clients' challenges and goals within the context of their deepest meanings and highest aspirations. Using richly detailed case examples and thought-provoking activities, this highly accessible text illustrates the professional values and ethical principles that guide spiritually sensitive practice. It presents definitions and conceptual models of spirituality and religion; draws connections between spiritual diversity and cultural, gender, and sexual orientation diversity; and offers insights from Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Indigenous religions, Islam, Judaism, Existentialism, and Transpersonal theory. Eminently practical, it guides professionals in understanding and assessing spiritual development and related mental health issues and outlines techniques that support transformation and resilience, such as meditation, mindfulness, ritual, forgiveness, and engagement of individual and community-based spiritual support systems. For social workers and other professional helpers commited to supporting the spiritual care of individuals, families, and communities, this definitive guide offers state-of-the-art interdisciplinary insights as well as practical tools that students and practitioners alike can put to immediate use.

Author Biography

Edward R. Canda is Professor and Director of the PhD Program in Social Work and Courtesy Professor in Religious Studies, Kansas University.
Leola Dyrud Furman is Associate Professor Emeritus in Social Work at the University of North Dakota; Adjunct faculty in social work at the College of St. Catherine/University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota, and Augsburg College, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Table of Contents

A Note to the Reader	p. xvii
Central Values and Concepts for Spiritually Sensitive Social Work
Guiding Principles	p. 3
Why Bother with Spirituality?
Principles That Guide the Writing of This Book
Preview of Chapters
Exercises
Compassion, the Call to Service, and Ethical Principles for Social Work	p. 30
The Virtue of Compassion in Professional Social Work
Symbols of Compassion in Religious Traditions
A Common Heart of Compassion
Ethical Principles for Spiritually Sensitive Social Work
Conclusion
Exercises
The Meaning of Spirituality	p. 59
The Challenges of Denning Spirituality
The Concept of Spirituality in the Helping Professions
Definitions and Models Related to Spirituality
Key Issues in Research about Spirituality
Conclusion
Exercise
Exploring Spiritual Diversity for Social Work Practice
Human Diversity, Spirituality, and Social Work Practice	p. 101
History of Spiritual Diversity in the United States
Ethnic Diversity and Spirituality
Women and Spirituality
Homosexuality, Sexual Orientation Diversity, and Spirituality
Conclusion
Exercises
Religious Perspectives on Social Service and Their Insights for Social Work Practice	p. 143
Buddhism and Social Service
Christianity and Social Service
Confucianism and Social Service
Hinduism and Social Service
Indigenous Religions of North America and Social Service
Islam and Social Service
Judaism and Social Service
Conclusion
Exercises
Nonsectarian Spiritual Perspectives, Comparisons, and Implications for Cooperation	p. 185
Existentialism and Social Service
Transpersonai Theory and Social Service
Comparison of Spiritual Perspectives on Service
Engaging in Dialogue and Cooperation Across Spiritual Perspectives
Conclusion
Exercises
Spiritually Sensitive Social Work in Action
Creating a Spiritually Sensitive Context for Practice	p. 213
The Helping Relationship and Process
A Holistic Approach to Social Work Practice
Stage 1. Understanding
Stage 2: Designing
Stage 3: Implementing
Stage 4: Evaluating
Stage 5: Integrating
Conclusion
Exercises
Understanding and Assessing Spiritual Development	p. 243
Spiritual Development and Everyday Life
Spiritual Emergence and Emergencies
Spiritual Emergence throughout the Life Cycle
Assessing Spiritual Experiences and Development
Conclusion
Exercises
Ethical Guidelines for Spiritually Sensitive and Culturally Appropriate Practice	p. 286
Ethical Guidelines for Using Spiritually Oriented Activities
The Ethical Mandate for Cultural Competence
Transcultural Teamwork for Spiritually Sensitive Practice
Conclusion
Exercises
Spiritually Oriented Transformational Practice	p. 314
Social Work Practice as a Transformational Process
An Example of a Transformational Helping Process
Spiritual Growth Oriented Helping Activities
Practicing Mindfulness and Meditation
Engaging Ritual and Ceremony
Practicing Forgiveness
Conclusion
Exercises
A Worldwide View	p. 359
Spiritually Oriented Helping Activities Revisited
Spirituality in Fields of Practice
A Worldwide View of Spiritually Sensitive Practice
Conclusion
Exercises
Discussion Guide for Detailed Spiritual Assessment	p. 379
Methodological Summary for the 2008 National Survey of NASW Members (U.S.A.) or, Spirituality and Religion in Practice	p. 385
Resources for Addressing Spirituality in Various Fields of Practice	p. 389
References	p. 399
Index	p. 441
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