ABSTRACT
People choose social work with various motivations, and the process of social work field education may create the foundation of the way in which people transform the meaning of their work as they grow into their professional lives. Many people choose to work as mental health practitioners because they want to help others, but what made them choose this path? The authors view is that mental health “helpers” engage with spirituality as a form of making meaning in their work. Field learning is where students develop their professional identities by evaluating their values and life experiences. Through assignments and supervision, field learning is designed to foster students’ reflections. Spirituality has been the one force that has felt consistent throughout the author's life. His family believed in spirit energy because it was a part of their folk beliefs. Helping people one at a time is meaningful to him, and sharing what he learned through teaching is even more meaningful.
