Evaluating an embodied mindfulness approach to teach reflective practice to MSW students: a mixed methods case study

ABSTRACT

Reflection is a key component of practice, supporting social workers to learn from past experiences and navigate the uncertainty and ambiguity that is common within our work. While the benefits of reflective practice are well documented, there remains considerable debate as to how it is taught and evaluated, with variability across the health and social service professions. The authors sought to evaluate an embodied approach to teaching reflective practice, grounded in mindfulness and contemplative pedagogy. Using a mixed-methods case study research design, we evaluated the teaching approach by triangulating three sources of data: questionnaires, written reflective exercises, and a focus group. The findings suggest that the teaching approach described in this study supported participants to develop the competency of reflection in a way that was distinct from previous learning. It also supported participants to strengthen learning about themselves, both personally and professionally, and to apply mindfulness and reflection in practice. The authors see potential for expanding this teaching approach beyond the specific context of a social work direct practice course in mindfulness and recommend research to further explore adaptation of the approach.

KEYWORDS:

• Mindfulness
• reflective practice
• contemplative pedagogy
• mixed methods
• embodied practice

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge and thank the MSW students who volunteered to participate in this research study.

Disclosure statement

The authors do not have any conflicts of interest to declare.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Royal Bank of Canada .

Notes on contributors

Ellen Katz

Ellen Katz is an Associate Professor, Emeria, Teaching Stream at the Factor-Inwwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto.

Anne Kirvan

Anne Kirvan is a doctoral candidate at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto.

Lea Tufford

Lea Tufford is Associate Professor at the School of Nusring and Allied Health Professions, Laurentian University.

Marion Bogo

Marion Bogo (deceased) was a Professor at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto.