title: Contemplative spaces in social work practice.
abstract: Exploring contemplative practices and spirituality in social work has developed a new impetus as the understanding of the importance of those variables in patient care has increased. Social work brings its historical attention to the whole person and the many ways the social worker and patient understand their respective roles in assisting in the process of healing and coping with loss. It is essential that social workers attend to their own understanding of the space for contemplative practice in their lives. This article sets the context for this important work and provides an example of a program designed to increase the social worker's awareness and practice skills that reflect the particular dynamics of engaging spirituality in the clinical relationship.
authors.affiliation: Smith College School for Social Work, Sunderland, Massachusetts, USA. Electronic address: cjacobs@smith.edu.
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jacobs
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D012067:Religion; D012947:Social Work / Q000941:ethics / Q000379:methods*; D026443:Spiritual Therapies / Q000941:ethics / Q000379:methods*; D029181:Spirituality
keywords: Contemplative practice; social work; spirituality