A reflection on Social Work Students as the «Wounded Healer»
Emily Murphy
Data from the literature supports that social work is a profession inclusive of students with a history of trauma. This reflective paper explores the impact of trauma on social work student’s performance in their field practicum. In addition this paper explores how social work educators manage, assist and respond to students with a history of trauma that affects their practice. Furthermore this paper delves into the challenges of the role of gatekeeper with students who are wounded healers and who have difficulties in managing what is required of them. Implications for social work education are explored specifically in regards to pedagogical approaches that support this work and what explicit and implicit curriculum responses are needed.
Keywords
Social Work student, trauma, wounded healer, post traumatic growth.
