Understanding Spirituality and the Sacred in Social Work Practice

<p>Social work is constantly epistemically evolving and embracing diverse bodies of knowledge to inform its ontology and practice frameworks.</p><p>Over the years the impact of feminist post-colonial and queer theory for example has broadened the social work lens and invited a welcome departure from dominant Westernised patriarchal and positivist paradigms. However the separation of the spiritual realm from casework clinical community and group work traditions of social work remained steadfast. The last decade or so has seen forages into the issues of social work and spirituality. This examination into spirituality and social work has shown that for many service users spiritual practices (be they religious or non-religious) are important in their lives and their way out of difficulties. Concurrently relationships between socio-political movements and global religions have grown increasingly complex. To create a truly holistic approach to the needs of service users it is important that social work policy and practice give voice to these complexities and understand the place of spirituality within service delivery. This book critically reflects upon and discusses the intersecting role of spirituality in the lives of people who access social work services.</p><p>By gathering contributions from people with lived experience practitioners and academics this book will explore a comprehensive range of issues opening the area of spirituality to current critical socio-political and cultural thought. It will be of interest to all social work scholars students and practitioners.</p>