why do social workers love Brené Brown?
Image from Upsplash
This may be a premature time for me to be writing this, as I am only about halfway through Brené’s collection of books, have barely started her podcast, and have seen only a handful of her various TEDtalks, interviews, and social media.
BUT – one thing is very clear. Social workers (and the general mental health interested public) just LOVE her. And quote her. And use her research to shape our practices, whether it is self-care, empathy, trauma, or connection based.
Brené’s “official” line, from her website describes her as a “research professor at the University of Houston”, who has multiple roles but has the focus of “studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy”. She has written multiple books, six of which are #1 bestsellers on the New York Times list. She has 2 of her own podcasts. She is a social worker who has worked for decades on her own education (she holds the titles PhD and LMSW) and now spends her life educating others.
This is a very bare bones description of her work but for the sake of space and getting to the point, I’ll leave it there. If you are a fan, you already know all of this!
One of the key strengths of Brené’s work is the ability to connect with her readers and listeners by sharing personal stories while making connections to her research and inspiring us to be better.
Better humans, better social workers, better parents, better leaders.
The first time I heard of Brené, I immediately got her confused with Bobbi Brown, the cosmetics mogul. It took me a while to separate the two in my mind! Now this is kind of embarrassing but maybe I’m not the only one and Brené has taught me to own my story and my embarrassment so there it is. I’m sure one of the first things of hers I watched was her TEDtalk about shame and vulnerability. I saw quotes of hers on social media that felt really inspiring, which led me to check out her book, I Thought it was Just Me (But it Isn’t). From there I became somewhat of a fan. I’d continue to seek out the odd podcast episode, always watch a video I came across on my feed, and followed her on various social media channels.
In 2020 I jumped back into school full-time, into the Child Studies program where immediately Brené started showing up in my classes. Not actually physically showing up of course, but her quotes, research, and TEDtalks were used frequently to drive home critical points about empathy, trauma, connection, and so on. Brené has a way of making sense of the feelings and stressors we all feel, giving us realistic strategies and steps to move through challenges with grace and hope.
I switched into the BSW program in the Fall of 2021, where guess what, even more Brené Brown! Her video describing the difference between sympathy and empathy was used in at least 3 of my classes. Her quotes show up in almost every PowerPoint presentation. Episodes of her podcast appear in course materials. Students discuss her work and can be brought to tears by some of her revelations that just hit right there.
So what is it about Brené that attracts us and keeps us interested in her work?
I think it is her seamless blend of using common feelings and experiences (empathy) along with research, metaphors, stories, and strategies to bring it all together. Discussing hard topics like shame, trauma, and vulnerability and making them make sense. All while approaching these issues through a social work lens that becomes clear when you compare some of her excellent teachings with our codes of ethics and standards of practice. Take for example, her Seven Elements of Trust: Boundaries, Reliability, Accountability, Vault, Integrity, Nonjudgment, and Generosity (Brown, Rising Strong, 2015). Every one of these can be brought back to the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) Code of Ethics, both the 2005 and 2024 versions.
Beyond Brené’s explanations and strategies, she also has a distinct talent in making us believe that we can do it too. We can be anything we want to be and even everything we didn’t know we want to be. We are told through her work that owning our stories and going for it will pay off. If not how we expect, we will always learn and grow from our attempts. One of my favorite acronyms of hers right now is the SFD or “shitty first draft” – the concept that gives permission for us to just do it – get it out, try it, write it, plan it. What we do doesn’t have to be perfect or even seen by anyone else. But the act of creating something will lead to something else, and maybe even something great.
Image from Upsplash
So here is my SFD, as I practice my writing and internalize my own learning. There may be lots more to come on Brené Brown as I continue to explore her work.
Are you a fan of Brené?
What is your favorite concept? What is your favorite work of hers?
Contributed by Ellery, BSW Practicum Student
