Transcending Anthropocentrism in Social Work: A Consideration of Other-Than-Human Animals

Abstract

Although social work has largely reflected a human-centered orientation, it has also emphasized spirituality and green social work in certain respects. However, these perspectives remain only partially aligned with posthumanism, as they continue to prioritize human beings. However, as post-human thought has gained prominence, some social work scholars have proposed conceptual and practical approaches to casework involving other-than-human actors, both by recognizing them as part of the client's system and by Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT). Within this perspective, therapeutic animals are understood as non-human animals, including dogs and horses, which have been incorporated into interventions with diverse populations such as autistic children, survivors of violence, and individuals experiencing psychological trauma. Furthermore, this article argues that, although philosophical incompatibilities remain an obstacle to the application of posthumanism in social work, some scholars have attempted to demonstrate its relevance to anti-oppressive social work theory as well as its compatibility with psychotherapeutic and psychosocial approaches. They have also proposed the possibility of incorporating post-humanism into social work practice by recognizing non-human animals as an integral part of the information considered in assessment and intervention, while acknowledging the ethical challenges of involving non-human animals in therapeutic processes as a potential new direction for social casework practice in Thailand.