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!

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.