Mindfulness in social work education and practice

Key points
- Mindfulness is shown to help social work students and social workers reduce stress and enhance self-care, compassion and well-being. The current evidence has limitations, but the research base is growing.
- Mindfulness can help increase awareness of thoughts, feelings and behaviours and engender change in sense of self and wider appreciation of life.
- It is also found to align with and support the development of key social work skills and values, including, managing emotions and enhancing thinking and interpersonal skills.
- Mindfulness is not a salve for the structural challenges facing social work, but research points to its potential as an enabler of anti-oppressive practice.