{"id":34076,"date":"2022-03-29T13:26:34","date_gmt":"2022-03-29T17:26:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.redeemer.ca\/?p=34076"},"modified":"2022-04-07T12:27:22","modified_gmt":"2022-04-07T16:27:22","slug":"charting-the-way-of-compassion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.redeemer.ca\/resound\/charting-the-way-of-compassion\/","title":{"rendered":"Charting the Way of Compassion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For Dr. Aaron Smith, his chosen career is an inevitable result of following Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTo follow the God we claim to follow means we have to give special priority to people who are hurting, outcast and marginalized,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s everywhere throughout Scripture.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout the past 10 years, Smith has worked as a registered psychotherapist and taught in university psychology and social work programs throughout Canada. In 2021, he completed his PhD in social work and took on the roles of assistant professor of social work<\/a> and director of field education at Redeemer. Preparing future generations, particularly within a Christian environment, hasn\u2019t ceased to amaze and excite him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c[Teaching] is energizing, life-giving and makes me feel like I\u2019m able to make a big impact by preparing more people for this kind of work. My own doctoral research explores how believing in a faith like Christianity becomes the core of who we are and intersects with every other part of us including our professional identity. To work in a place that intentionally focuses on that connection is wonderful and definitely drew me to Redeemer in a really big way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I hope to keep connecting the dots between what we read and talk about in the classroom, how things actually look in practice and vice versa. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As the director of field education, Smith journeys with his students as they take their first cautious steps into the workplace. This involves checking in with them on a regular basis and organizing class discussions throughout the semester. Moving forward, he plans to further bridge the gap students can experience when it comes to academic-based theory and real-life application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn supporting, encouraging and challenging them, I hope to keep connecting the dots between what we read and talk about in the classroom, how things actually look in practice and vice versa.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among all the wisdom Smith will undoubtedly impart to each cohort, the most important lesson comes down to one word: compassion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe can\u2019t always eradicate suffering or rescue people from it. What we can do, and what we see Jesus always doing, is to crawl into these dark places and sit there with somebody. This idea of compassion filters into so many things that we\u2019re trying to do in social work. It has to be central, and I try to keep it central to all my teaching, research and practice.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Dr. Aaron Smith, assistant professor of social work and director of field education, talks about the principles that guide him in his work at Redeemer.","protected":false},"author":4576,"featured_media":34097,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[64],"tags":[131,202,225],"acf":{"sub_title":"","post_featured_image":34405,"post_image_vertical_position":"top","post_hero":false,"post_featured":false,"post_featured_order":"0","post_hide_me":false,"use_drop_cap_and_lead_in":true,"hide_recent_articles_sidebar":false,"hide_popular_stories_in_body":false,"cover_story":false,"related_faculty_members":[{"ID":30725,"post_author":"4603","post_date":"2021-08-09 14:39:38","post_date_gmt":"2021-08-09 18:39:38","post_content":"\n

Before joining Redeemer in 2021, Aaron Smith taught in social work and psychotherapy programs throughout Canada for more than ten years.  These have included teaching at both public institutions, such as Wilfrid Laurier University, Renison University College, and King\u2019s University College, and faith-based institutions, including Emmanuel Bible College and Briercrest College.  Aaron has also worked as a therapist for more than ten years in a variety of settings, including private practice, community-based organizations, mental health institutions, and primary health care.  In addition to his academic education, Aaron has received advanced professional training in Clinical Supervision, Couples Therapy, Sex Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia, and Compassion Fatigue for ministry leaders, personal caregivers, and health care providers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Woven throughout Aaron\u2019s many research interests is an emphasis on relationships, and how relationships are not only experienced and managed, but also how they impact other areas of life.  Aaron has presented workshops and published articles in numerous fields including mental health care, domestic violence, peer support, spiritual care, social work, and sociology, often from the perspective of Christianity.  The main focus of Aaron\u2019s doctoral research is on how the intersection of personal and professional identities impacts the experience of relational engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When he is not at work, conducting research, or writing articles and other resources, Aaron enjoys reading, baseball, music, being outdoors, and spending time with his wife and three daughters.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Dr. Aaron Smith","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"private","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"aaron-smith","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-01-09 14:02:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-01-09 19:02:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.redeemer.ca\/?post_type=faculty-manager&p=30725","menu_order":0,"post_type":"faculty-manager","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"related_academic_programs":[{"ID":13378,"post_author":"4605","post_date":"2017-04-25 15:49:43","post_date_gmt":"2017-04-25 19:49:43","post_content":"","post_title":"Social 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