ABSTRACT
This chapter begins by exploring the impetus for developing a framework for including spirituality in practice, called 'Critical Spirituality'. The framework was influenced by the experiences as a practitioner, social work educator and trainer, and from research with health and social care professionals who wanted to actively include 'spiritual' in their professional practice. The critical in critical spirituality relates to critical social theory, which links liberation theology and critical social work practice. Critical social theory makes explicit how individuals and communities are influenced by their social, economic, historical and political context both individually through internalising social expectations and structurally in institutional arrangements. The development of postmodernism as a reaction to modernism has influenced Western culture significantly and, in turn, both spiritual expression and professional practice. The process of articulating underlying theory and values from practice contributed to formation of principles for practice outlined. The chapter finishes by giving examples to ground understanding of how these principles might influence practice.
