Practice
The “Benefits” of an Eating Disorder: What Social Workers Need To Know
Why do people hold on to their eating disorders? Understanding the “benefits” of having an eating disorder can help clinicians better understand why their clients are reluctant to get better.
Photo credit: Pixabay/Irasonja
Rest Therapies To Reduce Seasonal Affective Disorder Symptoms
Rest therapies offer a holistic approach to managing Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), enhancing client well-being, promoting self-care, and providing coping strategies.
Community Empowerment Through Mutual Aid
Historically, mutual aid groups target the most vulnerable and disenfranchised members of society. This idea of helping people who are excluded from governmental or institutional resources was once considered “radical” or even “anarchist.”
Giving Non-Advice: Fostering Independence and Resilience in Social Work Clients
Excessive advice-giving doesn’t belong in the therapy room. As a new social worker, you will need to resist the temptation a dozen times a day to pack clients full of your fresh therapy knowledge.
Photo credit: Pixabay/jojojojo
Analogies for Engagement: Potty Training for Emotions
An analogy to potty training can show children and their caregivers that emotions can also be felt in the body, and addressing these emotions early on can help with early management to lessen the risk of a crisis.
Preventing the Preventable: What Can We Do About Suicide?
Suicide rates have been on the rise since the emergence of COVID-19. Although some suicides will not be prevented, society can focus on preventive measures such as providing space and support for those who are struggling and choose to live.
Supporting Families With Sickle Cell Disease: A Guide for School Social Workers
Supporting students with sickle cell disease (SCD) requires a comprehensive approach that addresses their academic, emotional, and social needs. School social workers can implement strategies to build a nurturing environment for students.
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School Social Worker: Canary in the Coal Mine of Public Education
I am a school social worker, a canary in the coal mine of public education. I see the collective strain on school staff, but I also envision the way forward.
Photo credit: BigStockPhoto/iqoncept
From Student Intern to Professional: Transition Smoothly Into Social Work Practice
If you're a student intern moving into professional social work, you might have many questions about what to expect, where to find mentors, and how to find the right job. This guide offers you practical advice your new career.
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What About Social Justice? Wage Equity for Social Workers
It is important to recognize that approximately half of degreed social workers are earning less than the median yearly income. As a result, many social workers are living below the living wage needed to support a household of two or more persons.
Photo credit: BigStockPhoto/Dzmitry Dzemidovich
Identifying and Responding to Resistance Around Conversations About Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
As the social work profession continues to engage in difficult dialogues about diversity, equity, and inclusion, many are facing resistance to this work. Resistance presents in denial-oriented, disengaged, and derailing approaches.
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Preparing To Work in and Change Courtrooms and Carceral Settings: The Latest in Forensic and Criminal-Legal Social Work Practice
Forensic social work, also known as criminal-legal social work (or juvenile-legal social work for those focusing on work with system-involved youth), is a growing area of practice.
Photo credit Bigstockphoto vectorwin
What About Social Justice? Bridging the Digital Divide Gap
The digital divide is a social justice problem. Social workers must incorporate digital inclusion strategies into their practices by making sure that services, data, and resources are available to all.
COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: How Social Workers Can Support Children and Families
By exploring thoughts about vaccine ambivalence and social barriers, then offering education, social workers can help parents make informed healthcare decisions for their children. Connect to End COVID-19 has resources for social workers.
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Eating Disorder Treatment: What Social Workers Need to Know
A perfect storm for the development of an eating disorder includes six interrelated factors. Here is what you need to identify and understand how these factors express themselves uniquely in each client and create effective interventions.
MSW Students Support Juvenile Justice Reform: Service-Learning and an Avenue to Career Development
Dr. John Gallagher, Associate Professor at Morgan State University, a historically Black university (HBCU) in Baltimore, MD, developed a service-learning juvenile justice class to support students in exploring their career goals.
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Breaking Barriers to Accessible Virtual Social Work Supervision
Supervisors and new practitioners want guidance to break barriers in remote supervision. This article highlights key concepts to establish quality and accessibility in this mode of supervision and proposes a model of “pay it forward” supervision.
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What About Social Justice? Confronting Workplace Maltreatment
Social workers are in key leadership positions to create policies and practices to confront workplace maltreatment, respond to the needs of survivors, and promote a healthy work environment.
Photo credit: Pixabay/LisaLove2Dance
The Art of Rapport Building
When we meet a client or patient we are working with for the first time, we often subconsciously make judgments or assumptions. Admitting this is an important place to start.
Photo credit: BigStockPhoto/Yury Zap
On the Importance of Not Knowing for a Young Clinician
Utilizing a little radical acceptance of our limitations, a little embrace of our inevitable unknowing, is a fertile place from which to cultivate not only effective practice for clients, but a good and honest life for ourselves as practitioners.
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