Practicing Presence – In the Face of Social Injustice and Global Distress

LIVE ONLINE WORKSHOP

Capability Level: Emerging

The current global context of our practice is increasingly one of fear, injustice, horror and alienation. The rise of power of the far-right globally, atrocities in war, famine, and genocide, climate disaster, increasing disparity between wealthy and poor, and the ongoing marginalisation and exploitation of the global majority often leave us and our clients feeling numb or overwhelmed.

In this workshop we will explore how we as Social Workers incorporate issues of social justice and global distress into our work with individuals and groups, on a personal and embodied level. Considering what is happening globally and collective experiences of disbelief/grief and fear.

How do we remain present to these collective experiences in the room with our clients? And how do these global experiences of injustice and fear inform/influence how we and our clients show up in the space? How do we sit with intolerable experiences with our clients in a way that honours both ourselves and them and the broader social context?

The workshop brings together Relational Gestalt Therapy practice around dialogue, presence and field theory with Social Work theory and practice around systems theory and social justice theory, alongside other wisdom and practice traditions. Participants will explore these concepts in a way that is experiential, self-reflective and emergent.

Who should attend?

The workshop has something to offer Social Workers at all skill and experience levels, from those starting out to those well-established in their practice.

The content will focus on relational work with individuals and groups and so may feel especially relevant to Social Workers working in counselling roles. However, the content is relevant to anyone working with people, or those working in advocacy and social justice related roles.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this program, participants will be able to:

• Understand the personal and collective impact of global realities, both on themselves and others, reflecting on how this impact shows up in their own nervous system and the nervous systems of others

• Understand how we have become disconnected from both individual and collective suffering and explore why this is important, in an embodied way

• Explore ‘the way home’ by looking at the ways in which they can build their capacity for presence and awareness through embodiment, collective action, spiritual practice, and/or honouring intuitive and indigenous knowledge

Event Structure:

Introduction

Learning Session 1: Understand the personal and collective impact of global realities, both on themselves and others, reflecting on how this impact shows up in their own nervous system and the nervous systems of others

Learning Activity 1: Interactive group discussion and Poll

Learning Session 2: Understand how we have become disconnected from both individual and collective suffering and explore why this is important, in an embodied way

Learning Activity 2: Case study and Interactive video analysis

Learning Session 3: Explore ‘the way home’ by looking at the ways in which they can build their capacity for presence and awareness through embodiment, collective action, spiritual practice, and/or honouring intuitive and indigenous knowledge

Learning Activity 3: Open discussion and Case study

Conclusion and Q&A

AASW Credentials: Mental Health

This Workshop is not recorded, however, you will have access to materials and resources on AASW Online Learning for 4 weeks after the completion of the workshop.