Advancing Spiritual Self-Care in Enhancing Ethical Practice

Advancing Spiritual Self-Care in Enhancing Ethical Practice

Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Time: 10:00 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. ET

Presenter: Julie A. Guistwite, PhD, LSW, FT, CSWM

CEUs: 3 Category I Ethics

Cost: Non-Member: $75 | Member: $50 | Retired Member: $30 | Student Member: $20

Please Note: This workshop fulfills 3 of the 6 Ethics CEUs required by the DC Board of Social Work for license renewal.

Course Description

Caring for individuals and families navigating life-changing situations is deeply meaningful work, yet it can also present significant emotional, psychological, and spiritual challenges for social workers. Prolonged exposure to suffering, trauma, and loss can increase the risk of compassion fatigue, vicarious traumatization, and burnout, potentially affecting both practitioner well-being and ethical practice.

In this interactive, case-based course, participants will examine the NASW Code of Ethics through the lens of spiritual self-care and explore practical strategies for enhancing compassion satisfaction while reducing occupational strain. The presenter will highlight diverse approaches to spiritual self-care and offer tools for connecting and reconnecting with one’s sense of professional purpose to support long-term sustainability in practice.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

1. Discuss spiritual self-care in connection with the NASW Code of Ethics.

2. Describe the relationship between practitioners’ spiritual values, sense of purpose, and professional sustainability.

3. Explore diverse spiritual self-care practices and practical strategies for enhancing compassion satisfaction while mitigating compassion fatigue, vicarious traumatization, and burnout.

4. Analyze and apply case studies utilizing diverse approaches to strengthening professional spiritual self-care.

Ethics Content Covered

This workshop examines practitioner self-care in relation to professional integrity, ethical judgment, and experiences that may impair effective functioning, including personal or legal challenges, psychological distress, substance use concerns, and mental health difficulties. Through case study analysis, large-group discussion, and reflective activities, participants will explore ethical dilemmas related to maintaining professional competence and well-being.

Content will incorporate the Trauma Stewardship Model as a framework for enhancing spiritual self-care and resilience in practice.

NASW Code of Ethics Focus

• Purpose and Ethical Principle: Integrity

• Standard 4.05(b): Impairment

• Burnout, compassion satisfaction, and self-compassion in empathy-based service

• Managing professional demands and challenging workplace climates

• Addressing the impact of trauma exposure on ethical and effective practice

Register here.