Emotion as a Skill: A Practical Methodology for Coping with Emotional Risks in Social Work

Area of Science:

• Social Work
• Psychology
• Emotional Intelligence

Background:

• Emotional risks are prevalent in social work, impacting practitioner and client well-being.
• Existing research on emotional skills is limited in social work literature, primarily from medicine, education, and psychology.
• A gap exists in understanding how social workers apply emotional skills in practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore Chinese social workers' experiences and perceptions of using emotional skills.
• To identify practical applications and patterns of emotional skills in social work.
• To address the under-researched area of emotional skills within social work.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study utilizing semistructured interviews.
• Involved 28 Chinese social workers.
• Explored personal experiences and perceptions of emotional skill utilization.

Main Results:

• Identified two primary patterns of emotional skills practice: 'self-directed' and 'other-directed' emotion management.
• Social workers navigate three stages: identification, understanding, and management of emotional risks.
• Professional skills such as body scanning, empathy, and emotion communication are employed.

Conclusions:

• Emotion can be effectively utilized as a practical skill in social work.
• The findings offer a pragmatic action plan model for emotional skills.
• Implications for enhancing social work practice and education are significant.