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Respond to two colleagues in one or more of the following ways:
State how your colleague’s examples of spirituality’s influence in client relationships resonate with you. Provide support for your perspective.
State whether you are likely to use your client’s strategy in your own social work practice, and explain why.
Make sure to provide APA citations and a reference list.
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Explain how considerations about clients’ worldviews, including their spirituality or religious convictions, might affect your interactions with them.
As a social worker it is important to be considerate of a client’s background, both spirituality and culture. Spirituality is defined as ‘one’s values, beliefs, mission, awareness, subjectivity, and experience, sense of purpose and direction, and kind of striving towards something greater than oneself” (Zastrow et al., 2019). Religion is a set of beliefs and practices of a specific organized religious institution. The values of a social worker to recognize the central importance of human relationships. Social workers should also respect the inherent dignity and worth of a person (National Association of Social Workers, n.d.)
Provide at least two specific examples.
An example of consideration for a client would be one that has dietary restricts per their religion. Both Judaism and Islam do not eat pork. They do not eat any meat that is considered to be unclean. This also included unclean fish, birds, mammals, and other creatures (Brondz, 2018).
Another example would be Hinduism and Buddhism that believe in reincarnation. They believe that the soul of every person and plan is eternal and returns after death in another form. Most other religions believe that when you due you ascend into the afterlife (Somer et al., 2011).
In addition, explain one way your own spirituality or religious convictions might support your work with a client, and one barrier it might present.
I was raised in the Catholic Church, I consider myself to be a Christian not so much as a Catholic. When working with a client that is Catholic, I would not allow my personal feelings about the church dictate how I would talk to the client. I would be respectful of what they are saying and how they are saying it. A barrier that could present itself is that they may follow the doctrine in regards to same-sex marriage, abortion, and sex before marriage, etc., I would want to make sure that even though I may disagree that I respect what their personal views are on those same topics.
Finally, share one strategy for applying an awareness of spirituality to social work practice in general.
A strategy for applying awareness of spirituality to social work practice in general would be to establish their comfort level discussing spirituality. A social worker would need to be self-aware and possibly have additional training. They will want to remain culturally competent and have boundaries so that they are able to focus on their clients’ needs and not try to push their personal believes onto a client (Pomeroy et al., 2021).
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Explain how considerations about clients’ worldviews, including their spirituality or religious convictions, might affect your interactions with them. Provide at least two specific examples.
Considering a client’s worldviews, including their spirituality and religious convictions, helps me understand them better. Worldview concerns people’s perceptions of the world around them and how they fit into that world (Zastrow et al., 2019). Understanding that people have different worldviews requires looking beyond the slim boundaries of our daily existence. For social workers, the worldview perspective requires developing an appreciation of differences instead of being fearful or feeling opposition towards them. Spirituality and religion are separate concepts that must be considered when social workers assess human behavior. Determining a client’s spiritual beliefs and religion can provide sources of empowerment. It is essential to consider both spirituality and religion as a source of strength for clients, but it is just as important for social workers not to impose their own values and beliefs on clients. Having an open mind about worldviews, spirituality, and religion is the key I use to engage clients who have diverse perspectives.
One example is a client who is experiencing withdrawal and high anxiety levels from stopping drug use and may turn to praying to God as a coping mechanism. As a social worker with a client in this situation, I would consider this a strength and support him in building resiliency, despite my own beliefs that may differ. A second example would be a single female client who is pregnant in her mid-forties with two grown children who have left the home. She is a high-risk pregnancy, and it is still early enough for her to consider abortion as an option. She is considering an abortion due to her high risk, financial situation, and lack of support. My job as her social worker is to provide resources and education on her options, not to judge or impose any of my beliefs on her.
In addition, explain one way your own spirituality or religious convictions might support your work with a client and one barrier it might present.
One way my own spirituality or religious convictions may support my work with a client is to celebrate different faiths and practices. I am more of a spiritual person and have diverse beliefs myself, so it is easy for me to keep an open mind. One barrier would be working with a client who is very strong in their religious convictions and is not open to a grounding technique like meditation to help with anxiety. This situation would require flexibility for me to discover other techniques that may help this client relax while remaining within their comfort zone.
Finally, share one strategy for applying an awareness of spirituality to social work practice in general.
The NASW Standards for Cultural Competence in Social Work Practice emphasizes the ethical responsibility of social workers to engage in culturally competent practice and interventions that address the importance of religion and spirituality in clients’ lives (Limb et al., 2018). One strategy I would like to share for applying awareness of spirituality to social work practice, in general, is provided in the NASW Code of Ethics under standard 1.05, Cultural Competence. All of the guidelines under the code should be adhered to. However, the one that stood out to me when considering a strategy was 1.05 (a), “Social workers should demonstrate understanding of culture and its function in human behavior and society, recognizing the strengths that exist in all cultures.” Being a culturally competent social worker who recognizes the strengths of spirituality can empower clients along their path to well-being.
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