Define Critical Reflection, including its theoretical foundations Within the field of social work, the professionals have to recognize and evaluate their own personal values, thoughts and beliefs. A social worker must be able to recognize how their personal preferences may or may not affect their behaviors and decisions in their daily practice. For this reason, critical reflection is a very important concept to be knowledgeable of within the social work profession. Critical reflection can be defined as a process that an individual has that allows them to identify their behaviors, which are then questioned and evaluated in order to create different ways of reacting (Savaya & Gardner, 2012). The authors make it clear that social workers need
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There were articles on critical reflective practices in different populations, such as youth services and hospice care. Another area of social work that critical reflection seemed to be very dominate was education. There were multiple articles found in the Journal of Teaching in Social work, Social Work Education, and Social Work. The five articles found within these three journals discussed the current gaps and challenges within social work academic programs and within the daily practice of social workers (Bay & Macfarlane, 2011; Jensen-Hart & Williams, 2010; Morley & Dunstan, 2013; Savaya & Gardner, 2012; Wiener, 2012). One important aspect that all of the articles has in common was how important critical reflection is for not only social worker, but also the clients. Social workers need to have the skills and knowledge to incorporate the theories that are associated with critical reflective practice. These articles discussed the possible positive implications that critical reflective practices can have when the social worker reflects and manages their own behaviors, which will then allow them to fully focus on their client’s behaviors during the treatment process (Bay & Macfarlane, 2011; Jensen-Hart & Williams, 2010; Morley & Dunstan, 2013; Savaya & Gardner, 2012; Wiener, 2012). Overall, incorporating critical reflection within social work practice will not only allow the social worker to be more efficient in their work, but it will also produce an effective treatment process for the clients
There were articles on critical reflective practices in different populations, such as youth services and hospice care. Another area of social work that critical reflection seemed to be very dominate was education. There were multiple articles found in the Journal of Teaching in Social work, Social Work Education, and Social Work. The five articles found within these three journals discussed the current gaps and challenges within social work academic programs and within the daily practice of social workers (Bay & Macfarlane, 2011; Jensen-Hart & Williams, 2010; Morley & Dunstan, 2013; Savaya & Gardner, 2012; Wiener, 2012). One important aspect that all of the articles has in common was how important critical reflection is for not only social worker, but also the clients. Social workers need to have the skills and knowledge to incorporate the theories that are associated with critical reflective practice. These articles discussed the possible positive implications that critical reflective practices can have when the social worker reflects and manages their own behaviors, which will then allow them to fully focus on their client’s behaviors during the treatment process (Bay & Macfarlane, 2011; Jensen-Hart & Williams, 2010; Morley & Dunstan, 2013; Savaya & Gardner, 2012; Wiener, 2012). Overall, incorporating critical reflection within social work practice will not only allow the social worker to be more efficient in their work, but it will also produce an effective treatment process for the clients