Jn. Okundaye et al., Reimaging field instruction from a spiritually sensitive perspective: An alternative approach, SOCIAL WORK, 44(4), 1999, pp. 371-383
Field work is a major component of social work training embedded in our gra
duate training process. This article proposes incorporating some wisdom of
Eastern traditions and spirituality, which moves the vertical "line" of hie
rarchy into a circular, interactional approach to field work instruction. T
he concepts presented for discussion and application are Sacred Space, karm
a, interrelation-emptiness, process dedicated to process-no goal, and Taois
t harmony. The. authors conclude by using the concepts of power and authori
ty to demonstrate the interconnectedness of the concepts. They argue that t
he Eastern alternative presented supports an environment more conducive to
the promotion of natural authority, whereas the traditional models promote
the exercise of power. The authors urge field instructors and students to i
ncorporate this alternative paradigm into their educational experiences to
maximize their opportunities for professional development and open the proc
ess of field work supervision to the upper limits of its potential.