Picturing Empathy In Practice: Exploring practitioners’ lived experiences of empathy with children and families

Ayling, Peter ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2987-5025 (2025) Picturing Empathy In Practice: Exploring practitioners’ lived experiences of empathy with children and families. In: Joint University Social Work Association Postgraduate Conference, 25-27 June 2025, University of Central Lancashire, Preston. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

This poster will present findings from my doctoral research exploring the lived experiences of social workers in relation to their perceptions of empathy within their work with children and families. Drawing on findings from three distinct groups of participants - experienced workers (more than three years qualified), newly qualified workers (completing their ASYE) and supervisors and managers, the poster will focus on my use of a visual research method (Rose, 2016) based on Lowenfeld’s world technique (Lowenfeld, 2003) combined with Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA; Smith Flowers & Larkin,2022). This visual method enabled participants to visualise their experiences of empathy in several ways - choosing symbols to represent their practice with children and families ; reflecting on the emotional impact of their created images; choosing titles to capture their responses to their image. I draw on theoretical frameworks from semiotics and phenomenology to support my analysis of the research images. I will consider the benefits and limitations of this methodology and evaluate the process of integrating visual research with interpretative phenomenology. I propose that the use of a visual research method supported participants’ reflection and engagement with their experiences of empathic practice, potentially deepening our understanding of empathy as a phenomenon within social work practice.

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