Practices Implemented by Social Workers Working in Disasters and Emergencies: The Example of the February 6, 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquake

This study examines the professional practices of social workers who provided psychosocial support services following the Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes of February 6, 2023. The study aims to expand the limited existing findings on post-disaster social work practices and to develop an in-depth understanding of social workers’ professional experiences. Adopting a qualitative method and a phenomenological approach, in-depth interviews were conducted with ten social workers employed in public institutions and non-governmental organizations. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis with the Maxqda Analytics program. The findings revealed that the most frequently implemented interventions were needs and resource assessment and psychological first aid. In addition, it was found that in coping with emotional burden, social workers tended to rely more on peer supervision and experience sharing rather than institutional support. It is recommended to strengthen supportive structures and update relevant social policies to enable social workers to maintain professional boundaries and perform their roles effectively.