Self-Care A-Z: “Break Barriers” by Strengthening Connections—Self-Care And...

by Erlene Grise-Owens, EdD, LCSW, MSW, MRE, & Justin “Jay” Miller, PhD, MSW, CSW

    March is National Social Work Month, with a 2023 theme “Social Work Breaks Barriers.” It’s also time for our annual State of Self-Care in Social Work commentary. This theme of barrier-breaking evokes critical and crucial consideration of how the profession must explicitly and actually make self-care “paramount”—as the revised NASW Code of Ethics proclaims.

Barriers Within

     Some of the biggest barriers social work faces are internal to the profession. Instead of only breaking down barriers outside the profession, let’s look within. One such barrier is the pervasive tendency to pit micro against macro—as bifurcated either/or and linear hierarchy. This false dichotomy and hegemonic hierarchy are perniciously present in the multi-faceted barriers between self-care, macro systems, and the global mission of the profession. Some of these barriers include: persistent myths about self-care, problematic conceptualizations, unquestioned assumptions that dismiss the importance of it, and lack of competence in practicing self-care. These barriers are serious and consequential. These hindrances stymie our profession’s impact and progress. They harm practitioners as human beings.

     Social work is dedicated to overarching, laudable aims of human rights, well-being, social justice, and environmental sustainability. The NASW Social Work Month toolkit highlights the crucial and challenging roles that social workers have in “breaking barriers” to achieve these aims. Yet, we must acknowledge and address the toll “breaking barriers” has for practitioners and, more broadly, the profession. The barriers related to self-care must be fully acknowledged and explicitly addressed.

     A systems approach and critical thinking are core aspects of social work. Using these aspects—instead of merely breaking down barriers—let’s reframe this “barrier” through strengthening connections. Oftentimes, this shift can start with changing our language.

A Big, Little Word: And

     To rise to the demands, meet the aims of the profession, and flourish as practitioners, we must connect the AND of self-care. Making self-care paramount enables us to foster the wellness and resilience to stay in the arenas that require our commitment, intervention, and expertise. It helps nurture the meaning, purpose, and joy that sustains us in the work and to flourish as fully human.

     The big, little word “and” provides the conceptualization necessary to create connections that nurture, expand, and thrive. With this important, impactful reframe, our work engages client/cause/community and wholistic self-care. With this connection, we pursue organizational wellness and empowering self-care. By extended connection, global well-being and integrated self-care are inherently linked. Through conceptualization that recognizes the intrinsic relationship, we connect ecological justice and individualized self-care.

     These “barriers” must be transformed into connections. Our work and well-being are not mutually exclusive; they’re inextricably connected. It’s not hierarchical; it’s systemically personal, and professional, and planetary.

Beyond Barriers: Self-Care And…

     As noted above, social work’s mission is comprehensive and crucial. And, our dedication to human rights must include the rights of the individual practitioner. Justice for all includes just us—the human practitioners, as connected with our systems/environments.

     Self-care is necessary to foster a world in which barriers are not merely broken nor are practitioners battered and burnt out by battling these barriers. Rather, with self-care as an essential systemic thread, connectedness is strengthened and our profession’s mission is, as well. This connectedness requires paramount attention, prioritization, and intervention in all arenas. 

     Certainly, we must consistently advocate for and invest in systemic changes that promote practitioner well-being. Social work programs must educate students in the competence of self-care and prepare practitioners who lead organizational wellness efforts. And, organizations must build systems that inherently prioritize practitioner well-being. And, professional organizations must promote professional standards, practices, and resources that foster self-care/wellness.

     And, dear reader, the systemic point of entry where you have the most power is with your self. We each must prioritize our own well-being. Invest in and insist upon your individualized self-care. Become a dedicated, engaged expert in self-care. Be a consistent, compassionate enthusiast of self-care—as part of your work and as an inherent human right.

     In social work month and beyond, let’s explicitly and actually make self-care paramount. And,—beyond the barriers—connections of human rights, justice, wellness, and sustainability can flourish.

Erlene Grise-Owens, EdD, LCSW, MSW, MRE, is a Partner in The Wellness Group, ETC.  This LLC provides evaluation, training, and consultation for organizational wellness and practitioner well-being. Dr. Grise-Owens is lead editor of The A-to-Z Self-Care Handbook for Social Workers and Other Helping Professionals.  As a former faculty member and graduate program director, she and a small (but mighty!) group of colleagues implemented an initiative to promote self-care as part of the social work education curriculum. Previously, she served in clinical and administrative roles. She has experience with navigating toxicity and dysfunction, up-close and personal! Likewise, as an educator, she saw students enter the field and quickly burn out. As a dedicated social worker, she believes the well-being of practitioners is a matter of social justice and human rights. Thus, she is on a mission to promote self-care and wellness!

Dr. Justin “Jay” Miller, PhD, MSW, CSW, is the Dean, Dorothy A. Miller Research Professor in Social Work Education, and Director of the Self-Care Lab in the College of Social Work at the University of Kentucky. You can follow his work via Twitter @DrJayMiller1.