Week 10: Trauma-Informed Social Work and Mindfulness

The heart of the social work profession calls for treating clients with respect and not viewing their problems as pathological. Consistent with this value, trauma-informed social work as a model encourages social workers to explore with clients how behaviors and/or problems that surface may be a result of traumatic events (Kawam & Martinez, 2016). It focuses not simply on symptom management but on skill building (Wilson & Nochajski, 2016). This model can be incorporated into both micro, mezzo, and macro work. For example, on an organizational level, trauma-informed care looks to see how the service delivery system can offer an environment that is safe for clients, social workers, and staff.

Based on Buddhist principles, mindfulness interventions focus on helping clients to increase their attunement and acceptance of the self (Cacciatore, Thieleman, Osborn, & Orlowski, 2014). Because social workers often try to help clients reduce distress and increase well-being, mindfulness has found its way into social work. It can also be used for social workers to increase their own well-being as part of their self-care regimen.

This week, you apply two more models: trauma-informed social work and mindfulness.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Apply the trauma-informed and mindfulness principles to social work practice
• Apply existential questions to identify potential opportunities for growth that may surface as a result of working with clients who have experienced trauma
• Evaluate empirical research studies on the effectiveness of mindfulness interventions
• Evaluate the strength and limitations of trauma-informed and mindfulness principles to social work practice

Photo Credit: KatarzynaBialasiewicz / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

Learning Resources

Note: To access this week’s required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus.

Required Readings

Turner, F. J. (Ed.). (2017). Social work treatment: Interlocking theoretical approaches (6th ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Chapter 20: Mindfulness and Social Work (pp. 325–337)
Chapter 37: Trauma-Informed Social Work Treatment and Complex Trauma (pp. 553–573)

Garland, E. L. (2013). Mindfulness research in social work: Conceptual and methodological recommendations. Social Work Research, 37(4), 439–448. https://doi.org/10.1093/swr/svt038

Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.

Vis, J.-A. & Boynton, H. M. (2008). Spirituality and transcendent meaning making: Possibilities for enhancing posttraumatic growth. Journal of Religion & Spirituality in Social Work, 27(1/2): 69–86. http://dx.doi.org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1080/15426430802113814

Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.

UCLA Health. (n.d.). Free guided meditations. Retrieved December 8, 2017, from http://marc.ucla.edu/mindful-meditations

For Discussion 2, listen to a guided meditation by selecting a link on this website.

Required Media

Sommers-Flanagan, J., & Sommers-Flanagan, R. (2014). Counseling and psychotherapy theories in context and practice [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.psychotherapy.net.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/stream/waldenu/video?vid=277

This week, watch the “Existential Therapy” segment by clicking the applicable link under the “Chapters” tab.

Note: You will access this video from the Walden Library databases.

Optional Resources

Knight, C. (2015). Trauma-informed social work practice: Practice considerations and challenges. Clinical Social Work Journal, 43(1), 25–37. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-014-0481-6  

Lynn, R., & Mensinga, J. (2015). Social workers’ narratives of integrating mindfulness into practice. Journal of Social Work Practice, 29(3), 255–270. https://doi.org/10.1080/02650533.2015.1035237

Discussion 1: Existential Questions and Post-Traumatic Growth

Upon hearing the stories of sometimes horrific atrocities clients or client families have experienced, you as a social worker may find yourself confronting existential questions such as Why? For example, Why do horrible events happen to good people? Why do people abuse their children?

Trying to make sense of such trauma is not easy, and you may seek answers to these existential questions your whole life. And yet, there are opportunities for growth despite trauma for both clients and social workers. This is known as post-traumatic growth, where a renewed sense purpose or a more profound outlook on life is the by-product.

In this Discussion, you work to seek meaning from the trauma your clients experience and the subsequent healing you help your clients achieve in your social work practice.

To prepare:

• Read about trauma-informed social work, and read this article listed in the Learning Resources: Vis, J.-A., & Boynton, H. M. (2008). Spirituality and transcendent meaning making: possibilities for enhancing posttraumatic growth. Journal of Religion & Spirituality in Social Work, 27(1/2): 69–86. http://dx.doi.org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1080/15426430802113814

By Day 3

Post:

• In 1 sentence, identify an existential question with which you have grappled in relation to a client who has been traumatized.
  • Reflect on your fieldwork, or perhaps identify an existential question that might arise in working with the client in the case study you have selected throughout the course.
• In 3 to 4 brief sentences, describe where there is potential for growth for the client as a result of the trauma.
• In 3 to 4 brief sentences, explain where there is potential for growth for you, the social worker, as a result of listening to the client’s stories and bearing witness to their trauma.
• Describe any challenges you may experience between the meaning you hold based on your personal beliefs and working within the client’s potentially different belief framework.

By Day 5

Respond to two colleagues:

• Provide a suggestion for how a social worker could help clients to understand and make meaning of the trauma within the client’s values and belief framework.

Submission and Grading Information

Grading Criteria

To access your rubric:
Week 10 Discussion 1 Rubric

Post by Day 3 and Respond by Day 5

To participate in this Discussion:
Week 10 Discussion 1

Discussion 2: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Mindfulness Interventions

According to Garland (2013), there is skepticism about mindfulness as an effective intervention. Often, because of its philosophical roots in Buddhism, practitioners and scholars equate mindfulness with “New Age” beliefs. As a result, some may wonder how effective mindfulness interventions are. Recall from Week 1 that it is important to answer the question about the effectiveness of interventions by using empirical evidence rather than experiences or intuition.

You may not have experienced or practiced mindfulness. After you listen to the recordings found on the website listed in the Learning Resources, reflect on some of the following questions: (1) What did you notice? (2) What were you thinking while you were listening? (3) What were you feeling while you were listening? (4) How was your body reacting while listening? (5) How did you feel after you practiced mindfulness?

In this Discussion, you will experience an example of mindfulness and also determine whether mindfulness has scientific support.

To prepare:

• Listen to a recording from those found at this website listed in the Learning Resources: UCLA Health. (n.d.). Free guided meditations. Retrieved December 8, 2017, from http://marc.ucla.edu/mindful-meditations
• Read this article listed in the Learning Resources: Garland, E. L. (2013). Mindfulness research in social work: Conceptual and methodological recommendations. Social Work Research, 37(4), 439–448. https://doi.org/10.1093/swr/svt038
• Conduct a library search in the Walden Library for one research study about the effectiveness of mindfulness as an intervention for the client in the case study you have been using. Remember when looking for studies to take into account your client’s age, developmental stage, and presenting problem.

By Day 4

Post:

• In 1 to 2 sentences, respond to one of the four following questions in terms of what you noticed during the mindfulness exercise you completed:
  • What were you thinking while you were listening?
  • What were you feeling while you were listening?
  • How was your body reacting while listening?
  • How did you feel after you practiced mindfulness?
• In 2 to 3 sentences, describe your experience practicing this technique and how this experience influences your choice on whether to use it with a client during practice.
  • Provide the reference for the study you found, and be sure to use citations in the body of your post using APA guidelines.
• In 1 to 2 sentences, briefly summarize the methodological context (i.e., research method, how data was collected, and the instruments used) of the studies and the findings.
• Evaluate the findings in terms of their validity and applicability for the client

By Day 6

Respond to two colleagues:

• Comparing the studies that you and your colleague identified and the experiences you presented from your mindful practice exercise, evaluate one strength and one limitation of using mindfulness interventions for the client (consider how culturally relevant it is, how aligned it is with social work ethics, etc.).

Discussion one responses

 Tanya Jones RE: Discussion 1 – Week 10COLLAPSE

                                                                                               Week 10

Psychological trauma events can be described as unexpected stress-related events which induce intense feelings of fear, anxiety, or helplessness (Vis & Boynton, 2008).  The existential question, I would ask my client would be; Why would you allow your son to physically abuse you, where you sleep with a loaded gun under the pillow? Would you pull the trigger in necessary? The client is an 80-year old female who allows her son to reside in her home and is subject to his rage due to drug addiction , him being the only son and his fathers namesake. The client has two daughters , who have tried to have the son removes, with no success.

Implementing these three concepts will assist my client in growing post-trauma.  Positive coping develops when a new view can be understood within the context of the trauma, discuss the use of innate or acquired coping and revaluation of the event (Vis & Boynton, 2008). Spirituality can assist the client in processing trauma and recovery. Transcendence involves a deeper intuitive understanding of one’s own intimate relationship with self and their purpose in this world (Vis & Boynton, 2008). The client has a strong faith and feels praying for deliverance for her son, no harm will come to her. She told me if he were to harm her, God will be waiting for her with open arms

.I have similar beliefs as the client regarding praying for deliverance and knowing prayer changes things. I differ with the client in not pressing charges or having the son removed from the home. The uncertainty she lives with every day and the potential of harm coming to her upsets me. The most frustrating concept of working with older adults is self-determination. 

References

Dis, J.A., & Boynton, H.M. (2008). Spirituality and transcendent meaning-making possibilities for enhancing post traumatic growth. Journal of Religion & Spirituality in Social Work, 27(1/2):69-86. http://dx.doi.org.ezp.waldenlibrary.org/10.1080/154263082113814

 Seantelle Hill RE: Discussion 1 – Week 10COLLAPSE

Existential Question

The case of Tiffani presents an example of trauma, and so I will reference it in this discussion.

•    Why would a relative (Uncle Nate) molest a child?

•    How can parents not care for their child?

In 3 to 4 brief sentences, describe where there is potential for growth for the client as a result of the trauma.

Tiffani is resilient when it comes to learning on how to survive the negative relationships she has been in and this presents a potential for growth. She also currently attends general education development (GED) credential, and this is likely to open for her new possibilities in life and personal growth. Although  Tiffani is confused on the path to follow, whether to go back to her family or be with Donald, this dilemma presents a potential for growth as she might change her view on her family and consider reuniting with them.

In 3 to 4 brief sentences, explain where there is potential for growth for you, the social worker, as a result of listening to the client’s stories and bearing witness to their trauma.

As a social worker, by listening to Tiffani’s story, my personal growth would be experienced in the ability to offer and sustain her hope for recovery from her trauma. I would transfer the compassion satisfaction to clients with similar experiences in a much better way. For growth to be realized, I would position myself as a learner rather than an expert. Also, by listening to Tiffani’s story keenly throughout the process, I can learn on how I can help her, how her suffering can be healed for desired transformation.

Describe any challenges you may experience between the meaning you hold based on your personal beliefs and working within the client’s potentially different belief framework.

Tiffani has been raised by a Christian family and is of German descent. As a social worker from African American descent, the client and I may have varying cultural beliefs which may also impact on our spirituality towards issues such as her engagement in promiscuity and her perception about her family and sibling from the experiences that they have given her (Vis & Boynton, 2008).  If her religion and spirituality differs from mine, this would pose a challenge because we would both view a similar issue differently.

Reference

Vis, J.-A. & Boynton, H. M. (2008). Spirituality and transcendent meaning-making: Possibilities for enhancing posttraumatic growth. Journal of Religion & Spirituality in Social Work, 27(1/2): 69–86. http://dx.doi.org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1080/15426430802113814

Discussion 2 Responses

 Ebony McCall RE: Discussion 2 – Week 10COLLAPSE

Questions

What were you thinking while you were listening? 

I didn’t know what to expect, I was thinking about work in the beginning. Then I started to think about what I needed to do later when I got off.

What were you feeling while you were listening?

After listening to the lady on the recording I started to relax. I did this on my lunch break while sitting in my office, the building was partially empty so I felt an overall sense of calmness come over me.

How was your body reacting while listening?

Initially my shoulders were tense, the more I relaxed the more I enjoyed the tone and sound of the lady’s voice. 

How did your body feel after you practiced mindfulness?

My body felt relaxed, my shoulders weren’t as tense as they were when I initially started the exercise. 

Describe your experience practicing this technique and how the experience influences your choice on whether to use it with a client?

When I started the exercise I feel like my mind was all over the place, I’m usually running around the office, making phone calls or interacting with people in a high tempo work space. The technique allowed me to sit back, relax and reflect by putting my mind at ease. I would definitely use this method to relax and calm my clients down, they often seem a bit nervous at times. I would like for them to feel more relaxed mentally and physically. 

Reference study

Kiburz, Kaitlin M.; Allen, Tammy D.; French, Kimberly A.. In: Journal of Organizational Behavior. Sept, 2017, Vol. 38 Issue 7, p1016, 22 p.; John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Language: English, Database: Expanded Academic ASAP 

Evaluation in terms of validity

 A study on 102 participants with a median age of 45. Races represented in the study included: Hispanic, African American, Caucasian, Asian/Pacific Islander. Some were married, not married, had a partner or were single. The study was conducted in waves, one and two. Each wave was invited to attend a mindfulness workshop mixed with on line material and meditation. In different time spans, best on the information depending on the life, work and family dynamic mindfulness results varied. Those who worked more than 40 hours a week with families benefited more from the mindfulness study. 

Reference

Kiburz, Kaitlin M.; Allen, Tammy D.; French, Kimberly A.. In: Journal of Organizational Behavior. Sept, 2017, Vol. 38 Issue 7, p1016, 22 p.; John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Language: English, Database: Expanded Academic ASAP 

REPLY QUOTE 

 Seantelle Hill RE: Discussion 2 – Week 10COLLAPSE

In 1 to 2 sentences, respond to one of the four following questions in terms of what you noticed during the mindfulness exercise you completed

softening I listened to the Body Scan Meditation. I realized my concentration to all my body parts were improving. Through breathing in and out, I felt more relaxed, and I also noticed that through breathing in and out, my body parts like the hands and the neck were.

In 2 to 3 sentences, describe your experience practicing this technique and how this experience influences your choice on whether to use it with a client during practice.

When anxious or stressed about something, I have personally tried this technique, and it has always helped to relax and calm my nerves and the whole self before progressing with anything else. I notice that I become more aware of my thoughts and emotions, and thus, it’s a technique that could deliver positive results in practice with a client.

Provide the reference for the study you found, and be sure to use citations in the body of your post using APA guidelines.

Robin Ortiz & Erica M. Sibinga. (2017). The Role of Mindfulness in Reducing the Adverse Effects of Childhood Stress and Trauma. Children, (3), 16. https://doi-org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.3390/children4030016

In 1 to 2 sentences, briefly summarize the methodological context (i.e., research method, how data was collected, and the instruments used) of the studies and the findings.

The selected article is very informative on the effectiveness of mindfulness on childhood trauma. The target population is children, and the research methodology integrates an analysis of various researches that have been previously conducted on the impact mindfulness has on childhood stress and trauma.

Evaluate the findings in terms of their validity and applicability for the client

From the meta-analysis, high-quality mindfulness interventions improve physical, behavioral, and mental outcomes. The findings are applicable to Tiffani to prevent poor health outcomes associated with trauma exposure.

Reference

Robin Ortiz & Erica M. Sibinga. (2017). The Role of Mindfulness in Reducing the Adverse     Effects of Childhood Stress and Trauma. Children, (3), 16. https://doi-    org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.3390/children4030016

REPLY QUOTE