National Association of Social Workers: Enhancing Capacity to Engage Constructively Amid Conflict: Strategies Social Workers Can Use with Clients, Families, and Colleagues – 2 CECs

As social workers, we serve in diverse settings, many of which can be prone to high stress and conflict. It can be tough when a client, family member, or colleague expresses intense emotions or conveys their needs as criticism or a demand. Our social work education prepares us to use active listening and respond with empathy. Yet, when emotions run high, we may find ourselves resorting to communication habits such as becoming defensive with and judging others. These reactions exacerbate an already difficult situation, weakening our collaborative relationships with persons served and colleagues, and can even result in formal complaints. In this session, we’ll consider various social work practice scenarios that illustrate these conflict engagement patterns. Drawing on our understanding of human behavior in the social environment and our commitment to the NASW Code of Ethics, we’ll explore how application of Nonviolent Communication principles can strengthen empathy for ourselves and others amid conflict; support our emotional self-regulation during these high-stress interactions; and enhance our capacity to transform conflictual communications into collaborative dialogue with clients, families, and colleagues.

CEs:  2 Social Work contact hours

Founded in 1955, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is the largest membership organization of professional social workers in the world. NASW works to enhance the professional growth and development of its members, to create and maintain professional standards, and to advance sound social policies.