We all know people are complicated. Social workers often assist individuals who are experiencing escalated feelings and behaviors and are at their most vulnerable. A good social worker is often called in to deescalate volatile situations. Social Workers are counted on by other professionals to jump in and calm a situation.
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.)