March always feels like a big shift. Spring is coming and I can see summer just at the end of the road. We begin the leave the cold and the dark behind us and the world begins to perk up. Some people see a change in mood as the daylight hours extend later and later. March also marks National Social Work Month. The theme this year is The Time is Right! With national and world events weighing on people, our coping skills have really been tested and there is an ever-growing need for the unique skill set of social workers. Social workers can be found in so many different places: Hospitals, schools, mental health facilities, courts, social services just to name a few. As a social worker, I have had the privilege of working in a few different settings and thought March might be a good time to share more about our roles as therapists.
At Waypoint Wellness Center, we have some amazing social workers who provide outpatient mental health services. We take pride in explaining why we have chosen the path that we have, and that often is due to an overwhelming desire to make a difference in people’s lives. It was my chance interaction with a social worker after the birth of my second child that lead me down this path. That social worker was the first person to ask me how I was doing while trying to make gut wrenching medical decisions for my daughter who required heart surgery at birth. It was also why I chose to start my career in a medical setting.
According to government sources, more than 60 percent of mental health treatment in the U.S. is delivered by social workers. This is due, in large part, to people’s ability to access social workers in a wide array of settings across the country. Social workers are highly trained professionals. In order to be able to call ourselves mental health therapists we must obtain an undergraduate degree, as well as a graduate degree in social work. We then have two years of internships, as well as at least two more years of supervised work that must be completed before we can sit for our clinical exams. Our work is often in the trenches providing services to some of the most vulnerable people. We have expertise in interacting with family and social systems and critically thinking about how those systems affect the people we work with daily. We are also qualified to diagnose and treat a variety of mental health issues.
Advocacy is key piece of what social workers do individually and collectively. As we work to break down the stigma of mental health challenges, more people are seeking services. Notably, more kids are becoming aware of their own challenges and advocating for access to mental health services. As a result of this increasing awareness and demand, there are often wait lists to be seen by a qualified and skilled therapist. If you happen to hit this road block, keep looking – good therapists are out there and available!
Choosing social work as a career was one of the wisest decisions I have made. I am grateful for that chance interaction with a social worker 13 years ago. To all my fellow social workers, THANK YOU for all that you do.
