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ABSTRACT
This article explores the underpinnings of direct social work practice, applying theoretical concepts to demonstrate how to increase practice effectiveness. Given the challenges and stresses of the profession, social workers require training that equips them with skills for every field of practice, every situation and all levels of stress. The heart of direct practice is seen as a psychophysiological integration of skills (concrete tools that practitioners use to create change in users’ lives), which provide direct practice’s skeleton or frame, and micro-skills (specific actions taken to enact a skill), which provide its flesh. The psychophysiological base of direct practice is fleshed out using concepts of embodiment and mindfulness. A practice example illustrates the application of the concepts. Benefits associated with exploring micro-skills and embodied therapeutic practice are discussed, as well as the concomitant implications of how to expose new clinicians and students to these concepts.
Disclosure Statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Ellen Katz
Ellen Katz is Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work (FIFSW), University of Toronto. Her research and clinical interests focus on mindfulness, family therapy, simulation, and the development of competence in both students and clinicians. She has worked in clinical practice for 25 years in a variety of settings with a particular interest in family therapy.
Siobhan McPartland
Siobhan McPartland has a Bachelor of Social Work (2014) from Ryerson University and a Master of Social Work (2015) from the University of Toronto. Since graduating, she first worked in trauma & neurosurgery at St. Mike’s for two years and currently is in orthopaedics at London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario.
Jenna Rines
Jenna Rines is a Registered Social Worker at Mount Sinai Hospital in inpatient Surgical Oncology, Gastroenterology, and General Internal Medicine. She has a Bachelor of Psychology from Queen’s University, and a Master of Social Work from the University of Toronto