"Could We Just Breathe for 30 Seconds?": Social Worker Experiences of Holistic Engagement Practice Training.

Given the still emerging evidence base about the effectiveness of practices, such as mindfulness, somatics, and integrative body-mind-spirit social work, there is a need to know more about the impacts that training in such areas can have on social workers and their professional work. This mixed-methods article reports on a pilot study that explored practitioners' perceptions regarding the impact of learning holistic engagement practice (HEP) skills on their service delivery and well-being. The research inquires into the perceptions of social workers who received the training, particularly in relation to their quality of presence and the therapeutic relationship; HEP as a form of self-care and a facilitator of compassion satisfaction; the impact it has on social work practice and settings; and the facilitators and barriers to using holistic engagement.