Clinical Social Worker

Learn how to become a Clinical Social Worker and why you might want to...

A licensed clinical social worker has a large amount of flexibility when choosing a field. However, such flexibility requires clinical social workers to possess a wide array of knowledge. Whether an expert in assessment, diagnosis, treatment, interventions, evaluation of outcomes or client case management, licensed clinical social workers are trained to become highly versatile and effective advocates of the social work industry.

A major portion of social work is dedicated to direct client contact however non-client works is a large part of the profession as well. Their roles may be the supervision and overseeing of staff or colleague’s cases. Research is an important part of developing and defining methods that are at the core of treatment and prevention of mental health issues. To provide clients with the best care possible it is essential for clinical social workers to be aware and knowledgeable of current research and continuing their own education on a regular basis.

Usually the clients that seek out a clinical social worker are struggling with some form of social functioning, experiencing a crisis, or are getting help for someone close to them. The fact that clinical social workers are often helping clients through some of the hardest times of their lives means they need to have a thorough understanding of human development and behavior, social, economic and cultural institutions and the way that all of these factors interact.

In 2004 the National Association of Social Workers (NASW)1 worked with a marketing group to evaluate the public opinion of social workers. What they found is that the public in general, recognizes the field as an important part of society. Yet the majority assumes that all social workers are for those in desperate situations. Clinical Social Workers help clients from all walks of life but most middle-class Americans have the outlook that it will never be necessary for them. The NASW is looking to change this perspective in the coming years with a media campaign.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has reported that almost 600,000 people have degrees in social work and that number is rapidly growing.2 The BLS predicts that the career will grow 30% by 2010. This shows that people have discovered the benefits of social work. Not only is it a respected professional career but also being able to better someone else’s life is highly rewarding. With the NASW backing a progressive campaign to increase awareness and general education about the field, funding and wages are bound to increase as the importance of this career is made more public.

Request information from schools offering Psychology degree programs. Also, learn more about the counseling licensing process and what the requirements for licensure are: Social Work Licensure.

Resources:
1 NASW Foundation
2 BLS Statistics