Abstract
Spirituality is a fundamental dimension of our lives, integral to holistic health, and is interconnected to social, political and environmental factors. Spirituality can be a source of strength, resilience, wellbeing, and can facilitate posttraumatic growth, and can be a source of oppression, distress, existential angst and crises. Therefore, the need for interfaith dialogue, openness to religious and spiritual diversity, tolerance, and understanding is vital in helping professions. Transforming education and training is essential, as those in helping professions require the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to effectively navigate spirituality in practice realities. Attuning to the spiritual component of life for oneself, and individuals, families, and communities we interact with creates greater meaning-making, a sense of purpose, and connection. Literature and research on spirituality across disciplines offers the foundational architecture required for centralizing spirituality in mainstream pedagogy and practice. This workshop presents findings from our 3-year project involving a systematic literature review, focus groups and interviews with educators, students, and faith leaders in Canada and Ghana, and a spirituality and social work course evaluation. Curriculum can be designed to increase awareness, knowledge, skills, relationality, and healing-centered care utilizing a scaffolded competency framework entailing the levels of exposure and awareness, immersion and experiencing, integration and sense of mastery. Intentional competency-based curriculum focused on spirituality fosters spiritual understanding and personal and professional growth through inquiry, experiential learning, and contemplative activities and practices. In this workshop we will engage participants in critical reflective activities, a video and discussion on the competency framework.
Presenters
Heather BoyntonAssistant Professor, Social Work, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada Sarah Mc Greer
Researcher, Social Work, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
Religious Community and Socialization
KEYWORDS
Spirituality, Pedagogy, Spiritual Competence, Spiritually Sensitive Practice, Research, Social Work
