When trained and dedicated to see patterns through a social work lens, it is hard to “turn off” this perspective. However, taking on the role of social worker all the time, especially within our personal relationships, can lead to unhealthy dynamics and burnout. To what extent should we bring our social work education and skills to our personal lives and relationships, while considering ethical dynamics and healthy boundaries? How can we use the benefits of our education to enrich our personal lives in healthy ways?
Let us come together in a community conversation to explore our challenges and discuss ways to embrace our individual perspectives while maintaining a firm commitment to respect and integrity.
This is a time for conversation – to share feelings, raise concerns, and talk together as a school community. To aid the conversation, space will be limited. (We know it's coming up soon, so if you miss it, don't fear! If there is a lot of interest in this topic, we can hold another session soon.)
About the format. With these smaller Community Conversations, our hope is to explore restorative dialogue and build community, creating a space where we are all teachers and learners. We will draw heavily on practices from intergroup dialogue and restorative justice.
University of Michigan
School of Social Work
1080 South University Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1106