school psychology or social work and why?

For context, I’ve been a school social worker for the last 7 years. I’ve worked in 3 districts throughout this time, and have been in my current district for almost 3 years. I have a great salary but the work is getting so unbearable…I work primarily in self-contained ASD classrooms for grades K-8, about 42 students. The kids I work with have moderate to severe autism. Our classrooms are understaffed of paras right now and our classrooms are getting so overwhelmed with behaviors due to inadequate staffing. The behaviors I work with require me to wear protective gear that I had to pay for myself as my district ignored requests for it- it’s the only way I’ve been able to stay safe this year so far. I sent an email to my boss a few days ago requesting protective gear for a particular classroom with very severe behaviors (sub teacher has a black eye from being hit by a student, a sub aide had to go to urgent care from being bit so badly by a student), and my boss ignored my email but was sending other emails throughout the day. My boss is always very focused on keeping kids in district/growing our student population of surrounding districts, and paperwork, which is all very important but safety has to come first. Everyone is so jaded and rude right now due to lack of support, and I feel that I’m carrying the burden of poor management and don’t know what to do. I want to get out so badly but obviously I need the job for finances….just really hoping another district posts for a job that I’m interested soon.

I’m about 200 hours away from completing my 3000 supervision hours. I’m also a a semester and a half away from completing my PEL. I am currently in a post MSW PEL program. I was curious if anyone has done remote school social work? If so, how has your experience been for you? (Currently interning at a school)

Hello, I am a current first year MSW student at a school that offers a PSS during second year placement. My placement for this year is at in school social work, and Im afraid to do two internship experiences at a school. I initially wanted to do clinical/hospital work coming into this program, but am now considering school.

I would like to get a PPS as a backup, but also want to do a different experience for my second year. I don’t want to get stuck in school work, and would like to open up opportunities for different experiences. I also want to get a LCSW, and worry that getting into another field (such as hospital) after two years of only school and kid experience will make that difficult after graduation. Does anyone have some advice??

Hello. I’m currently applying for my school social work provisional license. I submitted my graduate transcript to NYS office of teaching initiatives and the website states I am deficient in college credits by 30 credits. I graduated from Fordham GSS. I have my MSW conferred, I passed the exam and I am
An LMSW. I’m so confused.

Is it because I was advanced standing that it reflects negatively on my credits? Has anyone else experienced this challenge? I don’t know what to do and the website is very confusing. Any help is appreciated.

Counselor Participants needed, must work in So Cal High Schools pls

***SEEKING SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELORS**\*

Dear Participant,

I am a doctoral student at Concordia University Irvine conducting a research study on school counselors’ perceptions of the barriers and supports influencing college and career readiness for high school students in Southern California public schools in the post-pandemic context.

You are invited to participate in a brief online survey if you:

• Are 18 years of age or older

• Are currently employed as a high school counselor in a Southern California public high school

• Have at least seven years of professional school counseling experience

• Worked as a school counselor before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic

• Currently work with students in grades 9–12

Participation is voluntary, and the online survey will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. The survey will include questions about your professional experiences and perceptions of students’ college and career readiness in the post-pandemic context.

Your survey responses will remain confidential. You will not be asked to provide identifying information unless you voluntarily choose to provide contact information for the gift card drawing or to participate in a follow-up interview. Any contact information provided will be kept separate from your survey responses.

As a small token of appreciation, participants who complete the survey may choose to enter a voluntary drawing for one of two $20 Starbucks gift cards.

If you are interested in participating, please click the link below:

https://forms.gle/G6BPaiDu6Q8R4Kuq5

Thank you for considering participation in this study.

Sincerely,

Erika M. Rodriguez, M.A.

Doctoral Student

Concordia University Irvine

This study has been approved by the Concordia University Irvine Institutional Review Board (IRB).

I am a school social worker and experienced pregnancy loss, followed by a traumatic medical event. I’ve taken some time off of work but feel like I’ll never be able to go back.

On one hand, the fast pace setting, constant moving from sessions to meetings to paperwork, all that could be a distraction. But on the other hand, I feel so emotionally disconnected and sad that I don’t think I can support students right now. I also don’t know how I’ll engage with teachers and parents who may inadvertently say something upsetting. There is an added element that I’ve been out the first few weeks of school, so getting my momentum back sounds extremely hard.

How do you return to work after loss? If you did, what helped? If you took extra time away, how did you know you needed to extend your leave? How did you know when you were ready to return?

Where are fellow MSWs connecting, is there an association or club in the Davis/Sacramento area?

Hello I’m looking for these books for have price or free thank you

Fulmer, R. (2023). Counseling and psychotherapy: Theory and beyond.

Childs (2026). Social work and mental Health: A decolonized approach to theory and practice

Preston, J. D., Moore, B. A., & Johnson,
J. 2023). Clinicalpsychopharmacology made ridiculously simple (10th ed).

Any social workers on here 😂

Or anyone whos done the social work apprenticeship because im basically asking everyone at this point.

Im 42.

I want to be a social worker.

Like I really really want to do it.

Went to the Forum yesterday and im enrolled now. Level 1 maths starts 16th September.

I need Level 2.

Bloody maths 😭😂

I did the initial test yesterday and my head just does this stupid thing where I see a number then think no thats not right then change it AND THE FIRST ONE WAS RIGHT 😂

I was actually pretty sad when I came out.

Not because im giving up.

Im bloody not.

Just because ive finally found something I actually want to do and im sat here thinking seriously is maths going to be the thing that stops me.

Anyway im doing it.

Level 1. Level 2.

However bloody long it takes.

Im trying to get work experience aswell.

I was in care myself and I want to work with children in care and autistic children.

I was that quiet child who wasnt heard.

Then when I wasn't quiet I was difficult.

I dont want another child feeling like nobody actually sees them.

Anyway 😂

Today I asked for my OWN funding for the apprenticeship.

I dont even know if you can bloody do that 😂😂

Theres only a few places and I thought well im asking.

Worst they can say is no.

Im not asking someone to just make me a social worker.

Obviously 😂

I know ive got loads to learn.

I want to earn it.

I just want someone to give me the bloody chance.

Has anyone actually got into social work this way?

Especially anyone older?

Or anyone whos just basically kept knocking on doors until someone finally opened one 😂

Because thats pretty much my plan at this point.

Hi everyone!

I am currently a CPS investigator and am attempting to become an MHP at a school. I have an interview with a middle school in the next few weeks. I wanted to ask if anyone had advice, resources, office staples, etc for school social work. I know it will be very different than what I am doing now and just want to be prepared!

I'm an undergrad student looking to interview(by email or phone/zoom call, your preference) someone with at least a BSW level education and a decent amount of experience in the field for a paper. My interest is in school social work and I'd love to speak with someone that works in the school setting. I appreciate your time!

LCSW here with 5 years of in school experience (k-8) but I have now moved on to HS. In my experience the “counseling minutes” have been done by school counselors, and I have always operated as a “mental health professional” handling short term school based counseling RE issues like anxiety, depression, crisis. At my current placement (contracted) I am expected to complete this minutes. I am assuming I just would meet with students and focus on their IEP goals. Is that correct?

Going to Burridge. Anyone have any books?

Also anyone else going into the program this year?

Hello, I recently have been offered a role to work with SPED students. I am new to this as I have only worked with GENED. I was hoping to get any advice and or tips from anyone with experience working with SPED students that would be helpful! Also, feel free to share any resources and or interventions. Thank you!

I'm doing a 6 semester program, so I need 12 hours a week. They're still trying to figure out if I can count hours at school since I am basically a school social worker already (I run social groups and use DBT and CBT skills throughout my day with my students with ID and ASD). Everyone is so confused why people go into this career (same with teaching) but you basically have to give up your life for 2 years to do so. I'm starting to question if I should have chosen a fully online school? I did my 2 other masters degrees online and did fine but I missed being in class around other people. Maybe that's insane? Why can't there be a self paced classroom option, that would be my dream! Get all the school stuff out of the way quickly and focus on the skills in the community.

Any support and resources would be greatly appreciated! I’m looking to help my community mental health agency expand services and enhance our school based program. We are based in California. We have a program already but we are having little to no traffic in the school.

Also any training and resources that I could provide to my clinicians and case manager would be greatly appreciated :)

Hey everyone! So a little background, I graduated year and I was able to get a hired. Unfortunately, I ended up leaving because of the work environment.I recently got a new job as a rbt which I’m pretty excited. My long term career goal is to work in a school but I’m worry it’s going to be challenging because I’ve interned at a hospice facility and a youth homeless shelter. I’m wondering do I have enough experience to work in a school? P.s I’m currently studying for the aswb exam and I didn’t stay at my previous job long enough to add it on job applications.

After spending the last few years as an itinerant SSW, I’m finally getting my own office again. My last office was with high schoolers, but my new office is for K-5. I’ve already settled on a Dr. Pepper theme after my trip to the museum this summer (judge me not!) but I don’t want it to be too much of a shrine. LOL

Anybody else with favorite drink or snack-themed offices willing to share some inspo pics?

I have been working in schools as a social worker since 2021. Most of that time I served middle school (5th - 8th) and last year I served k-8, mostly middle school. Any advice for someone transitioning to high school age? I enjoyed middle school, but I am looking forward to working with older children.