Social workers and body practitioners: an inter-professional exploration

This PhD project will examine how social work practitioners who are also body practitioners – dancers, yoga teachers, physiotherapists, massage therapists, choreographers etc - implement and integrate their heightened awareness of the human body into their social work practice. The project will be based on a mixed-method approach and will combine participant observations, semi-structured interviews and an online questionnaire. 

Social Work has traditionally emphasised its affinity with the "social model" which promotes understanding the human behaviour in connection with the wider social context. As part of this attempt, social work distanced itself from the medical model. This seem to have cost social work in its tendency to ignore in most cases the human body.  

While the academic literature on the connection between social work and the body has developed during the last decade, it is still very limited. Issues related to the body are rarely taught as part of the social work curriculum, and the body is rarely an integral part of social work interventions. Despite these omissions, we can learn about the possible benefit and contribution of focusing greater attention on the human body, through social work practitioners who are also body practitioners. We can assume that these individuals will have a heightened awareness of their bodies and the bodies of their service users and through them we might be able to learn about how such greater awareness contributes to their practice, resiliency and wellbeing. 

How to apply

If you are interested in applying for the above PhD topic please follow the steps below:

1. Contact the supervisor by email or phone to discuss your interest and find out if you would be suitable. Supervisor details can be found on this topic page. The supervisor will guide you in developing the topic-specific research proposal, which will form part of your application.
2. Click on the 'Apply here' button on this page and you will be taken to the relevant PhD course page, where you can apply using an online application.
3. Complete the online application indicating your selected supervisor and include the research proposal for the topic you have selected.

Good luck!

This is a self funded topic

Brunel offers a number of funding options to research students that help cover the cost of their tuition fees, contribute to living expenses or both. See more information here: https://www.brunel.ac.uk/research/Research-degrees/Research-degree-funding. The UK Government is also offering Doctoral Student Loans for eligible students, and there is some funding available through the Research Councils. Many of our international students benefit from funding provided by their governments or employers. Brunel alumni enjoy tuition fee discounts of 15%.