Mindfulness for resilience in social work

Mindfulness, the ability to focus ones awareness on the present moment while acknowledging and accepting feelings, thoughts and bodily sensations, has strong potential to build resilience.This chapter sets out some of the key concepts and practices that can be utilized to cultivate mindfulness, providing insight into how social workers can use it in their professional and personal lives.The chapter begins by offering a practical definition of mindfulness before outlining research findings that document its role in promoting resilience and its underlying competencies. Some of the main practices used in mindfulness meditation are subsequently outlined and their benefits in the social work context are considered.Also explored are the ways in which mindfulness training can used to expand awareness of the present moment which, in turn, can help social workers manage stress more effectively, improve their self-care practices, and notice and celebrate the positive elements of their work.