Attaining composure through breath-awareness

A phenomenological account of the use of the breath in social work

Dados Bibliográficos

ID15434705
AutoresRussell Whiting (0000-0003-2402-267X, University of Sussex, autor correspondente)
Ano2020
Volume40
Fascículo1
Páginas3-18
Data de publicação2020-09-07
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessNão
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoJournal of Religion & Spirituality in Social Work Social Thought (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1542-6432 • E-ISSN: 1542-6440
EditoraTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/15426432.2020.1816247
OpenAlexW3084017035
IdiomaEN
Referências citadas17

This article is the first to address breathing in social work directly. It sits within the phenomenological tradition and as such provides accounts from social work education and practice as a means of recognizing a commonality of experience. The article argues for a considered, conscious use of the breath in order for the social worker to gain a state of calm or composure and also to be able to foster composure in others – the so called “circle of breath”. The focus is on the skills of the worker but also on the meanings of the choices they make. A phenomenological approach to the topic of composure is contrasted with a psychotherapeutic approach. No particular method is advocated although several exercises designed to aid breath awareness are suggested. A discussion is threaded throughout on the relationship between the breath and spirituality in social work, also considered in phenomenological terms

Work (physics · Counseling, Therapy, and Family Dynamics · Engineering · Medicine · Mental Health and Patient Involvement · Psychology · Social Work Education and Practice · Mechanical Engineering