Art as Catalyst in Social Work: Self-reflection, Empathy, and Social Action
Aravindhan Natarajan & Heather Sloane | September 23 | 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM | Room 2582
Art is very helpful in learning to sense another’s experience. Creative writing or a painting, for examples, can encourage the social worker to feel, taste, smell and see the realities of marginalized lives. Because empathy and connection are often created at the level of the senses, art is uniquely suited as a way to learn. Empathy is not only important on a micro-level, is important to raising awareness about cultural disparities and injustices. This paper will look at the use of art as self-reflection, a way to encourage empathy between professionals and clients, and as a way to inspire social action.