Metaphors and analogies of professional wellbeing: Social workers’ perspectives

Abstract

Concern for the wellbeing of helping professionals has intensified in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, yet the concept of social workers’ wellbeing remains broadly and inconsistently defined. It is often described in terms of mental and physical health, emotional states such as happiness, and job satisfaction. Drawing on conceptual metaphor analysis and the capability approach, this article offers a new perspective on social workers’ wellbeing. Based on exploratory research conducted in South Africa, including 15 semi-structured interviews with eight practising social workers and seven social work educators, the study examines how metaphors illuminate understandings of wellbeing. Findings suggest that wellbeing is complex, dynamic and sometimes difficult to articulate. Participants identified determinants across biopsychosocial and spiritual domains, and used metaphors—such as a full cup of coffee or tea, a jar of cookies, or a full car tank—to convey wellbeing as a dynamic concept involving capabilities, functionings, and internal states that influence professional functioning. The study demonstrates the interpretive value of metaphors, showing how they can enrich understandings of wellbeing and inform more meaningful strategies to support social workers’ wellbeing across practice, educational and organisational settings, ultimately strengthening their capacity to advance social justice.