Sustainable Self-Care for Social Workers

While most social workers are well aware of the importance of self-care, this knowledge doesn’t necessarily translate into robust self-care practices. Today’s social workers are more in need than ever of accessible methods for contending with the threats posed by burnout. This class draws on a variety of Ayurvedic practices that social workers can incorporate into a sustainable and effective self-care plan. The class will start with an overview of Ayurveda, yoga’s sister science, which is a holistic medical system premised on balancing our nervous systems, minds, bodies, and spirits via simple, daily lifestyle habits. This workshop provides an overview of some of Ayurveda’s core daily habits, and how they can help social workers manage burnout symptoms. Practiced regularly, these habits balance our circadian rhythms, lead to deeper states of restoration and rest, and achieve a shift from feeling overwhelmed towards ease in mind and body. Ayurvedic tools like rhythmic eating practices for healthy digestion, self-massage for grounding the nervous-system, and meditation for mental and emotional stability are central to this workshop. We will also discuss methods for effectively integrating new self-care habits. The importance of workplace culture, leadership buy-in and modeling of self-care, and collective self-care will also be discussed. The workshop will conclude with a solution-focused group exercise for creating a simple self-care action plan.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Social workers who take this class will be able to:

1. State the basic tenets of Ayurveda and how consistent use of Ayurvedic habits builds a buffer against burnout
2. Describe methodology for rhythmic eating, and its impact on our digestive systems and energy levels
3. Demonstrate the use of hand self-massage and guided meditation for regulating the mind and nervous system
4. Explain the importance of workplace culture and the roles of leadership and peer support in sustainable self-care

Adair Finucane, LMSW 

Adair Finucane conducts trainings with social workers and other human services and healthcare professionals to counter burnout and build sustainable self-care practices. Her classes draw from the traditions of yoga and Ayurveda, and from social work practice and research. She has an MSW from SUNY University at Buffalo, is a yoga and meditation teacher in the Radiant Body tradition, and an Ayurvedic wellness coach certified through Yoga Health Coaching. Adair spent six years researching trauma and perinatal mental health alongside Dr. Mickey Sperlich at the University at Buffalo. Her trainings are designed to help social work professionals to be more effective in their practice.

To learn more about Adair, visit withadair.com, and follow her on Instagram @with_adair.

Class fees are listed below:

• Full Tuition - $60
• GSS Alumni - $50
• Current Field Instructor - $50
• Current Adjunct Faculty - $50
• SWHPN Member - $50
• 3+ members registering from one agency - $40 per registration
• Non-Fordham Current MSW or Social Work PhD Student - $40
• Veterans - $40
• Fordham Faculty and Staff - $40
• Current Fordham MSW or PhD Student - $30
• Fordham Alumni Palliative Care Fellow - $30
• Current Fordham Palliative Care Fellowship Field Instructor/Career Mentor - $30
• Current Fordham Palliative Care Fellow or Montefiore Fellow - $0

Continuing Education Hours

Completion of this class will result in the receipt of two (2) continuing education hours. CEHs are not awarded for partial completion of the class.

You will receive the Zoom link for joining the class by the day before the class. IF YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE LINK BY THIS TIME, PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPAM FOLDER. 

You will need a computer and a reliable WiFi connection. The computer may be a desktop or a laptop. It may be an Apple or Windows computer.

If you have never used Zoom before, you will likely be prompted to download an applet, which is a small program that allows Zoom to communicate with your computer. This is safe and you will need to do this to join the class.

It is NOT advised that you participate using a table (e.g., an iPad) or a cellular phone. The software is not optimized for these devices.

Please plan to join the online class 15 minutes before the start time to be sure that you don’t have any problems connecting. We cannot provide technical support to you and refunds won’t be offered if you have technical problems. If you have any questions or concerns about this, please contact us at [email protected] at least a few days before the class.