Somatics in Social Work Education: Applying Reproductive & Disability Justice to Achieve Collective Liberation

Presenter(s)

Catherine Poehling, DSW, MSW, MS, LCSW-BACS, LCSW-S, SEP

Assistant Professor
University of Southern Mississippi
Melissa I. Singh, Ed.D., LCSW, MS-HSA

Professor of Social Work, Practicum
University of Southern California, Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work

This presentation explores how embodied practices can transform social work education and social action to achieve reproductive justice and disability justice. By integrating somatic approaches into curricula, educators can address systemic oppression and trauma, fostering resilience and advancing healing justice for communities impacted by white supremacy, patriarchy, and ableism.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, attendees should be able to:

Identify three ways somatic embodiment addresses systemic oppression and trauma in social work education and practice.
Apply reproductive justice and disability justice frameworks to integrate body-centered approaches into social work education.
Examine three potential outcomes for creating anti-oppressive, embodied learning environments aligned with CSWE EPAS standards.