Shorts Media - home of Social Work Shorts and Self Care Shorts

Getting to grips with theory: Biology – deterministic?

Philosophers forever have contemplated just where the mind is and how the mind relates to both brain and body. Descartes, a French philosopher from the 17th century, was closely associated with an idea...

Getting to grips with theory: Social Constructionism

In order to explore Social Constructionism, I feel we need to take a step back and we’ll do that by having a think about how we know what we know. Let’s start...

Getting to grips with theory: Social Learning Theory

I can’t help but think of this poem when I think about Social Learning Theory because I think it says what it is perfectly…. From the immense poet Philip Larkin – This Be...

Power & Autonomy

When we think of power, we usually think of hierarchical power exercised over us by those in certain positions. There is also power in culture. Harari, in his book Sapiens, says cultures have typical...

Resilience – dirty word?

It sometimes feels like resilience is a dirty word. Whispered in hushed tones in corridors in case over heard. Or spoken out loud as a rallying call to try harder and be...

Empathy, Sympathy and Compassion

“Empathy Is Walking A Mile In Somebody Else’s Moccasins. Sympathy Is Being Sorry Their Feet Hurt”. (Rebecca O’Donnell) The nature of our work as social workers, (or any caring profession for that matter) is...

The Merchant of Venice and Critical Thinking

Was Shylock in Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice making a critical decision that was necessary and proportionate, when he was demanding his pound of flesh? Let me give you a brief rundown on...

Dr Dan Siegel’s Hand Model of the Brain

George Bull, Social Worker at the Connected Carers Team South Tyneside, explores Dr. Dan Siegal’s hand model of the brain and its use in social work practice. In the Solution Focussed Therapy...