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My Books and Journal Special Issues

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Books

 
  • Canda, E. R. & Furman, L. D. (2009). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
     
    Many of the people served by social workers draw upon spirituality, by whatever names they call it, to help them thrive, to succeed at challenges, and to infuse their resources and relationships with meaning beyond mere survival value. This revised and expanded edition of a classic provides a comprehensive framework of values, knowledge, skills, and evidence for spiritually sensitive practice with diverse clients.

    Weaving together interdisciplinary theory and research, as well as the results from a national survey of practitioners, the authors describe a spiritually oriented model for practice that places clients' challenges and goals within the context of their deepest meanings and highest aspirations. Using richly detailed case examples and thought-provoking activities, this highly accessible text illustrates the professional values and ethical principles that guide spiritually sensitive practice. It presents definitions and conceptual models of spirituality and religion; draws connections between spiritual diversity and cultural, gender, and sexual orientation diversity; and offers insights from Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Indigenous religions, Islam, Judaism, Existentialism, and Transpersonal theory. Eminently practical, it guides professionals in understanding and assessing spiritual development and related mental health issues and outlines techniques that support transformation and resilience, such as meditation, mindfulness, ritual, forgiveness, and engagement of individual and community-based spiritual support systems.

    For social workers and other professional helpers committed to supporting the spiritual care of individuals, families, and communities, this definitive guide offers state-of-the-art interdisciplinary and international insights as well as practical tools that students and practitioners alike can put to immediate use.
     
     
  • Contemporary Human Behavior Theory: A Critical Perspective for Social Work (2nd Ed.)
    Robbins, S. P., Chatterjee, P., & Canda, E. R.  (2006).  Boston:  Pearson, Allyn & Bacon (link to publisher).
          This book offers a comprehensive overview of human behavior theory, including contemporary theories, such as transpersonal theory, as well as traditional theories. A framework is provided to help encourage and develop one's critical thinking skills in analyzing and comparing theories. The topics of spirituality, oppression, and social justice are each dealt with explicitly in all chapters.  
          See Reviews by readers (on amazon.com).
     
     
     
  • Health Through Faith and Community: A Study Resource for Christian Faith Communities to Promote Personal and Social Well-Being.
    Canda, E. R., Ketchell, Aaron., Dybicz, Phillip., Pyles, Loretta., & Nelson-Becker, Holly.  (2006).  Binghamton, NY: Haworth Pastoral Press (link to publisher).
     
    (Excerpt taken from the back of the book) Health Through Faith and Community is a unique study guide that encourages Christian congregations to enhance the well-being of individual church members as well as society as a whole.  Presented as eight study sessions that can be used independently or combined for an in-depth learning process, this notebook-sized guide includes valuable insights and learning activities from an ecumenical Christian perspective about the physical, mental, social, spiritual, and environmental aspects of health.
         See Reviews by readers (on amazon.com).
     
     
     
  • Spiritual Diversity and Social Work: A Comprehensive Bibliography with Annotations (2nd Edition).   Canda, E. R., Nakashima, M., Burgess, V., Russel, R., & Barield, S. T. (2003). Alexandria, VA: Council on Social Work Education.
          This booklet provides a comprehensive listing of nearly 800 publications on the topic of spirituality and social work.  Entries are organized by topics and many annotations are provided.  The booklet can be accessed on-line for purchase and for searching contents by key words.  This second edition can be accessed on-line and searched by keywords.
     

     

  • Transpersonal Perspectives on Spirituality in Social Work
    Canda, E. R., & Smith, E. D. (Eds.).  (2001) Binghamton, NY:  Haworth Press (link to publisher).
         Released also as double issue of Social Thought, 20(1/2).  Each chapter represents an article written by a scholar of transpersonal theory in the field of spirituality and social work.  Topics include conceptual models of spirituality, deep ecology, facing death, empowerment practice, mental health assessment, violence, disabilities, hospice, and practice with couples.
          See Reviews by readers (on amazon.com).

     

     
  • Spiritual Diversity in Social Work Practice: The Heart of Helping  
    Canda, E. R. & Furman, L. D. (1999). New York: The Free Press.

     (Excerpt taken from front flap) In this book we integrate existentialist, transpersonal, holistic and system theories with Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Islamic, Judaic, and Shamanistic traditions of helping.  They provide the knowledge, ethical guidelines, and practical skills and techniques that all social workers can follow, regardless of their particular theoretical approaches. Stories, practice examples, insights from a national survey of social workers, and learning exercises support the reader's professional and personal growth.
     See Reviews by readers and sample pages (on amazon.com).

 

  • Spirituality in Social Work: New Directions
    Canda, E.  R. (Ed.).  (1998). Binghamton, NY:  Haworth Press (link to publisher).

     Released also as a special issue of Social Thought, 18(2). Each chapter represents an article written by a scholar in the field of spirituality and
social work. Topics include conceptual models of spirituality, social work education, intuition, Taoism and the strengths perspective, dying in adolescence, church/state relations, and themes for innovation.
      See Reviews by readers (on amazon.com).

 

Guest Edited Special Issues of Journals
 

  • Canda, E. R. & Cheon, J. W. (Eds.). (2010). Spirituality and positive youth development - Special Issue. Currents: New Scholarship in the Human Services, 9(1). **This journal is freely accessible online. 

  • Canda, E. R. (Ed.).  (2005).  Spiritual diversity in social work – Special Issue.  Reflections: Narratives of Professional Helping, 11(3).