Embedding Spirituality and Religion in Social Work Practice

‘While crisis and uncertainty are central to the experience of living in the 21st century, so too is the need for that which is restorative. This is Fiona Gardner’s starting point as she wrestles with the complexities of what it means to be a person for whom aspects of religion/spirituality are both central to one’s identity and sense of meaning but at the same time often regarded as deeply flawed and problematic. This is social work scholarship at its best as Gardner grapples with the essence of what it is to be human and what really matters to create an understanding of social work practice which weaves together a multiplicity of factors including religion and spirituality, ethics, histories, theories, cultural and environmental contexts, and most importantly, lived experiences.’
Beth R. Crisp,Professor and Discipline Leader for Social Work at Deakin University, Australia

'I experienced a sense of enthusiasm for this book that I very rarely experience in seeing a new social work text. Fiona presents a deeply satisfying holistic and integrated synthesis of the most important aspects of being spiritual and being a social worker in a way which is accessible to people of all faiths, ideologies and world views. It is an extremely timely and necessary book given all that is happening on a global scale. We owe it to ourselves, not just as social workers, but as engaged human beings, to read and ponder its contents.'
Jan Fook,PhD, FAcSS, Professor and Chair, University of Vermont, USA.

'Fiona Gardner has provided a clear, concise, and persuasive argument for the need to include spirituality and religion in social work practice. She demonstrates the manner in which a commitment to decolonized social work requires an acknowledgment of what people value and hold dear in their lives, what gives them meaning, purpose, and the will to continue. She draws upon her own model of critical spirituality, as well as green, or eco, spirituality, and First Nation’s spirituality, to show how spirituality and religion raise questions related to the environment and social justice alongside personal meaning-making. Integrating critical reflection, and providing numerous case examples, she offers methods of incorporating a social worker’s humility and curiosity as the foundation for respecting spirituality in individual, family, and community practices, and within organizational contexts. Practically, she draws upon narrative and strengths perspectives to operationalize these commitments, concluding with a review of ethical considerations. This has resulted in an important and timely book for social workers truly wanting to respond ethically and compassionately to "the person-in-environment".'
Laura Béres,Associate Professor and Graduate Program Coordinator, School of Social Work, King’s University College at Western University, London, Canada.

'Fiona Gardner is one of the pioneers in considering what it means to be a critically reflective practitioner. In this very timely book, she combines her extensive knowledge and experience of both reflective practice and social work in a reader-friendly text that highlights the complexities – and importance – of taking an holistic and socially just approach to professional practice. Although the focus of the book is on social work, the eclectic body of literature upon which Gardner draws (ranging widely from postmodernism to environmental issues and First Nations perspectives) as well as her exhortation to explore one’s own meaning-making, including how assumptions and beliefs emerge from particular social and historical contexts, will also be of relevance to professionals in other fields. Using her own definition of what she calls "critical spirituality" – a process of discovering "what is meaningful in the context of enabling a socially just, diverse and inclusive society", Gardner explores various understandings of spirituality and religion, how these play out in practice and, especially, "what difference" they may make. Illustrating the theoretical aspects of the book with numerous accounts of her own and others’ practical experiences, Gardner deliberately seeks to engage her readers in a dialogue about life’s deepest questions and how we can assist one another to live it well.'
Cheryl Hunt,Chief Editor of the Journal for the Study of Spirituality, University of Exeter, UK