Social media assists the social worker with connecting with others.  People spend a lot of time on their computers and smart phones.   Social Media helps you market your practice and lets your clients know who you are.  I don’t know how many times someone said to me “Your website was so welcoming” or “the quotes you put on Facebook really help me be more positive.”  It humanizes you and you can share your message with others.

Social Media also opens up a path to communicating with other professionals.  There are therapists in different states that I have never met in person but I have shared dialogue with and learned from.  It allows for perspectives outside of just our immediate circle.  Randomly, it has also helped me engage with my adolescent clients.  In the world of technology I am old!  The youth I see teach me about different sites and apps and it helps build rapport.  (I would have no idea how to use or even what snapchat is if it weren’t for my adolescent clients!!!)

If you do utilize social media as business, remember that once you put something on the internet – it is there forever.  Even if you delete a post, someone will be able to find.  Think carefully about what you put out there.  It is ethically responsible to have a social media policy.  It isn’t OK for you to be Facebook friends with your clients.  As the social worker, you will have to make the effort to maintain boundaries.  Here’s a quick example of a social media policy but they can definitely be more inclusive and specific.

Social Media Policy

I do not accept friend or contact requests from current or former clients on any social networking site (Facebook, LinkedIn, etc). I believe that adding clients as friends or contacts on these sites can compromise your confidentiality and our respective privacy. It may also blur the boundaries of our therapeutic relationship.

I keep a Professional Facebook Page for my practice to allow people to share my blog posts and other information I think is interesting or may be useful.  You are welcome to “like” my professional page.  No one except me is able to see who likes my page.  Please remember if you post on my page that everything else on the page is available for anyone to read.  Your privacy and confidentiality are my upmost concern.

Using technology can also give a means to offering services to individuals who may otherwise not get services.  Someone may live in a rural area or be afraid to leave their house or not have transportation or have issues with mobility – and with technology they can still receive services.  Obviously, online therapy is not right for everyone – for example someone who is suicidal – but I hope social workers don’t just dismiss the idea out of hand.   Here is my online therapy page so you have an explanation example.  Feel free to use any of the information from the page (and remember what works for me may not be a fit for everyone.)      http://holdinghopeservices.com/online-therapy-and-coaching/

Are their risks to online therapy and using social media?  YES.  Yes in big letters.  First be knowledgeable.  Get educated in using online technology.  Spend time on the internet educating yourself on best practice. If you are doing teletherapy a good resource to start your journey is at http://onlinetherapyinstitute.com/.   There is even a distance learning credential you can earn.  Take time to learn about the ins and outs of the online world.  For example, did you know that Skype isn’t HIPAA compliant?  Thankfully there are HIPAA compliant online therapy platforms out there.  Also think about email.  I use a confidential email through an internet medical records program for passing protected health information.  If I use my other email (usually for scheduling purposes only)  there is a disclosure indicating that the email isn’t necessarily confidential.

Here is an example of my disclosure.  Again, just an example and not meant to be inclusive for all.

Please  keep in mind that email communications are not to be necessarily considered secure.
Please be cautious with the information you reveal through these methods as I cannot assure confidentiality in those cases.
Remember that email may not be read in a timely manner.  If this is an emergency, please go to the nearest emergency room or call 911.
If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender by e-mail at the address shown.  This e-mail transmission may contain confidential information.  This information is intended only for the use of the individual(s) or entity to whom it is intended even if addressed incorrectly.  Please delete it from your files if you are not the intended recipient. Thank you for your compliance.

I’m not trying to scare you with all these disclosures – just want to make sure you start thinking about the big picture of using the internet.  I participate in several social media platforms including Facebook, Pinterest and twitter and I blog out my thoughts too so I am embracing technology.

We haven’t even begun to discuss Apps.  There are tons of apps that can help clients.  I’ve used some that help with cognitive processing therapy, that track anxiety/moods and even ones that help with motivational thoughts.  Go into the App store on your tablet or smart phone and search for mental health apps. You might be surprised at the wealth of useful tools.

Fortuitously,  Jay Taylor offered to share this infogram regarding social work and technology.  It is an excellent snapshot of social work and technology!

Technology is Revolutionizing Social Work

It turns out though – that even though we are assisting people in finding their way – their choices and their desired outcomes aren’t up to us.  One of the main tenets of social work is self – determination.

The National Association of Social Workers states self-determination is an ethical principle of professional practice.

 “Social workers respect and promote the right of clients to self-determination and assist clients in their efforts to identify and clarify their goals. Social workers may limit clients’ right to self-determination when, in the social workers’ professional judgment, clients’ actions or potential actions pose a serious, foreseeable, and imminent risk to themselves or others.”

It is imperative that a social worker is aware of their own value system and beliefs so they aren’t subconsciously or subtly moving the client to the clinician’s goals.  You want to act for your client’s best interest but who decides what that is?

Maybe you are a social worker providing case management to an individual in the community who is struggling with medical needs.  The client is diagnosed with diabetes and has dangerously high blood sugars because he isn’t interested in following the diet.  If he continues to disregard the diet it is possible his kidneys could fail and he will have to go on dialysis or he may lose a limb.  As the social worker you may be thinking the choice to follow the diet is obvious but the client doesn’t agree.  What could you do?  You would discuss with him the consequences of not following the prescribed diet and explore the barriers and his feelings.  However, if the client still says “I get it, I am not going to follow the diet.  It is just not important to me” then that is OK.  The social worker doesn’t get to say – let’s throw out all the unhealthy food or I’m not going to help you get assistance if you don’t follow the diet.  His choice may not be the same choice you or I might make but it is still his choice.

Clients often make life choices we wouldn’t choose for ourselves.  Sometimes people prefer to be homeless rather than live in an apartment.  Sometimes people will choose to cheat on their spouse.  Sometime people will stay in a job that seems to be completely unhealthy.  Someone could choose to not take psychotropic medication and still function in the community.   A client’s religious or other cultural values might feel abhorrent to you but it is not on the social worker to change them but to meet the client where they are at and let them live their own destiny.  It can be frustrating for a social worker because you want so much for your client’s to be successful.  Each of the clients we work with know themselves better than we know them.

I had a client once who left a destructive and abusive marriage and really struggled with self-confidence.  Almost immediately after the separation the client came in and said she met someone on an internet dating site.  She went on to share all these reservations she had regarding the man.  Within 2 months she was engaged to him.    In my head – I’m thinking “this seems like a really bad idea.”  She ended up being engaged for about a year and then married this man.  Now, they have been married about 4 years and this relationship seems to be the most stable and affirming that the client has ever been in.  I definitely wanted what I believed was in best for this client but if I had pushed her to what I thought was going to be better for her – I would have been wrong.  She knew herself better than I knew her.

Of course there are times when safety and well-being take precedence over self-determination.  A social worker will use their professional judgement to make that decision.  There are obvious situations such as when a client is suicidal with a plan or planning to cause destructive harm to another where the decision to act against the client’s choice is relatively.   However, deciding to limit a person’s self-determination is often not clear cut at all.

How can you make sure you are encouraging client self-determination?

• Start by asking the clients what they want for themselves? Ask those open-ended questions and see where it goes.
• Help them clarify their goals and set concrete hopes. Make sure they are the client’s goals – not what you think they should work on.
• Be cautious of having an agenda. There might be things you want to cover in a session but the client should determine where the conversation goes.
• Ask yourself – Is this what the client wants or is it me who thinks this is a good idea?
• Is what the client plans to do put them or someone else at imminent risk for harm.
• Consult with other social workers to get different perspectives.
• Remind yourself that your client’s reactions and their situation is not about you.
• Ask yourself – Is there a really good reason I am taking away this person’s right of choice?

As a social worker, self-determination is a value I have a huge affinity for. I have found there are times when I am in a room full of professionals and everyone is stating what they think will be best for the client regardless of what the client is saying they actually want.  As a social worker, I am sometimes the lone voice advocating for the individual’s choice.

Perhaps one of the reasons I became a social worker is that I want to choose my own path and I believe that each person should be able to choose theirs and this career gives me a way to fight for people.

People tell me all the time that they couldn’t do what I do as a social worker.  You probably hear stories about working in the field and think you wouldn’t know what to do if someone is in emotional crisis.  It can be scary.  However, I bet you wouldn’t be drawn to social work if you didn’t have some knack with people already. As you gain experience you will build on your innate people skills and learn different ways to interact.  Here are some tips to get started.  (And they don’t just work with clients – they can work with all your relationships.)

• Listen – The bottom line.  When someone is agitated or sad – listen to them.  Listen beyond the words.  Are they screaming in rage but really scared?   I think we are all a little guilty of spending so much time thinking about what our response is going to be that we don’t always fully listen. There is time for the response after you listen.  Sometimes – all you can do is listen and bear witness to someone’s struggle.
• Reflect Back – In most situations it is important the person knows that you are not just listening but also understanding.  Paraphrase and repeat back what the person is telling you.  Let your words show you understand.    You could be saying the most reasonable, calming words to someone in distress but if they don’t think you understand– they will not hear you.  Don’t worry if you get it a bit wrong.  If you do, the individual is sure to correct you and will likely give you a clue of what to say.  One roadblock some people run into, is a belief that understanding equals agreement.  It is not the same.  Acknowledging a person’s feelings and viewpoint is not the same as saying they are correct.
• Empathy – If you just are unsure what else to say – use an empathetic statement. Something like “It seems like you are having a tough time right now” or “I imagine you might feel a bit afraid” can make all the difference. You can use empathy with friends and family too!  Instead of trying to give advice or fix their concerns – a empathetic statement or two may make the people in your life feel you really get them!
• Allow for physical space – An easy thing to do but so often forgotten. When someone is agitated they generally need more physical space.  A distressed individual might need dou ble or triple the space with which they normally would be comfortable.  If someone seems to get more upset as you move closer then take a step back.  You might have the instinct to give a hug or a pat on the back.  People tend to be more physically sensitive with heightened emotion.  It is probably a good idea to not touch someone in anguish and give space.  If holding their hand or touch seems very appropriate – ask for permission and respect their answer.
• Don’t personalize – I tell people in therapy all the time that no one is thinking about them as much as they think about themselves. In a Social Work setting, very rarely will what someone is saying have anything to do with you.  We’ve all heard that hurt people hurt others.  When someone is agitated in crisis they may say things that are cruel or mean.  No matter what they say, remember it isn’t about you.
• Be Honest– For me, one of the hardest things is when I am working with someone and there seems to be only bad choices and bad answers from which to choose. Telling someone things will be OK when they really won’t or agreeing to something that isn’t true is not helpful for anyone.  Lying will not deescalate the person in the long run.  You will become just another person who lied to them.  (By the way – if there are no responses you can give the person that will be helpful – go for the empathy!)

The above tips seems so simple but they can make the difference between a situation ending hopefully rather than badly.  Being able to help someone deescalate and move forward can be one of the most kind and compassionate tasks you can do as a Social Worker.

What are ethics?  What does it mean to be ethical?   Ethics are different than the law.

The law is about what is legal.  For example, everyone talks about the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA.)  This is a law.  Choosing not to follow this or other laws could lead to criminal charges, convictions, prison and/or monetary fines and other penalties.

Ethics are about the “should.”  Ethics are what choice a person “ought” to make.   There are not necessarily legal ramifications for not being ethical (although there could be professional or moral consequences.)  Ethics are where a person asks- “What is the best decision in this situation.”  Unfortunately, when you are working with complex clients the best choice isn’t always obvious.  Many times a professional will have to choose between several not so ideal choices and decide which choice is least harmful.

As a social worker your ethical quandaries will be many.  One of my jobs is assisting individuals transitioning out of a nursing home into the community.  An ethical dilemma I might have is deciding where the line is between the individual’s right of self-determination to decide their own life and decisions that are adversely affecting their safety. If a person wants to live in the community and I don’t think they are going to be successful I would have to scrutinize if they are able to cognitively understand the ramifications of moving to the community or if they are not able to reasonably make a decision.

Another ethical dilemma might be when working with a teen in private practice.  Maybe the youth discloses their use of illicit drugs.  In my state, youth over 12 have the right to confidentiality in therapy – even from their parents – unless very specific circumstances are present.   My ethical question might be figuring out when the youth’s drug use is covered under confidentiality and when it becomes a situation where I need to break confidentiality.  Ethical dilemmas come in all shapes and sizes.  A dilemma may be wondering if you should accept food from a client or if it is OK to do a session at the coffee shop just this one time because the client’s car broke down and they can walk there.  Every day in the social work field you will have to use your judgment to make ethical decisions.

Some ideas to help with making ethical decisions.

• Training – Take continuing education classes and seminars. Learn about the populations you work with.  Learn about the presenting problems and learn about quality interventions.  A professor once mentioned in my classes that there will always be more to learn about people.  There is no way to no everything there is to know about people.  A social worker’s practice is people.  Don’t stop learning.
• Supervision – Especially for newer therapists having a supervisor provide feedback on your cases can be beneficial. Consider supervision from a more experienced Practioner whenever you start a new specialty or undertake a new field.
• Consultation – Talk to other therapists and receive feedback about your interventions. Every month I meet with a group of therapists to discuss the cases with which we struggle.  This is so invaluable.  Another therapist can provide just the added insight to give a better perspective.
• Be open to feed back. I know a therapist who doesn’t really consult.  She sometimes asks other therapists for their opinions on a case but she isn’t really looking for honest feedback.  She is looking for validation in her choices.   Having someone just agree with all your choices is not going to ensure you are practicing ethically.
• Keep adequate records of interventions.  The member deserves an appropriate health record.  It also ensures that you have a place where your reasoning and decisions are noted.
• Join a professional organization. If you are a social worker one option is that you can join the National Association of Social Workers.  In almost every specialty there is a professional association providing support.  These professional organizations can assist you with keeping up to date with best practice and standards for your chosen area.

In your day to day work it may be beneficial to identify the different ethical dilemmas that pop up and examine how you made your choices.  If you have other ideas on ways to maintain an ethical practice please share!

Are you curious about your fit as a social worker? Are you wondering what qualities are beneficial to have?   These are a few of the skills I believe are essential for a modern social worker.

Passion – The number one quality I want in an employee is passion. Whatever part of social work you end up in, it is imperative to develop a passion for it.  Don’t worry if you are unsure what you are passionate about.  As you develop your career you will find you are drawn to different things.

Be Ready for anything – I started in social work over 20 years ago.  I have worked with all ages of the spectrum from birth to end of life.  I have met and witnessed thousands of individual’s precious stories.  You might think there is nothing I haven’t heard but I am still consistently surprised.

Be able to honestly identify your own bias – Know yourself.  Social work is one of the jobs where you have to be willing to really look at your own values and beliefs.  Since a social worker influences people and systems our own beliefs can get in the way.  We want to support and assist people in finding their own way – not pass our own judgments on the way we think they should live.

Meeting People Where They are instead of where we think they “should” be –  As a social worker you often have to watch people struggle, fail and find their own way.    Your job is to guide and provide unconditional positive regard, not fix them.

Ability to not be liked – I had a professor say “if your clients like you all the time then you probably aren’t doing your job.”  As a social worker, we often work with people at their most fragile times.  We will touch nerves with our clients.  It is likely people will become frustrated with us.

You will have to speak up – even when no one will agree with you. –  Social workers look at the person in their environment.  In addition to an individual’s internal voice, a social worker looks at how their relationships, work, school and other systems interplay with the individual.   To be an ethical social worker you will likely have to speak up with people who may have more degrees or perceived power than you.  For example, when I worked in medical social work, a doctor might say a client is being non-compliant because they are not taking medication or missing appointments.  As the social worker, you might know the individual is struggling with finances and has no money to buy medication.  You might know the individual has no transportation or childcare so struggles with getting to appointments.  To be a social worker it is essential to be comfortable speaking up!

Ability to live in the gray. – A social worker is dealing with people.  The thing about people is that we are complicated.   Situations won’t necessarily be clear cut and it is important you can be comfortable with ambivilance.

Ability to take care of yourself – A social worker’s job is never done.  Very few times in my career have I had moments where everything was checked as completed on my task list.  If a social worker is unable to say no sometimes or unable to take time for themselves they will burn out quickly.  Unfortunately, this means talented and wise social workers leave the field while they still could be catalyst for change.

If you are reading this list and know this is the calling for you – welcome!  The journey and rewards will be more than you can even imagine.

It might seem obvious that mine might start with “I’m a social worker who…” And I am a social worker and I am proud to be a social worker but that isn’t how my elevator speech starts.

“Hi, I’m Julie and I have a passion to help people live the life they want to live.”  That is it. That is what it means to me to be a social worker. I support people in their quests to live their best life.  To live their passions rather than just getting by. No matter what your role is as a social worker – you are likely helping people improve the quality of their lives and you do it by meeting them where they are and with the dreams they have. I believe that life is so much more for people who live their passion so of course I want to help everyone do so.

The thing is, sometimes people in helping professions such as social workers, nurses, teachers and many others- know how to help others reach their goals but full a little bit short of making their own goals. I am definitely guilty of sometimes forgetting to take my own advice. Below are some tips to living your passion that not only can you pass on to clients but you can remember so you are following your own passion.

• Figure out what your passion is. All the time in sessions I ask people what does being happy mean to them. People mostly struggle with the answer. Figure out specifically what interests you and what really being happy means to you.  How will you never live your life to the fullest if you don’t know what that is for you?
• You don’t have to earn being happy. There isn’t a big scale in the sky making sure you have had enough hard times before you get to be happy. Struggles and sadness are part of life. You won’t be able to avoid them but they aren’t a prerequisite to living your life fully. You are worthy of being happy
• Step outside of your comfort zone. Try something new. When we are uncomfortable we are growing. People often stay in less than ideal situations just because they are familiar. It is easier but you miss out on the exhilaration of new experiences and actually finding where you should be.
• Remember that most barriers are of your own making. People find time or money for the things they want to do. Honestly look at what is getting in your way from taking the next steps in your dreams. You will likely find the roadblocks are not insurmountable – you just have decided to see them that way.
• Comparison –Don’t do it. I’ve read comparison is the thief of joy somewhere. Remember that. When you compare yourself to others you only see the highlights of their life.
• There will be ebbs and flows. If you have a bad day or don’t live up to your own expectations – remind yourself that this too shall pass.
• Just because it could be worse doesn’t mean you can’t want it to be better. Yes – be grateful for all that you do have and all that you are. Other people may have more difficult circumstances or choices but you don’t have to hold back because your life is tolerable.
• Time passes if you live your passions or not. We always think there is time to do the things we really want to do. We tell ourselves when we get older or when the kids grow up we will find the time. We think when we make a little more money or weigh a little less or finish this big project then I can do it. Most of us think there is always time but it slips away so much quicker than expected.

Give yourself permission to stop enduring your life. Live. It is time to go to learn to knit or open that business or go back to school or become a foster parent or go see Stonehenge. Now is the time to live your life.

March is Social Worker Month! All you social workers – know you are making a difference!

1. Networking is not about being selfish. The word “network” may initially sound like a synonym for selfishness, but don’t view it like that. Rather, consider it relationship building. If you’re afraid of being pushy or self-serving, then just don’t be pushy or self-serving. Social work in particular is built around community, relationships, and empathy, which is how you should approach networking as well. As written on Forbes, “true networking occurs when there’s an understanding that everyone in the room has equal value.”
2. Don’t be someone you’re not. Ok, so perhaps you’re still feeling iffy with the idea of networking. The good news: you don’t have to be a schmoozer to be good at it. While the field of social work is naturally a social position, that doesn’t mean introverts need to fear being left behind. Essentially, it’s better to be shy and genuine, than outgoing and insincere. Consider your personality and if you would network better as a farmer or a hunter.
3. Know your strengths.  You should have a good idea of how to promote your strengths, but also not let your weaknesses limit you. If you’re closer towards the end of your college career, you probably know what concentration of social work you’ll be going into. If you’re just starting out though, keep your options open. Fortunately, the field of social work in general is growing, with the highest rate of job prospects being in health care, mental health and substance abuse. While you should explore the field that works best for you, these are good statistics to keep in mind.
4. Start online. Social media is key. Stay connected with your school’s alumni network, whether its Facebook or LinkedIn, or however else you prefer. Learn what other actual networks and organizations you can be a part of. Consider joining the National Association of Social Workers or the American Counseling Association as a way to show your commitment to the field.
5. Attend conferences. This is probably the most “duh” item on here, but it is important! Nothing beats facetime with other professionals in the field. Prepare ahead of time knowing how to introduce and present yourself. Consider how to stand out from everyone else in the field. It’s a competitive environment, and while you might not feel comfortable being a shark, consider the aspects of your personality that do make you stand out.
6. Volunteer. Another easy way to get that facetime in, to meet people, and to get some personal experience on that resume. A lot of your networking might begin online, but the best way to gain more substantial as opposed to fleeting contacts is to create a physical presence. Let people know you’re not just a robot that posts on Facebook all day. The best networkers will combine the best of old-school methods with new technology.
7. Diversify. This may seem contradictory to point #3 but it’s not a bad idea to know people in other related social work fields. This can include professors and other students you’ve developed a relationship with; you never know what connections exist between multiple networks and how that could help you in the long run.
8. Constant contact.Once you get one foot in the door, don’t risk letting it slam you in the face. Ivan Misner, a networking expert, suggests the multiple ways you can keep yourself in touch with your new contacts. “Sending a thank-you note, making a phone call, arranging a meeting, sending an article of interest to someone, displaying someone else’s goods in your store, putting someone else’s link up on your Facebook… all of these count as networking, and you should be doing these as often as you can.”
9. Don’t fear rejection. Even if you feel like you’ve done everything in your power, it just doesn’t work out sometimes. Instead of getting down on it though, view the opportunity as a learning experience. Maybe you can do something different in your next encounter. Either way, it wasn’t meant to be, and if it didn’t work out, it’s probably for the best.
10. Avoid parasites: Remember, just because you are taking the sincere approach, doesn’t mean that everyone is. Networking is a two way street: don’t allow yourself to be taken advantage of.

Lastly, never ever ever EVER flat out ask for a job. Networking is a process and you shouldn’t expect immediate results. When discouraged, never get desperate. Tomorrow is a new day, and you never know what opportunities are waiting for you around the corner.

So how can you recognize this sort of creeping burnout and intervene before it ruins your productivity, alters your personality and compromises your physical and emotional health? To get you started, we’ve put together this list most common burnout symptoms.

• Exhaustion: This is probably the most obvious of the symptoms.  People affected feel drained and exhausted, overloaded, tired and low, and do not have enough energy. Physical exhaustion symptoms, however, can even include pain or problems with the stomach or bowel. Additionally, when you suffer from chronic stress, your body’s immune system is actually weakened and you’ll become more vulnerable to infections, colds, flus, and other immune system disorders. This often leads to individuals calling in sick because they don’t feel well. Workers suffering from burnout are often late for work, frequently call in sick and procrastinate on the job.
• Inability to concentrate: Ongoing physical and mental exhaustion can lead to various cognitive problems, such as an inability to concentrate, hold attention, and remember things. You’ll find that it’s harder to get things done and you simply can’t keep up the way you used to.
• Frequent mood changes: Burnout may cause emotional exhaustion and a loss of a sense of personal accomplishment, and therefore lead to depersonalization, alienation and depression. With this, you might notice that you feel more generally pessimistic than you used to. While everybody experiences some negative emotions from time to time, it’s important to know when these are becoming unusual for you.
• Lack of motivation: When you don’t feel enthusiastic about anything anymore or you no longer have that internal motivation for your work, there’s a good chance you’re experiencing burnout; it can be harder to get going in the morning and more difficult to drag yourself into work every day. You may also feel like you have too much on your plate and cannot get it all done.
• Social isolation: The depression and mood changes often associated with burnout can lead individuals to isolate themselves from others which leads to yet more depression; this can create a vicious cycle. When individuals feel they are not accomplishing all that they should, they start feeling ashamed and guilty about the poor job they’re doing. This leads to not wanting to let others down and individuals often decrease the number of social interactions they’re involved in. Moreover, this often causes people to entirely detach themselves from the world around them and makes them become totally isolated, further worsening the problem.
• Unhealthy coping habits: When suffering from burnout, some people engage in unhealthy coping strategies like drinking too much, smoking, being too sedentary, eating too much junk food, not eating enough or not getting enough sleep. Self-medication is another issue and could include relying on sleeping pills to sleep, drinking more alcohol at the end of the day to de-stress or even drinking more coffee to summon up the energy to drag yourself into work in the morning.

Well now you’re probably saying, “Okay. That’s great. But how do I fix this problem?” Well we’ve got that taken care of too! Here are some great tips for you to follow:

• Relax: Many find relaxation through meditation, yoga, or exercise to be the perfect anecdote to a stressful day. When your workday is done, you need to leave the stresses of it and the rest of your life behind, even if only for fifteen minutes. Relaxation and meditation can rejuvenate the body and the spirit. Right now you can begin by just closing your eyes and telling each of your body parts to relax as you sink further into your seat. Then focus on your breathing. If you only did this for five minutes each day, you would see a big difference in your own stress levels.
• Exercise: Human bodies have not evolved thousands of years to spend ten hours a day hunched over a keyboard staring at a screen or pouring over class books.  To stave off burnout, do something physical that makes you sweat, and do it at least three times a week. Regular physical activity, like walking or biking, can help you to better deal with stress. It can also help get your mind off work and focus on something else.
• Eat healthy foods: Eat more. We don’t mean donuts and pizza, though. We mean low-calorie green food that you eat throughout the entire day. Adding food with lots of antioxidants, water, fiber, and other nutrients can calm you and help your body relax.
• Learn when to say “no”: You’re busy – really busy, and everyone wants a little bit of your time.  If you don’t learn how to say no to people you are only going to do more damage. Saying “no” is something you need to be able to do to accomplish what you want to in life.
• Adjust your attitude: If you’ve become cynical at school or work, consider ways to improve your outlook. Rediscover enjoyable aspects of what you do. Recognize the valuable contributions your peers make or congratulate them on a job well done. Take short breaks throughout the day. Spend time away from stressful work to do the things you enjoy.
• Seek support: Whether you reach out to co-workers, classmates, friends, loved ones or others, support and collaboration may help you cope with job stress and feelings of burnout. If you have access to a health center at your school or near your work, take advantage of the available services.  Here are some of our favorite resources to help:

1. MindTools has created a neat, 15-question burnout self-test to score and evaluate exactly how worn out you are
2. MayoClinic – Job burnout: How to spot it and take action
3. Forbes Article – 12 Ways To Eliminate Stress At Work
4. National Institute of Health‘s Stress page
5. Stress Management Society – stress tips and how to manage stress in the workplace
6. American Institute of Stress – information on stress reduction, stress in the workplace, effects of stress and various other stress related topics

(NOTE: If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other health-care professional. Do not self-diagnose.)

Consider these online resources as being supplemental to your BSW or MSW courses. You may be able take what you learn from these and apply them to your education, and vice versa:

• Social Work Helper: Social Work Helper is a social work magazine that provides news and updates to current social worker issues and social justice matters. It is a newer publication, but serves social workers all over the world are finding local, political, and mental health news from this site.
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: A great resource for social workers who work primarily in the mental health or substance abuse field. Excellent articles, statistics, and other resources are found here.
• Clinical Social Work Association: This association attempts to serve as the “voice” of clinical social workers. There is a job board, a listing of recent news and legislation that affects social workers, and other membership benefits.
• Social Work Institute: The articles found here help social workers address how to serve multiple people and their needs. Through research and collaboration with partnering groups, this site continues to help bring about policy, change, and jobs.
• Social Work Podcast: A collection of podcasts by clinical practitioners and social workers in other fields. Topics range from practice and organization, education, and a variety of social work issues such as drug abuse and adoption.
• Grant Writing Tips: An excellent source for those who work with donations and grants from organizations.
• Nonprofit Career Network: A large directory of nonprofit jobs, including many social work positions.
• Child Welfare League of America: A source for any social workers who work with children. Here social workers can find jobs, read research, and find educational and training conferences.
• International Federation of Social Work: IFSW works on a global scale, linking social workers with organizations that work for social justice and development.

Being a social worker can be a difficult career; it can also be rewarding and worthwhile. With a supportive network of resources, it can be a long and fulfilling journey.

Find Career-Specific Resources

Job sites like Monster and Indeed may be great for finding a job in general, but sites like Social Workers.org will be much more tailored to professionals in the social work field. Also, looking into non-profit job searching sites can prove beneficial through resources like Nonprofitalent.

Networking

A good way to find new opportunities is to connect with people in your job field, not just locally, but around the country and world. The National Association of Social Workers likely has a chapter near you and they often have events that will put you face-to-face with other professionals in the field and could very well open up a new job. Additionally, joining their LinkedIn page will certainly put you in direct contact with these people and make getting to know them much easier. Social Work Chat also gives you a chance to speak with working social workers, letting you become more educated on issues, and more readily prepared for interviews.

Consider Graduate School

Sometimes the best way to find a job is to invest in furthering your education. Social work jobs are divided into direct service, which requires a bachelors, and clinical, which requires a masters degree. Going after a Masters not only opens up more jobs upon graduation, but gives the social work field more time to recover from the economic fallout. Additionally, employment of social workers is set to expand by 19% between 2012 and 2022, so by graduation, there will almost certainly be more jobs available.

Work With Social Work Advocacy Programs

If you’re in between jobs, advocacy groups can be a great way to become involved with issues that are imperative to the social work cause. Volunteering your time for organizations, such as Social Work Reinvestment Initiative and the Council on Social Work Education, will look great on a resume and can also have an impact on the future of social work.

Make Your Resume Stand Out

Focusing on relevant experience and job content is a great way to make employers take notice to what you’re capable of and helps sell the benefit of hiring you. By removing parts of job descriptions that will be useless to potential employers, it makes your resume more dense with content that is closely related to the job you’re applying for. Stay concise and on-point for what you’re talking about. Describe what groups you worked with closely the most; highlighting your experience with social, medical, and psychological issues very well may by the defining attribute to hiring you. In the social services field, it is also crucial to detail the social work skills you have put into practice before.

Here are some great headings for different experience you might have:
Human Services Experience
Community Organizing Experience
Administrative Experience
Program Planning Experience
Clinical Experience
Therapeutic and Advocacy Experience
Child Welfare Experience
Experience with Children and Families
Experience in Gerontology
Substance Abuse Treatment Experience

Working and Interning Abroad

A great way to differentiate yourself from others when applying for a job is to emphasize your ability to adapt and perform in different environments. Since the social work field is expanding so rapidly, there is an increasingly large base of opportunities around the world for becoming further involved. Look into those opportunities to get a new worldview and increase job prospects upon your return home. Various international nonprofits are eager to hire social workers or those currently pursuing a social work degree to come abroad and help with projects. Initiatives such as Global Internships offers a variety of opportunities to volunteer abroad.

Attend Seminars and Workshops

Going to conferences, seminars, and workshops is a good way to educate yourself on specific issues and better yourself as a social worker. As so many of these take place, there are almost always emerging opportunities to expand your breadth of knowledge. The specificity of the events will leave you informed on whatever issue they’re covering, which will provide additional conversation pieces for interviews with potential employers, better educate you on particular areas you may be interested in working in, and help build an impressive resume. Keep an eye on the CSWE calendar of events for upcoming conferences.

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