our medicine

This thesis attempts to research and explore a unique private social work practice. This social work practice is based in Sydney Australia and is founded on spiritual principles of service, as well as sound social work service provision. The uniqueness of this study is in its observation of spirituality which is systematically and purposely structured into the social work service that the practice provides. The social work practice is also owned and run by the candidate and provides a rich research field for the work. The research will document and discuss the client and the volunteer perspective of spirituality which is incorporated in the therapeutic outcomes. This is achieved through the depth of data recorded in the focus groups and in-depth interviews ofthe clients and volunteers. Documenting the themes of healing and spirituality from the experience ofthe client and volunteer appear to be unique in social work research. The client's voice on spiritual perspectives remains pivotal to the direction ofthe therapeutic needs ofthe client. A unique private practice emerged which included the social work individual counselling session with some spiritual overtones, but with the addition of a volunteer prayer session. In this session a client could choose to meet with volunteer intercessors to pray face to face with them about the issues they presented for counsellin