Sensory Language (SDM) to Foster Empathy in Social Work Students

Assessment and management of emotional situations are generally discussed in academic studies in the field of social work through verbal interventions, while the art of developing awareness to nonverbal feelings has yet to see widespread use. Sensory experience based on nonverbal communication and body language can highlight complex feelings and problems that the social worker confronts. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of an intervention of sensory body language using a modified Sherborne Developmental Movement (SDM) model, in a course for social work students. The course`s multidimensional process involved cognitive and affective components of understanding and identifying thoughts, feelings, and emotional states of others. The intervention combined art activity and focusing to foster empathy among social work students in the group setting. Twenty social work students attending college in the north of Israel participated in the course, writing reflective diaries throughout the course, which were collected and analyzed. The findings suggest that sensory language and movement through the group experience enhanced social work students’ empathy and their awareness of its importance for practice. Learning to be empathic through non-verbal communication also challenged perceived barriers to empathy such as cultural and language differences. The modified SDM model enhanced social work students` awareness of the importance of empathy using non-verbal communication as was recommended in Yogev`s - `Development of Empathy in Group Analysis` model. The results of this study suggest that experiencing movement activity using the SDM in a group context enables the fostering of empathy among social work students.

The field of teacher education in sports education involves social aspects and therefore it is possible to learn from other areas of training that relate to social aspects such as social work. Therefore, in the current study social work students may shed light on the contribution of Sherborne`s physical activity to the development of empathy in professional development in academia.