Teaching Mental Health and Well-Being Online in a Crisis: Fostering Love and Self-compassion in Clinical Social Work Education
Article
Article Title | Teaching Mental Health and Well-Being Online in a Crisis: Fostering Love and Self-compassion in Clinical Social Work Education |
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ERA Journal ID | 34205 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Gates, Trevor G. (Author), Ross, Dyann (Author), Bennett, Bindi (Author) and Jonathan, Kate (Author) |
Journal Title | Clinical Social Work Journal |
Journal Citation | 50 (1), pp. 22-34 |
Number of Pages | 13 |
Year | 2022 |
Place of Publication | United States |
ISSN | 0091-1674 |
1573-3343 | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-021-00786-z |
Web Address (URL) | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10615-021-00786-z |
Abstract | The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has shifted clinical social work (CSW) and mental health education in Australia, and indeed throughout much of the globe, onto online delivery. The disruption caused by COVID-19 presents unexpected challenges in fostering the development of skill sets among social work educators in partnership with students. This article is a reflexive collaborative autoethnography written by four educators of different international and cultural backgrounds at a regional university in Queensland. Our university has experienced a shift from primarily a face-to-face delivery to online delivery due to social distancing. This article is grounded in an ethic of love, a values-based relationship-oriented practice promoting care, collaborative dialogue and solidarity between people, using self-compassion and reflexivity. We explore how COVID-19 has forced the authors to alter their teaching practice, cope with uncertainties, and respond with loving kindness to the shifting needs of students. We draw upon our experiences as educators of diverse cultural, linguistic, gender, and sexualities from Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Nigeria and reflect upon how we have simultaneously turned inward and outward through technology. We draw upon person-centered, narrative, trauma informed and anti-oppressive clinical and educational approaches when exploring self-compassion and loving approaches with the students. We discuss the need for self-compassion and love of others as we respond to the current crisis by modeling self-compassion and love for CSW students who are experiencing crises, including loss of employment, separation from family overseas and interstate, isolation from colleagues and loved ones, and healthcare issues. |
Keywords | love; self-compassion; online education; clinical social work; reflexive collaborative autoethnography; clinical educators; COVID-19 |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 440999. Social work not elsewhere classified |
Public Notes | Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions. |
Byline Affiliations | University of the Sunshine Coast |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q7q59/teaching-mental-health-and-well-being-online-in-a-crisis-fostering-love-and-self-compassion-in-clinical-social-work-education
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