Clinical Social Workers

What are Clinical Social Workers?

Clinical social work is a specialty practice area of social work which focuses on the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental illness, emotional, and other behavioral disturbances (NASW). What sets clinical social worker apart from other types of therapists is the consideration for a person’s environment, understanding the community they are a part of, their family dynamic, and vocational environment. This could be group, family or individual therapy. A clinical social worker may help their clients with emotional, physical, or financial improvements.

Social workers work in settings such as private practices, community programs, offices, schools, rehabilitation centers, mental health clinics, senior centers, elected office, prisons, military, corporations, and hospitals. They work with various populations but are known to help people in poverty, along with vulnerable, oppressed people and communities. They are well educated and trained in regards to social injustices.

According to NASW, of all the mental health professionals in the country, 60% are clinically trained social workers, 23% are psychologists, 10% are psychiatrists, and 5% are psychiatric nurses (GoodTherapy, 2019).

NASW (National Association of Social Workers)/Clinical Social Work. Retrieved from:

https://www.socialworkers.org/Practice/Clinical-Social-Work

Need a Social Worker?

Here are different categories of social workers to help you find the right one:

• Administrative/management - Leaders in public & private agencies
• Advocacy and community organization – Help achieve social justice (fighting inequality)
• Aging - Helping senior citizens live healthy and independently taking into account their quality of life
• Child Welfare - Help vulnerable children, youth, and families (supporting neglected or abused children)
• Development Disabilities - Helping parents with legal rights and protections with regards to kids with developmental disabilities.
• Healthcare – They help with personal and social factors with regards to health either indirectly through policies and administrative, or directly with individuals and families in hospital/medical settings.
• International Social Work - They include direct services in communities, refugee camps, orphanages, hospitals, and schools, as well as supporting the efforts of national governments, intergovernmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations to enhance social well-being (NASW).
• Justice and Corrections A.K.A. Criminal Justice Social Work – They work with law enforcement in court rooms, police departments, correctional facilities, and with rape, sexual assault, or domestic violence victims.
• Mental Health and Clinical Social Work - A licensed mental health therapist or counselor
• Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Work - Help with alcohol and drug addictions with individual, group, family counseling, employment, housing, resources in the community, or indirect policy making 
• Occupational and Employee Assistance Program - Support and resources for employees covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act which states an employee can’t be terminated for their disability
• 
  Policy and Planning - Analyze policies, programs, and regulations to find improvements
• Politics - Working in school boards, government at state and federal levels, and even local, state, or federal agencies
• Public Welfare - Administration, planning, financial programs, training and managing staff, and development of standards for service delivery
• Research – Academics and research to improve social work practices
• School Social Work - Help kids with emotional, developmental, or educational needs as guidance or therapeutic counselors
  

NASW (National Association of Social Workers)/Clinical Social Work. Retrieved from:

https://www.socialworkers.org/Practice/Clinical-Social-Work

WebMD/Guide to Psychiatry and Counseling. Retrieved from:

https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/guide-to-psychiatry-and-counseling#1

Social Work License Map/What is Social Work/Theories & Practice Models Used in Social Work. (2020, June). Retrieved from: https://socialworklicensemap.com/become-a-social-worker/what-is-social-work/

The College of St. Scholastica/What does a clinical social worker do? An insider's look at a day in the life. (2015, July 27). Retrieved from: http://www.css.edu/the-sentinel-blog/what-does-a-clinical-social-worker-do-an-insiders-look-at-a-day-in-the-life.html

They are different from psychologists, because psychologist education is centered around human behaviors and how the mind functions, which they use to diagnose, and treat people. Social workers are typically focused on prevention of a psychological condition and they do that with an understanding of a person's environment, family, and community they live in.

They will often help clients find resources in order to fix their situation themselves, instead of teaching them ways to cope with their problems.

Clinical social workers need a Masters of Social Work degree, along with other coursework, clinical training, and license exams. For their Bachelor’s degree they can either have a Bachelor of Social Work degree, or an undergraduate degree studying sociology, psychology, or human development.

All Psychology Schools/Social Work Degrees: What You’ll Study. Retrieved from:

https://www.allpsychologyschools.com/social-work/degrees/

Systems Theory – This theory focuses on the influence (external factors) other people have over an individual. People’s behavior is affected by the people they surround themselves with: family, friends, economic class, home environments, their community, and organizations. This is based on the fact that individuals do not act in isolation. This theory is divided into three smaller theories: ecological systems theory, family systems theory, and contingency theory.

Behaviorism and Social Learning Theory – These theories both look at how past experiences influence a person’s current behavior. Cognitive theory (explaining human behavior through understanding thought patterns) is also related to this concept.

Psychodynamic Theory – This theory was created by Sigmund Freud. It is the concept that humans are biologically driven to seek gratification and this affects daily behaviors. The theory states that people do this based on processes that have developed outside of conscious awareness, with origins in childhood experiences (Online MSW Programs). This theory consists of four other major theories: ego psychology, self-psychology, drive theory, and object relations theory.

Developmental Perspective – This concept is all about exploring how a person has changed, grown, or stayed the same in their thinking, feeling, and behaviors throughout their lives. Two theories under development perspective are Psychosocial Development Theory and Transpersonal theory. These theories largely focus on a person’s childhood.

Rational Choice Perspective - Rational choice perspective is based on the idea that people calculate risks and benefits before making any decision, since all actions are fundamentally rational in character (Social Work License Map, 2020). This helps to better understand a person’s behavior with an understanding of how actions that seem objectively irrational to many may be rational to them.

Conflict Theory – This theory looks at how the different structures of power affect a person’s life. It looks at how struggles with oppression, discrimination, and inequality cause conflict. Life is filled with conflict as there is competition in society over resources, status, and power.

Social work’s purpose was to help people in need, addressing social problems across the nation.

Social work classes were officially formed in 1898. By 1920, social workers could be found in hospitals and public schools, as well as in child welfare agencies, family agencies, and settlement houses (Stuart, 2019).

Social work professionals working with families and institutions have helped to provide and advance the following social impacts:

• Civil Rights
• Unemployment Insurance
• Disability Pay
• Worker’s Compensation
• Reduced Mental Health Stigma
• Medicaid and Medicare
• Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention

(From: Social Work License Map, 2020).

This site has three different directories depending on what type of social work specialist you are looking for: Social Workers Help starts here.

Find a social worker near you on GoodTherapy  or healthgrades

For a mental health clinical social worker online view: Online Therapy – Social Workers

NASW (National Association of Social Workers)/Clinical Social Work. Retrieved from:

https://www.socialworkers.org/Practice/Clinical-Social-Work

SocialWorkLicensure.org/Clinical vs Direct Practice Social Work
https://socialworklicensure.org/articles/clinical-vs-direct-services-social-work/

All Psychology Schools/Social Work Degrees: What You’ll Study. Retrieved from:

https://www.allpsychologyschools.com/social-work/degrees/

Rauch, Joseph. (2016, August 30). The Talkspace Voice/Different Types of Therapists (Psychotherapists): The Complete Guide. Retrieved from:

https://www.talkspace.com/blog/the-different-types-of-therapists-and-counselors-the-complete-guide/

WebMD/Guide to Psychiatry and Counseling. Retrieved from:

https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/guide-to-psychiatry-and-counseling#1

PSYCHOLOGY SCHOOL GUIDE/Social Workers vs. Psychologists. (2014, July 5). Retrieved from: https://www.psychologyschoolguide.net/blog/social-workers-vs-psychologists/

GoodTherapy/Social Work. (2019, August 13). Retrieved from:

https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/modes/social-work

The College of St. Scholastica/What does a clinical social worker do? An insider's look at a day in the life. (2015, July 27). Retrieved from: http://www.css.edu/the-sentinel-blog/what-does-a-clinical-social-worker-do-an-insiders-look-at-a-day-in-the-life.html

Online MSW Programs/How to Become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. (2020, August). Retrieved from: https://www.onlinemswprograms.com/careers/how-to-become-a-licensed-clinical-social-worker.html

NASW/Types of Social Work. Retrieved from:
https://www.socialworkers.org/News/Facts/Types-of-Social-Work

Noodle/Choosing a Social Work Specialization? The 16 Practice Areas to Consider—And Why (2019, June 17). Retrieved from:
https://www.noodle.com/articles/choosing-a-social-work-specialization-nasw-list-of-16-practice-areas

Noodle/Social Work History. Retrieved from: https://www.socialworkers.org/News/Facts/Social-Work-History