What is Social Work

What the Heck are these acronyms?

When it comes to mental health, there are SO many acronyms. I will not cover all of them in this blog (that will come later), but I will address a few, tell you more about the field of social work, and how a social worker can benefit you as a therapist. So let’s start with a few important acronyms.

LMSW: An LMSW is a Licensed Master Social Worker. When you see this acronym, you can immediately tell that a person has completed a master's degree in social work and passed a licensing exam after they graduated. 

LCSW: An LCSW is a licensed Clinical Social Worker. This is the highest clinical licensure a social worker can get, and it means they have completed 100 hours of supervision with an LCSW-S (Licensed Clinical Social Worker- Supervisor). As well as 3,000 hours of supervised work hours. 

What is social work? 

Before I became a social worker, I had never heard of the field of social work. The only times I heard of a social worker were with Child Protective Services. As I was looking into different colleges, I came across the school of Social Work and learned that social work is an umbrella term covering a wide range of careers. A social worker can provide therapy, work as a case manager, help change policy, create businesses to serve minority or at-risk populations, work in the medical field, and the list goes on. Once I understood all I could do as a social worker, I was in love. I have so many passions and populations I want to advocate for, and social work would allow me to do that. Now that I have been in the field for 6 years, I believe that the heart of social work is being an advocate. You advocate for yourself by addressing policy, and your clients by reaching into their world and connecting them to resources. That is the heart of social work. 

Who do we answer to?

With such a wide range of places you can find a social worker, we do need a governing body. That is the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). The NASW began in 1955, and it intends to govern social workers and how we practice. As well as develop the field of Social work. The NASW has created a code of ethics that we as social workers must follow. It is our guide on how to conduct ourselves professionally and ethically. We also answer to the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council which manages our licenses, renewals, and any complaints made against us. 

So you provide therapy?

Yes, a Social worker can be a therapist. Throughout school, we studied different theories (person in environment, system theories, family systems theory, Eric Erikson, Freud etc. ) and looked at various populations through the lens of those theories. Then we looked at how we can use those theories to help our clients. Much of what we learned is similar to what a psychologist or a counselor learns. We just apply a different approach by connecting clients to local resources. 

Why you might prefer a social worker as a therapist

To sum it all up, you might prefer a social worker because we take a more holistic approach to therapy. We are trained in Person-In-Environment theory. This means when you come to our office, we are not just looking at you and the presenting problem; we are looking at how your environment affects you and the presenting problem. We will then utilize your surroundings to find the support you were unaware of and help get to the root of your problem. Beyond that, we are taught to explore community resources and connect them to clients for extra support. In much the same way, I take a holistic approach to your problems, examining how your body affects your brain and vice versa. I believe that we are not made up of our struggles; rather, they are a small part of a bigger picture. I like to look at the whole picture and see how your strengths and resources can help you solve the struggles you are facing. 

What can you do?

  When you choose a therapist, you are choosing someone to walk alongside you, advocate for you, teach you, guide you, and support you. So, go out, take this new knowledge, and find yourself a therapist. You can reach out to me at gabby@inspiredpractice.com. Alternatively, if I'm not the right fit for you, you can explore the therapists at Inspired Practice LLC.