Meditation in Social Work Practice: A Systematic Review of the Literature for Applicability and Utility

Abstract

This article focused on the use of meditation in social work practice. Because meditation is a complex construct that has not been readily discussed within social work, the article begins with distinguishing meditation and mindfulness by providing definitions and theoretical relevance to social work. A systematic review of the literature on meditation’s effectiveness and use in social work practice was conducted. A total of seven articles met the inclusion criteria, of which, two were quantitative and five were qualitative. The majority of study participants were either social work students or practitioners. The evidence to date is promising for the use of meditation within social work practice, however is hindered the amount and quality. Further, closer examination is needed into what types of meditation are effective for specific conditions.