The Value and Practice of Integrating Christian Mindfulness in Social Work Practice

Presenter(s):

Regina Chow Trammel, Ph.D., LCSW

$18.00

Member Price:

$14.40

Training description:

Social workers often work with marginalized populations in high stress environments. Christian mindfulness refreshes the body, mind, and soul of the Christian social worker, increasing our ability to make a difference in the lives of those we serve. This online audio training will provide an overview of Christian mindfulness and how to apply Christian mindfulness in our work with our clients. This training was created June 5, 2021.

CE category:

Direct Practice: Individuals, Couples, Families, and Children

No. of CE Hours:

1.5

Training format:

audio-based

Practice Level(s):

Intermediate: MSW Level

Target Audience:

Social workers and related professionals

Human services professionals

Learning Objectives:

After completing this training, participants will be able to:

Define Christian mindfulness and distinguish this practice from secular and Buddhist models of mindfulness
Articulate how to incorporate strategies of Christian mindfulness practices and how to incorporate them in direct social work practice with individuals, family, and groups
Summarize the research-based outcomes of Christian mindfulness practice and identify how to incorporate them into third-wave behavioral interventions.

View Training PowerPoint File:

TrammelR Mindfulness PowerPoint 110719.pdf

Training Outline:

Mindfulness defined--Its roots in secular and Buddhist-based mindfulness systems. (15 minutes)

Christian contemplative and spiritual direction practices as congruent with mindfulness in clinical and research literature. (Fox, Gutierrez, Haas, & Durnford, 2016; Knabb, 2012; Trammel, 2017) Mindfulness, as often defined in the practice and research literature is the practice of paying attention to the present moment without judgment. As Christians, this present-moment orientation allows for the Holy Spirit to reveal areas of need within the social work practitioner where God can refresh and heal. (Rosales & Tan, 2016) (15 minutes)

The importance of integrated view of self: body, mind, Spirit. Feedback loop for each area, one to another. The importance of breath in mindfulness practice. Incorporating breath and verses on breath/life from biblical perspective. (10 minutes)

How stress effects the social worker, God’s teaching on stress. Stress management through mindful awareness—paying attention to the body. Concepts wellness prevention, resilience, and empathy (McGarrigle & Walsh, 2011; Shonin, Gordon, & Griffiths, 2014). (15 minutes) Paying attention, present-moment orientation--definition and practice, emotional insights. Resilience-building for social workers through mindfulness and enhancing wellbeing empathy for others, for greater practice effectiveness (Crowder & Sears, 2017; Grant, 2014; Hoffman, 2010) (15 minutes)

Prayer, letting go, forgiveness, ethical decision-making, and practicing self-care via mindfulness. (Grant, 2014; Hanley, Warner, & Garland, 2015) (10 minutes) Christian mindfulness upholds imago dei – biblical verses shared (10 minutes)

Bibliography:

Acker, G. M. (2012). Burnout among mental health care providers. Journal of Social Work, 12(5), 475–490. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468017310392418

Buller, J. L. (2014). Mindful Academic Leadership. (Cover story). Academic Leader, 30(5), 1–6.

Crowder, R., & Sears, A. (2017). Building Resilience in Social Workers: An Exploratory Study on the Impacts of a Mindfulness-based Intervention. Australian Social Work, 70(1), 17–29. https://doi.org/10.1080/0312407X.2016.1203965

Fox, J., Gutierrez, D., Haas, J., & Durnford, S. (2016). Centering prayer’s effects on psycho-spiritual outcomes: a pilot outcome study. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 19(4), 379–392. https://doi.org/10.1080/13674676.2016.1203299

Grant, L. (2014). Hearts and Minds: Aspects of Empathy and Wellbeing in Social Work Students. Social Work Education, 33(3), 338–352. https://doi.org/10.1080/02615479.2013.805191

Hanley, A., Warner, A., & Garland, E. (2015). Associations Between Mindfulness, Psychological Well-Being, and Subjective Well-Being with Respect to Contemplative Practice. Journal of Happiness Studies, 16(6), 1423–1436. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-014-9569-5

Hoffman, C. (2010). Does mindfulness increase wellbeing? Journal of Holistic Healthcare, 7(1), 45–48.

Jeter, W. K., & Brannon, L. A. (2017). The effect of mindfulness and implementation planning on the process of granting and seeking forgiveness among young adults. Mindfulness, 8(5), 1304–1318. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-017-0706-1 Johns, K. N., Allen, E. S., & Gordon, K. C. (2015). The relationship between mindfulness and forgiveness of infidelity. Mindfulness, 6(6), 1462–1471. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-015-0427-2

Knabb, J. (2012). Centering Prayer as an Alternative to Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression Relapse Prevention. Journal of Religion & Health, 51(3), 908–924. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-010-9404-1

McGarrigle, T., & Walsh, C. A. (2011). Mindfulness, Self-Care, and Wellness in Social Work: Effects of Contemplative Training. Journal of Religion & Spirituality in Social Work, 30(3), 212–233. https://doi.org/10.1080/15426432.2011.587384

Nelson, B. W., Laurent, S. M., Bernstein, R., & Laurent, H. K. (2017). Perspective-taking influences autonomic attunement between partners during discussion of conflict. Journal of Social & Personal Relationships, 34(2), 139–165. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407515626595

Pater, R. (2014). Leading Practical Mindfulness. Professional Safety, 59(10), 26–28.

Pearce, M., & Koenig, H. G. (2013). Cognitive behavioural therapy for the treatment of depression in Christian patients with medical illness. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 16(7), 730–740. https://doi.org/10.1080/13674676.2012.718752

Raney, A. (2014). Agility in Adversity: Integrating Mindfulness and Principles of Adaptive Leadership in the Administration of a Community Mental Health Center. Clinical Social Work Journal, 42(3), 312–320. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-014-0487-0

Rosales, A., & Tan, S.-Y. (2016). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Empirical Evidence and Clinical Applications from a Christian Perspective. Journal of Psychology and Christianity; Batavia, 35(3), 269–275.

Shonin, E., Gordon, W., & Griffiths, M. (2014). Meditation Awareness Training (MAT) for Improved Psychological Well-being: A Qualitative Examination of Participant Experiences. Journal of Religion & Health, 53(3), 849–863. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-013-9679-0

Taylor, N. Z., & Millear, P. M. R. (2016). The contribution of mindfulness to predicting burnout in the workplace. Personality & Individual Differences, 89, 123–128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2015.10.005

Trammel, R. C. (2015). Mindfulness as enhancing ethical decision-making and the Christian integration of mindful practice. Social Work & Christianity, 42(2), 165–177.

Trammel, R. C. (2017). Tracing the roots of mindfulness: Transcendence in Buddhism and Christianity. Journal of Religion & Spirituality in Social Work: Social Thought. Retrieved from http://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/pzNMfp9SH2fNt4Q6cT5M/full

Wang, D., & Tan, S.-Y. (2016). Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT): Empirical Evidence and Clinical Applications from a Christian Perspective. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 35, 68–76.

Webb, J. R., Phillips, T. D., Bumgarner, D., & Conway-Williams, E. (2013). Forgiveness, mindfulness, and health. Mindfulness, 4(3), 235–245. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-012-0119-0

Presenter Bio:

Regina Chow Trammel, Ph.D., LCSW, is an assistant professor in the MSW program at Azusa Pacific University. She has spent more than a decade in private practice in the Chicago area, as well as experience in psychiatric and medical social work settings. She is an avid mindfulness practitioner.