Attaining composure through breath-awareness: a phenomenological account of the use of the breath in social work

ABSTRACT

This article is the first to address breathing in social work directly. It sits within the phenomenological tradition and as such provides accounts from social work education and practice as a means of recognizing a commonality of experience. The article argues for a considered, conscious use of the breath in order for the social worker to gain a state of calm or composure and also to be able to foster composure in others – the so called “circle of breath”. The focus is on the skills of the worker but also on the meanings of the choices they make. A phenomenological approach to the topic of composure is contrasted with a psychotherapeutic approach. No particular method is advocated although several exercises designed to aid breath awareness are suggested. A discussion is threaded throughout on the relationship between the breath and spirituality in social work, also considered in phenomenological terms.

KEYWORDS:

• Breath-awareness
• composure
• phenomenology
• spirituality

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. This article was written before the arrival of COVID −19 where the communal aspects of breathing has emerged in a whole new light and are going to need to be considered. COVID 19 will undoubtedly change much but the positive comments made about the communality of breathing as an experience still stand.