My Clients Taught Me How To Be a Better Social Worker

by Kaycee Bills, BSW, MSW

     I’ve taken classes at the BSW, MSW, and Ph.D. levels. However, my most valuable social work lessons, I learned from my clients.

     An adolescent boy with autism taught me how to learn. I once worked with a boy who had a passion for origami. He insisted that I make paper birds with him. I laughed and said, “I can’t even make a paper plane. How do you expect me to make a paper bird?” He smiled and responded, “The same way you expected me to learn better coping skills.”

     A man who was previously in a gang taught me how to connect with people. While working as a case manager, I was assigned a man from an inner city who had previously been involved in gang activity. I am a small town girl who grew up surrounded by farms. How was I supposed to connect with him? Despite our differences, we had a lot in common. We were both huge Chicago Bears fans, we shared similar music interests, and we both loved pit bull puppies. He became one of my most relatable clients with whom I worked..

     A teenager who was deaf taught me it’s not what you say; it’s how you say it. My sign language is better than the average social worker, but definitely not fluent. While I was working at a school, there was a student who was deaf. I tried to engage with him, but my sign language was just not strong enough to formulate the right sentences. He looked at me and signed, “You’re crazy, but I like talking to you. You always smile.”

     A woman who was unemployed with a criminal history taught me that not everyone is going to like your work, and that’s okay! I once had a professor who was very critical of me. During this discouraging time, I was shadowing a therapist for my BSW practicum. During a session, a woman discussed how she had been turned down for five jobs.The therapist asked her how she felt about it. She responded, “I know I am good at what I do. Just because a few don’t see it, doesn’t mean I’m not good enough. I have great things to offer.” I don’t get upset about what people say about me anymore.

     An athlete with cerebral palsy taught me that making a difference in one person’s life is just as important as making a difference in several. I came to a point in my career when I wanted to do ground-breaking research to make an impact in the field of social work. During this time, I received a text message from a girl with cerebral palsy who is on a special needs cheerleading squad I coached. Her message said, “Remember the exercises you taught me? I can do a somersault!” I realized that making a difference in one life on a micro level is just as important as making a difference on a macro level.

Kaycee Bills, BSW, MSW, is a Ph.D. student at the University of Tennessee, a Navy reservist, an advocate for human diversity, and a lover of pit bulls.