This edited text brings together the stories of nine clinical social workers working during COVID-19, exploring the disconnections caused by a forced use of technology as well as the disconnections apparent in a time of social injustice.
'This is a sly book. It allegedly describes psychotherapy in the virtual age of COVID-19. But what these case studies really wonder is whether the human being is evolving into a new creature altogether. The narratives depict several paradoxes-male/female, disembodied/embodied, connection/disconnection, virtual/real, cases/stories-in our lives. These binaries, and the suffering endured by those trapped in them, are gradually revealed as fluid states. Gen Zs are not inalterably damaged by their extensive digital lives. Transgender identities herald categories yet unimaginably expansive. Case reports are indeed well-written stories. The gift of the paradox of social work is unveiled-the social life is seamlessly entwined with the work life, all of it relational, all of it formative of the self. A limitless horizon of possibilities appears, making room for ways of being awaiting our creative discovery.'
Rita Charon, Division of Narrative Medicine, Columbia University
'Herein, our frontline, essential workers voice what they learned during the pandemic. These experienced scholar-practitioners teach readers how to bridge new divides in our increasingly digital and socially fragmented world. You'll find opportunities for optimism, reflection, and discussion on every page.'
Widian Nicola, LCSW, DSW, NASW-NJ President, Assistant Professor, Seton Hall University
