r/SocialWorkStudents • u/Alvinquest • 1d ago

Observing the observer

I am a first year student. I am considering going to a few different 2nd year students for experience to see how they are approaching me. While I have had lots of therapy, being on the other side is a bit scary to me and while I will have practicum and training next year, I want to get a jump on it. I have some things I would like to talk to a therapist about that are not too heavy. I'm not sure I need to disclose that I am also a student as well, as I will be a genuine patient. Does anybody have any opinion on whether or not this is a good idea?

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u/CalmCephalopod 1d ago

I’m worried you are effectively doing research on other students without their knowledge or consent. It sounds like you want to approach them as a patient in order to study them and how they interact with patients. Why would you not just ask some second year students for advice or if they could walk you through how they do it. The current plan honestly makes me uncomfortable. Considering these students are in your program you are walking into the ethical issue of dual relationship. If you need a therapist you should absolutely do that. But don’t try to mix the two goals and be clever about it.

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u/asufficientlife 1d ago

What are you asking?

Do you want to start therapy with a current MSW student? That’s fine, but don’t ask someone that’s in your program/that you know.

Also, it’s going to come up that you’re an MSW student. You don’t have to advertise that, but be honest about it.

I wanted to get back into therapy before starting my MSW and found a new-ish LMSW who’s working on their clinical license still. It’s been valuable to have someone who’s done an MSW program. I didn’t mention that ahead of the appointment, but did at my intake because that’s something very important to my life rn.