Social work is not for everyone. To have a successful career in this area, your primary focus should be on the patient, and your mindset must be one that genuinely cares for people and wants to make a positive difference in their lives.
But that is also the strength of the profession. Through your work, each patient is an opportunity to change lives for the better, and in so doing, enact a positive change in the world.
Patients, groups, and organizations rely on the expertise of the clinical social worker to help diagnose and treat behavioral, emotional, and mental disorders.
Children, adults, and geriatrics with these disorders can improve in various walks of life thanks to the efforts of social work. It is the goal of the social worker to make improvements that can be felt physically and psychologically to elevate the patient’s function in society.
Social Worker Careers: What They Do
The social work career consists of three primary functions:
- Observe
- Assess
- Treat
During the observation phase, the social worker may employ any number of tactics when interacting with a patient, including discussion and testing. The goal is to establish enough information for a clear assessment of the patient.
Through assessment of patient issues, the social worker is able to develop and recommend a clear treatment plan to address behavioral, emotional, or mental issues.
Social Work Careers: Education
While a bachelor’s degree is a start toward a career in social work, most jobs require a master’s degree at minimum. The MSW (or Master of Social Work) degree is one preferred by many in the counseling profession, because it transfers to all 50 states and opens up the job market for the counseling candidate. Beyond the MSW, graduate school degrees often preferred by social workers include the following:
- PhD—Doctor of Philosophy
- PsyD—Doctor of Psychology
- EdD—Doctor of Education
While the PhD is called a “Doctor of Philosophy” degree, it doesn’t actually have anything to do with philosophy, but instead refers to the pursuit of knowledge within one’s area of specialty.
Many schools now offer the PsyD as a more specialized form of doctorate with in-depth studies into the concepts and principles of psychology that are so vital to a social worker’s profession.
The EdD degree, or Doctor of Education, is usually targeted by those who wish to work as School Psychologists or in some other function within the education system.
Social Work Career: Licensing and Salary
Salary information varies depending on schooling, experience, and place of employment. As of 2010, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported approximately $47,000 per year as the average, though opportunities can be much higher in private practice.
To work for a clinic, hospital, or independent practice, you will need a master’s degree and generally a 1-year internship in a supervised setting. Each state may also have its own additional requirements.
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