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December 31, 2015
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Social Work Practice and Spirituality

Career, Degree Directory, Social Work, Uncategorized , , , ,

As the New Year begins, many of us look to the hopeful possibilities of the future.  The New Year can be a catalyst to start over and grasp the future that will serve us best.   I am not a fan of New Year’s resolutions, but I was thinking about what I could focus on in my clinical practice, in order for me to be a better social work practitioner.  I was looking not to be a better employee or business owner but a better social worker.

I decided to focus on doing a better job of bringing spirituality into my social work practice.  Even though social workers are trained to look at the whole person, for some reason, it seems like a lot of social workers have difficulty including spirituality in their services.  Clinicians do a great job with the mind and body part of a person but falter a bit at spirituality.

Social workers are often confident with working with a diverse population so why is religious or spiritual preference any different?  Maybe a social worker is worried about offending their client.  They may be comfortable asking personal questions about their client’s sex life but spiritual life – not so much.  Sometimes social workers are so cognizant of not proselytizing or pushing their own beliefs on their client, that they just avoid asking the questions.   One I’ve been guilty of in the past is to avoid the question because I don’t want the client to feel like I’m judging them if they say they don’t have any spiritual practices.   Some social workers may just feel like they don’t have the knowledge of the individual’s religion or spirituality to provide guidance.

The field of social work has been getting better, overall, including spirituality.  Virtually any assessment tool that you find today will have questions on people’s spirituality.  Time and experience have taught social work that a person’s spiritual beliefs not only help them feel whole but can be a strength.  A person’s spiritual beliefs may give them hope or confidence for the future.  A person’s spiritual beliefs might give them a sense of belonging or connection to the community.

Conversely, sometimes there may be shame involved with religious beliefs or other barriers.  A person’s identity and history is wrapped up in their spiritual beliefs.  If we fail to ask about someone’s spirituality we are missing a part of them we may be able to help heal.

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November 29, 2015
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Social Work – So Much to Love!

Career, Degree Directory, Social Work , , , ,

With Thanksgiving just behind us and continuing in the holiday season, many of us take time to express thanks and feel gratitude about the bounty we have.  Most of us are thankful for our families, friends and other loved ones.  We feel thankful for the health we may have, the material things we have acquired, laughter, children, moments of joy, and even just being alive

People often say they are thankful to have a job and a way to provide for themselves and those they love.   I rarely hear people say they are thankful for the career they have chosen because it ignites their passions.  My wish for everyone is not only do they have a job that pays the bills but a career that gratifies and feeds their soul.  I am grateful to have found that career in social work.  If you are thinking about becoming a social worker, are a social worker or even know a social worker, check below for the list of reasons I am grateful for this calling.

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October 31, 2015
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Assisting Individuals with a diagnosis of Mental Illness

Career, Degree Directory, Mental Health, Mental Illness, Social Work , , , ,

As a social worker, you often work with vulnerable and struggling clients.  One such group, you may work with are individuals diagnosed with a mental illness.  Mental Illness does not discriminate.  Any population you work with, will likely have some people living their life with mental illness.  Sometimes because of media portrayals and other misconceptions, working with people diagnosed with mental illness can be scary or daunting.

There are many types of mental illness. The DSM-V (where the criteria for different mental health diagnoses is listed) has about 991 pages.

Below are some basic definitions of common diagnosis you might come across.

One definition of Mental Illness I like is from the Mayo Clinic

Mental illness refers to a wide range of mental health conditions —disorders that affect your mood, thinking and behavior. Examples of mental illness include depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders and addictive behaviors. Many people have mental health concerns from time to time.

                                        (www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mental…/definition/con-20033813)

 

I like this definition because it normalizes mental health issues.  Mental health conditions run on a continuum.  Just like people, mental illness is complicated and some people struggle with more difficult issues than others.

Specific Diagnosis Definitions (Also using the definitions from the Mayo Clinic.)

  • Major depressive disorder — prolonged and persistent periods of extreme sadness
  • Bipolar disorder —also called manic depression or bipolar affective disorder, depression that includes alternating times of extreme sadness (depression) and extreme happiness (mania)                                                                                 (//www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mood-disorders/basics/definition/con-20035907)
  • Generalized Anxiety Disorder – excessive, ongoing anxiety and worry that interfere with day-to-day activities may be a sign of generalized anxiety disorder.                                                                                                                                   (//www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/generalized-anxiety-disorder/basics/definition/con-20024562)
  • “Schizophrenia is a severe brain disorder in which people interpret reality abnormally. Schizophrenia may result in some combination of hallucinations, delusions, and extremely disordered thinking and behavior. Contrary to popular belief, schizophrenia isn’t a split personality or multiple personality. The word “schizophrenia” does mean “split mind,” but it refers to a disruption of the usual balance of emotions and thinking.                                                                                           (//www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/schizophrenia/basics/definition/con-20021077)

Those are just some of the diagnoses you may come across in your work.  Let me share some tips for a social worker to remember when working with this population.

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September 28, 2015
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You are a Tea Pot. (Guide to self-care for Social Workers and Everyone else!)

Career, Degree Directory, Social Work , , , ,

A weird phenomenon in a society that is so much instant gratification and making sure “I” get my fair is that individuals are notoriously bad at self-care.  Individuals take their responsibilities seriously and want to do great jobs at being a Social Worker, Parent, Friend, Caretaker or son or daughter, that all energy is focused on this task.  It is admirable to live up to responsibilities and care for others, but there are pitfalls to not also focusing on self.

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June 26, 2015
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Tips for the Social Worker Helping a Distressed Client

Career, Degree Directory, Social Work , , , ,

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.)

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May 27, 2015
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Let’s Talk About Ethics!

Career, Degree Directory, Social Work , , , ,

A long time ago, when I was earning my BSW degree, we had a journal assignment to complete each day during our internship.  Basically, I was to identify and discuss an ethical dilemma I encountered each I time I worked.  Social workers come across ethical dilemmas every day. They interact with complicated systems and people.  The decisions of a social worker impacts individual’s lives and the answers are rarely black and white.  It takes work to practice as an ethical 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.

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June 28, 2013
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9 Most Useful Online Resources for Social Workers

Career, Social Work , ,

Social work is a wide and growing field. Social workers face numerous, challenging obstacles in their careers. Schooling and training are meant to give them the foundation they need, and prepare social workers to work in a variety of situations like schools, private clinics, and other places. More and more often, additional resources are popping up online to help continue to support social workers in their emotional and professional lives.

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