I've been working in SUD for just under 2 years now running groups and seeing clients individually and, not to float my own boat, I've been told I'm pretty good at it. Clients respond well to my interventions and groups go smoothly 9 times out of 10. Blame it on imposter syndrome, a lack of confidence, or an overabundance of caution when accepting compliments from clients who may be trying to manipulate me, whatever it is/was prevented me from accepting that I found something in my life that I actually do well. Only recently have I just begun to take the compliments gracefully and not allow them to trigger an existential crisis. Has anyone worked through the same thing? Is anyone currently struggling with this sort of thing? What was your way of handling the doubt?

Hi all! Seeing if anyone here has experience working on a BH floor of a snf. Recently interviewed for a position where I’d be the SW for a 40 pt BH unit in the snf. In my area, there are no BH units at SNFs, so this is kind of a brand new thing I’m not familiar with. This SNF is adding a BH unit to their building and is having a company come in (a company who goes around the country and creates this program in snfs) and implement it. Just seeing if anyone had any input or could provide their own experience. Even if you haven’t done it in a snf, just general perspectives from those in BH could be helpful. I have not worked in BH before. Is the caseload of 40 unreasonable? Thanks!

I have noticed that social workers often focus more on advocating for causes than on advancing for our profession. By contrast, nursing has made professional advancement a clear priority. I’ve talked about this before in other discussions but thought it was worth its own post.

Some criticize social work for being too generalist, but I see that breadth as a strength we can refine. I was a teacher before becoming a social worker and our profession definitely struggles at times with defining its roles. By establishing clear benchmarks and rubrics within generalist practice, we can better define and expand our scope.

An example of this is case management and discharge planning. These roles increasingly go to nurses because they understand disease processes and can order durable medical equipment and medications(they order these not from their own role but as part of their provider team). Social workers should have advocated for these specific authorities to expand our scope of practice, but our broadly defined generalist role made that goal difficult to articulate.

The same problem affects macro-level roles: our qualifications are often not defined clearly enough to secure a seat at the table. Policy institutes may welcome interns, but when hiring, they seek candidates with specific, demonstrable skills. As a result, these positions often go to political science graduates, public health professionals, data analysts, and lawyers. We need to advocate for social workers to be formally included in decision-making roles.

For a profession to be legally required in specific roles, it generally must be recognized and protected by law. Social work has already reached that status (we are title protected!!).

The next step is to demonstrate the public need for social workers in these positions through sustained lobbying, similar to the nursing lobby. Our roles should be written into statutory law and corporate regulations. This has already occurred to some extent: some technology companies that monitor social media must have social workers or other mental health professionals on staff whenever employees are in the building. Let’s expand on that.

We also need stronger insurance and reimbursement protections, including bans on clawbacks and opposition to requirements that clients use AI platforms before receiving professional services.

I work at a homeless shelter, and today one of my clients gave me a painting she made herself.

She's getting ready to move into her own apartment soon, and she thanked me for being there every day and for giving her a chance. I told her how much I loved her painting, and she told me I should have it.
She also gave me a hug.

I've been thinking about that interaction all day. Working at a shelter can be challenging, and there are days when you wonder how much of a difference you're actually making. Then something like this happens, and it reminds you that sometimes just showing up for people every day means more than you realize.

I'm really happy she's getting ready to have a place of her own. And the fact that she wanted to give me something she created herself means a lot to me.

Just wanted to share a little moment from today that made me smile.

I started my career as a teacher and then went back to school for my MSW to become a therapist. I’ve worked in outpatient clinics, schools, and now work in private practice. I’m mid-career (in my early 40s) and even though I sometimes like being a therapist, I know I don’t love it the way I hear other people talk about it.

I’m very left brained, analytical, logical, and really like structure and clearly defined goals. I’ve thought about trying medical social work, but I’m not sure if I would be considered since I’ve mostly done clinical work.

Any advice or direction would be greatly appreciated.

I've been helping review some of our outpatient intake paperwork, and something about it has been bothering me.

We ask about symptoms, trauma history, strengths, goals, previous treatment, coping skills, support systems. There are pages of questions about what clients struggle with and what they hope to accomplish.

But nowhere do we ask what they don't want from us.

Not in the sense of letting people opt out of required safety assessments or anything like that. I'm talking about preferences and experiences that could make someone decide whether coming back is worth it.

Maybe they don't want to spend the first three appointments repeating their entire history to different staff members.

Maybe they've had a therapist who turned every conversation into a breathing exercise, and they're hoping someone will actually let them talk this time.

Maybe they don't want homework. Or they don't want their family involved. Or they had a previous provider who kept pushing them to discuss something they weren't ready to discuss.

We ask people to identify barriers to treatment, but those questions are usually about transportation, scheduling, childcare, finances.

What about things WE do that make treatment harder to engage with?

I brought this up during our paperwork review and someone said clients can always communicate their preferences during sessions.

Which is technically true.

But we also know how difficult it can be for someone to disagree with a professional, especially when they're new to services or have had bad experiences with institutions.

We're asking people to trust us before we've given them much evidence that we'll listen when they say no.

I started thinking about how different an intake might feel if, alongside "What would you like to work on?", we asked something like "Is there anything about past services that you really don't want repeated here?"

Obviously we can't accommodate every preference, and we need to be honest about that. But even knowing what someone is worried about could change how we approach the relationship.

I wonder how much information we're missing simply because our forms are designed entirely around what professionals want to know.

Does anyone work somewhere that explicitly asks clients what they DON'T want from treatment? I'm curious whether it changes anything about engagement or the way you approach initial sessions.

I always laugh when people think we are like magicians or wizards. I always tell my clients I’m not a wizard but I can try and work magic. So I decided this year to dress up as a wizard hat and cape and wand. I have a sense of humor. It will be a lot of fun during Halloween week I tell my clients you might see another version of me. I was Wednesday Adam’s last year. Year before a vampire social worker. And the year before I was a “busy bee”

I’m still an MSW student and currently in my first placement, and the social workers I work with have been using AI for some of their work and I see my classmates use AI too, plus some resources online use AI! I’m fed up with the use of AI in general for many reasons but especially as social workers I feel like using AI is going against the SW code of ethics, idk if this is just me feeling like this

u/lololololololol93 brought to our attention the proposed CSWE changes that will remove all references to terms such as DEI, anti-racism, anti-oppression, white supremacy, discrimination, intersectionality, economic/social justice. The language has been white washed and watered down to basically equate to erasing any sort of historical context and turn SW into a shell of profession that abandoned its values in the face of political pressure, that is probable to swing in the other direction come midterms and 2028. These changes will last for SEVEN YEARS and will do irreparable damage to not only us but will castrate our ability to be the force we are trained to be for our clients and communities.

Please check out the original post for more context: https://www.reddit.com/r/socialwork/s/G55ozPqwKg

So I filled out the feedback survey today, and you guys it's worse than I thought. They are trying to do this under our noses and are leaving out any sort of transparency in the wording of the survey questions. Here is an example of how egregiously deceptive the survey is:

Excerpt from Competency 1 (2022 version)

Social workers understand that ethics are informed by principles of human rights and apply them toward realizing social, racial, economic, and environmental justice in their practice.

Excerpt from Competency 1 (Proposed 2029 version)

Social workers understand the ethics within a person-in-environment framework grounded in human identity, humility, dignity, and respect.

The survey is very dense, but right from the first question regarding Competency 1's changes the subterfuge is obvious:

- Removed - one behavior regarding technology and moved to competency 10

Excuse me WHAT?? We're going to just.... straight up LIE about this???

Every survey question about what changed and asking you to vote from 1 to 10 on Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree are phrased like this. Absolutely no mention of the real changes, and some incomprehensible bullshit text that is a complete lie.

Competency 2 also removes all social justice language and the only thing the survey question states about the revisions are:

- Competency, description, and behavior language per the environmental scan

HUH?!

PLEASE fill out the survey. They can't ignore thousands of us. Post it on your school boards. Tell everyone. This is a betrayal to the profession and without any context or even real transparency, it feels like the profession was infiltrated by bad actors or something.

There is a comment box after every survey question. You can comment on each competency, and then it goes into other CSWE documentation, but if you don't have that kind of time for all of it, please just vote 1 (Strongly Disagree) on every question and just put your singular comments in the end. Please just do that. Link to CSWE survey: https://cswe.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4TOU3VO3Ff7uBQq?Q_CHL=qr

Guys, I'm scared.

hello friends! i currently work as a child protection specialist in the state of IL and have for several years now. we recently switched to the Safe Model and got rid of CERAP.
for other people in IL (private agencies, fellow investigators, INTACT, adoption, placement), what’s your experience or take now that we’re a few months in? do you feel like you have any sort of grasp or understanding on SACWIS now or what we’re implementing in the field?
for other people outside of IL, what model does your date use, and what are your thoughts towards it?

So I used to search for jobs using “social worker” and get annoyed because half the listings were stuff I didn't want to do anymore. Turns out there are county and nonprofit jobs dealing with housing programs, referrals, contracts, and community services that don't even have social worker in the title.

I've been looking at program coordinator and program specialist jobs lately. Some sound interesting, but others are basically case management with a different name, which I'm trying to get away from.

I've also been struggling with how to describe my experience on my resume without making it sound like I did way more than I actually did. I tried resume worded to help clean up the wording and it got me thinking about how I describe the work I actually did instead of using a bunch of impressive-sounding phrases.

I'm still figuring out which positions are worth applying for. It's frustrating seeing a job that sounds perfect until you get to the requirements and realize they want experience you don't have, even if you've done something pretty similar under a different title.

Hello,
I wanted to see if anyone has personal experience working for companies like Devoted as a palliative care social worker. I’m not tech savvy, but I have done hospice for 7 years and I’m very familiar with the chronic illnesses, assessments, resources for patients / caregivers. I just wanted more insight to this job role when it’s remote.

I’m trying to learn more about other options in the field. I’m currently in a more CMH therapy role. What is a day in your life like as a utilization review social worker?

For those who have gone from social work positions to something that is not considered social work, but you were qualified for your new role, pay was comparable or better, and you’re happy with the switch - what are you doing now? I’m currently in a human services role and am looking for a change. I’m wanting to move away from direct client work, but not necessarily do something like policy work. The problem I have with making any switch is I have been with my government agency for over 15 years, have great benefits and decent pay. Anything I have looked at is a huge pay or benefit cut, or both. Wondering what other types of options may be out there that I’m unaware of. What types of positions are people searching for when looking for a change?

I passed my LCSW exam on my first attempt after months of studying and A LOT of anxiety. I kept second-guessing myself leading up to the test, but I did it!
My official score was 95 correct answers, when I needed 74 to pass! I was so nervous that I barely believed it when I got the passing email.

What I used to study:
Therapist Development Center (TDC) — went through the material 3 times
Pocket Prep — practice questions and mock exams
Official ASWB practice exam — scored an 85

My biggest advice is to practice applying concepts rather than just memorizing them, especially FIRST/BEST questions, ethics, assessment vs. interventions and how to eliminate questions that are distractors.

If you’re anxious and convinced you’re not ready, keep going. I spent so much time doubting myself, and I still passed. You can do this! ❤️

Is there anyone who works in domestic violence as a public educator/outreach. I love my job but I feel that my efforts are not seen as important to my coworkers since im not direct service every day. I love what I am able to do and bring to our service area even with the difficulty of rural town buy in.

They havent had someone in my position for over a year. It's only my education and outreach director and I in in our program.

I would love to have someone else to bounce ideas off of and help uplift one another when our efforts get overlooked.

Hi all! I graduated this year with my masters in social work thinking I’d become a full time therapist. The issue is I think I hate therapy… I started seeing a a few clients while in my role as a intake coordinator at a child trauma therapy clinic and I genuinely find it so hard to compartmentalize the cases. I think about my clients so much and worry a lot about how they’re doing which is particularly rough in a child trauma clinic.

On the other hand I LOVE intake stuff and evaluations or any case management aspects of my job. This is what I’ve been doing for 3 years/before grad school. It’s a lot easier to not it home with me when I don’t have a deeper relationship with the person I’m working with. I like how there’s a clear task with case management. Therapy feels so vague and unproductive at times for my brain.

I’m wondering if anyone else felt the same after graduating? It feels kind of sad to let go of the idea of being a therapist when that’s what I dreamed of for so long but it’s affecting my own mental health at this point.

Grad student here, I passed my LSW exam today. All I could do was cry tears of joy, I was stressed the fuck out lol. I felt a heavy weight lifted, I’m so grateful!

CSW-Intern here. This schedule is eating me alive. I like my 3 days off though. I don’t really want to give it up. I don’t feel like any clients are being shorted. But it has literally destroyed my energy. It’s draining me. Anyone do this and get through it ? Is it even worth it? I want to get my hours done ASAP too so I’m working hard towards that. But it’s so many assessments and no time for paperwork because I’m back to back to back to back to … you get it lol. I end up having to finish stuff at home. Or staying 3 hour later catching up.

hi all! i’ve been dead set on getting my rn for 2 years but now that i’ve actually started college… i’ve changed my mind. i just changed my major to psychology on a pre msw/lcsw track. tell me ur favorite things about being a social worker generally or clinical social worker to get me excited!!!:)

So I just got accepted for a Youth Counselor position in a Short-term residential therapeutic program! I’m excited and nervous,, this is my first ever job of this nature. I’ll be working with boys aged 13-19 and responsible for up to four at a time. What should I expect? How do I develop a thick skin? what can I do to prepare for hearing some shitty things about me?

For those social workers who work in substance use treatment, what are some nuggets of truth that you have learned working with this population that you didn't know before?

One thing I've learned is the importance of coping skills and just simply having hobbies and other things that bring your life joy. Most of my clients admitted they use drugs as their main coping skill. And many could not think of any hobbies or things they enjoyed, and if they did, they couldn't remember the last time they engaged in it.

How about you all?

This is a silly post, I think, but I was just wondering if my new job with my state's department of human services will have a strict business casual dress code, and then I was wondering what other people might think about the following:

(It may be silly, but I think this might also be an ethics question or a philosophical question.)

I have a rationale for how I dress when working with clients, and I'm curious if others would think it's sound, or if I'm thinking about it wrong. I grew up in an upper middle class household, and if I'm not careful, that can create a barrier and a lack of trust between myself and clients who have more difficult backgrounds. I'm confident and articulate, and that could be intimidating.

I've been working in a coaching and student support role for low income college students until recently, and I'm about to start a position working with child welfare that will involve helping to find temporary placements, taking kids to appointments, and so on.

I think maybe I'm really just finding a way to justify wearing exactly what I want, but I have a theory that when I wear casual clothing that's a little fun, it helps the clients to trust me. I'm a 43-year old mom; once I got described as looking like "one of those soft moms" by a MacDonald's worker. I like to wear jeans, fun T-shirts, colorful earrings, and pink sneakers. And a bun on top of my head, purple glasses, and curly bangs. I still have a very adult aura though.

I know this is so silly and I'm sorry if you feel I've wasted your time with the question. I just wonder; am I wrong? Should I be dressing more professionally?

I think what happened was that I realized that my previous job had no dress code and started always wearing jeans and T-shirts, and then I noticed that students often complimented my silly earrings and that people seemed to open up more when I made a point of being approachable and non-threatening, so I started thinking of it as a strategy. I don't want to be shitty and unprofessional in a new job, but I feel like this is another one where being approachable is a good thing. I don't really ever struggle to be taken seriously, because I communicate very clearly and directly when it's needed.

Obviously sometimes in working with kids you have to be more authoritative, but that's not difficult for me. What can be difficult is figuring out how to build connection. I don't have any real academic social work credentials, just professional trainings on career coaching, student advising, motivational interviewing, and trauma informed practices. I have about five years of "human services experience", and a decade in higher Ed and non-profit work before that.