A Self-Care Framework for Social Workers: Building a Strong Foundation for Practice

Abstract

Self-care is widely recognized as critical to social work practice, yet little empirical support or practical guidance exists in the literature to steer social workers in its implementation. Self-care may not only be crucial in preventing secondary traumatic stress, burnout, and high staff turnover, but it can serve as a means of empowerment that enables practitioners to proactively and intentionally negotiate their overall health, well-being, and resilience. The purpose of this article is threefold: (a) to explore current conceptualizations of self-care; (b) to provide a clear conceptual definition of and an applied framework for self-care; and (c) to explicate the utility of this framework for social work practitioners, students, educators, and social service agencies' supervisors and administrators.

Examining Self-Care Among Individuals Employed in Social Work Capacities

“…Amidst this evolving conceptualization, defining self-care can be challenging. This challenge, in part, stems from the varied and subjective forms that self-care may take (Lee & Miller, 2013;Smullens, 2015). For instance, Dorociak, Rupert, Bryant, and Zahniser (2017) defined self-care as a "multidimensional, multifaceted process of purposeful engagement in strategies that promote healthy functioning and enhance well-being" (p. 326).…”

“…Others have asserted that these domains include physical, spiritual, social, and psychological aspects of self-care (e.g., Grise-Owens et al, 2016). Lee and Miller (2013) denoted two domains of self-care: personal and professional. These authors described personal self-care as "a process of purposeful engagement in practices that promote holistic health and well-being of the self;" professional self-care was defined as "the process of purposeful engagement in practices that promote effective and appropriate use of the self in the professional role within the context of sustaining holistic health and well-being" (p. 98).…”

“…Research suggests that individuals employed in social service contexts are at an increased risk for vicarious traumatization, secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue as trauma-related stress, and professional burnout (e.g., Adams et al, 2006;Dunkely & Whelan, 2006;Newell & MacNeil, 2010). As well, social service workers are likely to be more sensitive to shifting political landscapes, funding cuts, and so on, when compared to individuals employed in other social contexts (e.g., Lee & Miller, 2013;Whitaker et al, 2006).…”

“…Research suggests that social workers may be at increased risk for a plethora of "conditions of professional depletion" (Greville, 2015, p. 14). These conditions include compassion fatigue, vicarious traumatization, secondary traumatic stress, and burnout, among other problematic phenomena (e.g., Adams, Boscarino, & Figley, 2006;Dunkely & Whelan, 2006;Grise-Owens, Miller, & Eaves, 2016;Lee & Miller, 2013). Moreover, social workers, and others employed in social service settings, may be disproportionately affected by cumbersome bureaucratic processes, funding cuts and restrictions, and changing political climates, when compared to individuals in other professions (e.g., Whitaker, Weismiller, & Clark, 2006).…”

Community Action Targeting Children who Are Homeless (CATCH): Addressing the Mental Health and Developmental Needs of Children Experiencing Homelessness

“…Trauma-informed practices and policies recog nize the importance of offering services that support and empower individuals who might have experienced violence and other traumatic experiences. Providers in a trauma-informed setting are considered partners who guide those who seek services while also engag ing in self-care practices (Lee & Miller, 2013), defined as strategies (e.g., relaxation, meditation, exercise) to manage strain linked to their own past traumas and compassion fatigue. According to the National Center for Trauma-Informed Care, the effectiveness of trauma services can be weakened if they are delivered by an agency that has not adopted a trauma-informed management and training orientation.…”