Re-Visioning Emotion in Social Work: Developing New Discourses for Social Work Education and Practice

Complex and challenging emotions are an integral dimension of social work practice. Working with people in difficult circumstances involves engaging with human distress. Practitioners contend with the impact of this on a... [ view full abstract ]

Complex and challenging emotions are an integral dimension of social work practice. Working with people in difficult circumstances involves engaging with human distress. Practitioners contend with the impact of this on a daily basis. This includes dealing with trauma, disrupted relationships, abuse, loss or violence, often in the context of poverty and inequalities. Additionally, social work relationships require practitioners to utilise skills which are underpinned by the effective use of emotion, for example empathic listening, attunement, and a wide range of skills utilised to engage with individuals and families in need. However, contemporary discourses regarding emotion in social work practice are limited. Current discourses in diverse countries suggest that emotions are predominantly seen as natural and unavoidable elements in the work, which practitioners learn to manage in the process of training. Emotion management in turn is associated with a growing discourse regarding resilience in social work. The suggestion is that resilient practitioners may be best equipped to manage the challenges of everyday practice and the consequent emotional impact. Although management of emotions may facilitate practice and avoid potential compassion fatigue or burnout, this approach fails to adequately address the complexities of emotion in social work. This paper will argue that whilst discourses of emotion management and resilience may be helpful, there is a need to look beyond these to explore new and different perspectives. How are emotions understood and navigated by practitioners in the organisational and relational context of their work? What educational, organisational or other discourses inform how practitioners understand or process their emotions? What can alternative perspectives on emotion offer the profession? Drawing on a range of research and theory this paper will argue for the development of new discourses and a re-visioning of emotion in social work practice and education.