Can someone share what they like/dislike about being a school social worker? I did not initially go into school thinking I would want to be a school social worker, however I am expecting little ones soon and honestly I am romanticizing the idea of working at a school (summers off, going to work with my kids, not having to worry about how they are going to get home, health insurance, retirement). Prior I wanted to become a therapist to work with children, I figure school social work is not too far off. I also think I may be looking at things with rose colored glasses. Hoping someone could share their experience. Thanks 😊

It’s been a career goal of mine to work as a social worker at the VA. Apparently I’m late to the party - but I just noticed that the VA cancelled all union contracts in 2025? Ew! What’s the current working environment like for SW’ers at the VA? The job I’m applying for is in Home Based Primary Care. Are step increases still happening for new employees? Are things very different since SW’ers lost union representation?

I am a new LMSW (graduated in May) and have been working at a psychiatric hospital since the summer. I have multiple concerns about the ethics of the unit.

Here are the most prominent concerns I have without giving too much:

- Whne I applied for the job it was listed as an LMSW position. It wasn’t until I got the job that I found out i’d be replacing the previous head LMSW who had nearly 2 decades of experience. I was managing an intern and rec therapist day 1
- While much of my clientele are high acuity, we are voluntary. They sign their own consents when they are admitted despite most not knowing where they are, what happened, etc. When I have concerns regarding trying to respect a family members wishes about their placement, i’m told that the client “signed their own consent form.”
- Many times they treat our patients as alert and oriented which they are not. They tell family members that the patients can make their own choices. EX: being able to be sent hours away from their family for placement
- May not be an ethical concern but i feel that optimal care is not able to be given because of shortage. I am the only full time employee and our census is 20. I have to do biopsychosocials, groups, documentation, treatment plans and updates, with help only a few days a week (3 people MAX, including myself)
- Insurance days. We keep clients here longer than I see fit because they have insurance days left.
- I am an LMSW not yet under supervision. There is no LCSW above me in the hospital at all. I feel I have done a good job so far but I don’t know everything, not even close

I am concerned about my licensure and, even though I document everything to cover my ass, at the end of the day I just feel BAD. I cry to my girlfriend every so often because I just can’t help people the way I want.

We have a resident who has a hoarding disorder. I have a little bit of experience with hoarders so I know you can't just ask and expect them to clean house. My problem is that we got tagged for their room as a safety concern and need to get rid of a lot of stuff as part of our correction plan.

Ethically I've tried to explain to my administrator that I can't just throw her things away, nor can I reasonably ask her to (at least not immediately which is what admin wants). Administrator is worried she could lose her job if we don't pass their follow up visit. Any thoughts or advice??

We've offered to store her belongings elsewhere (locked up) and she is still very resistant.

Hi! I’m looking for any inside info on the remote Molina BH Care Manager position? I was told this is a “flexible” schedule role but I am not sure to what extent “flexible” means. Obviously, I am willing to put in the work and complete all that is required but I want to know if I am able to carve time to pick up my kid from school, start an hour later, leave an hour earlier, just be able to do my tasks without having someone watching my every minute. Any help is appreciated!

A little back story- I took the job but now I am not sure I will go through onboarding because I need flexibility. Lots of online reviews are mixed so I’m not sure!

I am wondering about anyone’s experience with either company. Were they a good experience? Good supervision and support? Or did they feel more like a therapy mill? I’m also interested to learn how varied the work experience is. Sol seems centered mostly on individual therapy, but Charlie seems to also do groups and families. Appreciate hearing anyone’s experiences. Thanks!

Been out of school for a few years now & my new role includes writing and advocacy supported with research.

Google Scholar has been my go-to lately, but does anyone have any sources they may not think twice about using but to someone who’s been out of the research loop for a bit, may have forgotten or never even known about!?

Ty!

MSW students/social workers: Is anyone here involved in experiential or expressive therapies?
I’m an MSW student interested in incorporating experiential and expressive approaches into my future clinical practice, particularly with adolescents and young adults.

I’m especially interested in things like equine-facilitated psychotherapy (EFP), nature-based therapy, play/creative therapies, and other experiential approaches that go beyond traditional talk therapy.

One thing I’ve noticed while researching these areas is that the clinicians and practitioners I come across seem to be disproportionately LPCs/LMHCs, rather than social workers. So I’m curious about how MSWs/LCSWs navigate this space.

For anyone who is currently practicing or training in experiential/expressive therapies:

What modality do you use?

How did you get involved as an MSW/student?

What kind of agency or setting do you work in?

Did you pursue additional certifications or trainings?

How have you navigated entering a field that seems to have a lot of LPC/LMHC LMFT representation? (Esp when it comes to supervision)

Have you found that being an LCSW creates any limitations or advantages in this type of work?

Did your MSW program prepare you for this, or has most of your training happened outside of school?

And how feasible has it been to actually incorporate these approaches into your clinical career?

I’d especially love to hear from social workers who incorporate EFP, nature-based therapy, animal-assisted interventions, or other experiential approaches into their practice. I’m trying to figure out what experiences and training would be most valuable to pursue during my MSW.

I was deemed at fault in a car accident. Most if not all jobs in this field require driving and a clean record(i only have a bachelors). Will the accident affect my ability to get a new job?

I have heard hospital social work is mostly discharge planning. Is that true in a children’s hospital setting too for an LCSW position? Is there any role providing interventions and emotional support for kids and families? What does your day to day look like?

ETA: I’m located in USA

Has anyone had a non-American Bachelor's in Social Work degree evaluated by CSWE?

What was the process like? What documentation did you need to provide?

Thanks!

Hi, I have a private practice, and I'm interested in moving into a corporate setting, wondering if anyone has experience with this. I'm interested in consulting, providing education about stress management, relational self-awareness, wellness in the workplace. Has anyone made this jump as a social worker?

Hello! I just began my journey to getting my MSW. I would like to know what jobs are best for that degree and if I should get any extra licenses outside of what I will already need. I’m also new to Reddit so i’m sorry if this isn’t the right place to post this!

Aqui no Brasil, somos agentes que lidam através de políticas públicas e desenvolvimento técnico-operativo contra a questão social, suas facetas, agindo individualmente ou com com equipe multiprofissional no caso dos que optam pela área da saúde, em outros países como funcionam?

Hey everyone,

Wanted to ask social workers here on how to transition from macro social work to clinical.

My background: (US Based) I graduated with my MSW in 2019 and very quickly got into leadership in the nonprofit space. I’ve been a director of a national mental health department at a relief organization, executive director for two community centers, and currently an executive director for a mental health education org. I have been putting off getting my LSW due to a few reasons but finally went for the exam this past May. I’ll be real with y’all, I have minimal to no real experience with direct client work and my grad program focused on macro social work so I didn’t get any training there either.

Where I would love your insights: I am looking to apply for part time/contract associate roles where I can start gaining experience as a therapist, however, many of these roles require at least one year of experience, resume and cover letter. I am also struggling to navigate on how I can obtain some basic learning on therapeutic practices (maybe online courses or reading material) that can get me through the door. I’m aware majority of the learning will happen through experience and good supervision but I still want to do my part in preparing myself for the early years.

Genuinely would appreciate any advice on how to prepare a resume with minimal therapeutic experience but mental health (adjacent?) experience and any self learning opportunities to help one prepare for the initial stages of the therapeutic process?

Thanks in advance!

One thing I've learned working in overdose prevention is that the people closest to a problem often see things the rest of us miss.

Not because they're researchers or policymakers (though some are), but because they've lived it.

The Global Health Advocacy Incubator, Overdose Prevention Initiative just launched Brave Recovery: The Women Impacted, a series of conversations with women whose lives have been shaped by recovery, substance use disorder, caregiving, loss, advocacy, incarceration, and navigating systems that didn't always meet their needs.

🔗 https://www.advocacyincubator.org/brave-recovery

So much of social work is about meeting people where they are, understanding the context behind a challenge, and recognizing strengths that may not be obvious on paper. The women in this series bring that kind of perspective. They talk openly about stigma, recovery, family, resilience, and what support looked like when it worked and when it didn't.

What struck me most is that these conversations aren't really about substance use alone. They're about relationships, belonging, housing, grief, trauma, trust, and the long path of rebuilding a life. In other words, many of the same issues social workers navigate every day.

We're releasing new stories each Tuesday throughout Recovery Month. If you work in social work, behavioral health, community outreach, or related fields, I'd love to know what resonates with you.

Watch the first episode https://www.advocacyincubator.org/program-areas/injury-prevention/overdose-prevention/anna-jones

I think some of the best ideas for improving systems come from listening carefully to the people who have had to navigate them.

Hi everyone!

I'm sure many of us are going through the same situation right now. I am a bilingual LCSW with 3+ years experience in school social work as a mental professional in the high school setting. I've been in the field since 2023 so still fairly new. I've done case management, individual and group counseling, crisis management, refferals, bios, progress notes, discharge summaries, the whole ordeal. I loved my job so much, but the pay was terrible. I live in Florida, so the pay for social workers here is horrendous. We are definitely not valued enough and underappreciated here.

I've applied to so many other positions and have not been able to get many interviews, let alone a response. I've applied to hospitals, case management positions, EAP, university counseling and other university related positions, therapist jobs, substance abuse, and I can't even remember the rest. It's been almost a month that I have not been working so I'm desperate for work to the point that I accepted a job that pays lower just so I can pay my bills and get by. Some of the jobs I applied for have insane metrics and will result to fast burn out but that seems to be the norm now. I've had friends recommend working for insurance companies to get the experience but I've seen them have massive layoffs. Some of my friends work for them and say their mental health is suffering keeping up with productivity expectations.

So many jobs I find are therapy related which is not something I really wanted to continue doing. As I'm typing this I'm just wondering what the heck has social work become? Once you're licensed the majority of the jobs are private practice but for someone who needs a salary and good benefits that just isn't feasible. Like no I can't have a 2-6 month ramp up period with unstable pay and getting a portion of my pay taken out. Not all, but some of the private practice owners here I've talked to just seem predatory and want their clinicians to see a bunch of clients while saying you set your own schedule but really expecting you to do open scheduling.

Is anyone else also experiencing something similar in the job market?

Hi guys,

my supervisor directed myself and a coworker to do something extremely unsafe that endangered us and a client.

I attempted to push back on the directive at the time, and we spoke to authorities who recommended that we don’t do what we did, but ultimately did what she asked as she kept pushing it.

luckily we are safe and nothing happened, but it would be classified as a near miss and misconduct for sure

she is sweeping it under the rug and asked for us to send her the case notes before they go in the system, and claims that we don’t need to do an incident report (which gets viewed by higher ups/the department)

I already told her how i felt so unsafe and how it was a bad decision straight after the incident, but she hasn’t brought it up since 2 days later, not mentioning the incident, case notes or incident reports at all.

we are meeting with the union to see what we should do. I am just really worried that union involvement will completely burn my bridge with her- we have a good relationship right now, but I have lost all trust in her decision making/judgement calls. She also has seemed to flip and hold grudges against people, and is super defensive. This is also happening after a few months of having to push back on bad judgment calls from her, but none were this bad.

I also have not been super on par with my documentation and managing my workload. I’m catching up on it as much as I can, but I know this leaves me a bit vulnerable.

Does anyone have experience with union involvement and standing up for what is right at reputable social work organisations? I would think that it should be considered somewhat honourable in this field, as she has broken several policies and endangered a client, but really worried about it affecting my job prospects.

I (30F) have been working in domestic violence for the past two years. I’m quite desensitised to the work. However, I have been dealing with a particularly challenging case that involves a young woman escaping her marriage.
To make a very long story short, I was not exactly happy with the way this happened and I’ve been dealing with a lot of pressure internally and externally to make this work for the client.
Today, I thought I was close to the finish line, however I was turned away by one of the external stakeholders and basically brought back to square one.
I tried to be strong, but to be honest with you I could not take it anymore and I had to excuse myself and have a good cry. Then I went back to the office to speak with my manager about it and she just simply asked me, “are you okay?”.
This question triggered the waterworks again and I started crying. I have never cried at work before even though I have dealt with the most challenging of cases. She told me to go home and I told her it’s okay, I am just frustrated by the failures of the system.
I’m quite embarrassed about it to be honest and I am not sure why. Maybe it’s because I think that it shows my manager that I’m not built for the work? Has anyone dealt with this? I’d really appreciate some insight, thank you.

TLDR: I am dealing with a challenging case at work that broke me today. I started crying to my manager and I am very embarrassed about it. I am not sure why.

Hi. I work as a therapist in a CMH setting and see anywhere from 25-45 patients a week. Almost 3 weeks ago, I put in my 90 resignation notice (policy to do so) in August, my last day was going to be around the end of October. 3 days later the emailed me saying my last day is the week of Labor Day. It hurt because it did not give me enough time to properly terminate/transfer my patients. Since that date they gave me, I have seen numerous new pt’s and having to do intakes. I’m extremely uncomfortable with it. The company says if you have open spots you get a patient. But I am here for only 9 more days. I have started calling them and switching them to providers they can actually build a relationship with. I reschedule them, then the company gives me a new pt in the same slot. What do I do? I honestly don’t want to come in anymore because it makes me so mad and uncomfortable. To me extremely unethical.

More info: also yes, 9/10 the new patients get upset that they have to open up to someone and then retell it to someone new the next appt they have. Also I work in a more rural area.

Hi All, I am hoping to make a transition from direct clinical micro level work to a mezzo level position. Of the different mezzo level work, grants drew my eye. For those who work with grants - how do you like it? What drew you to that specific area? What keeps you motivated? What do you wish you knew in the beginning? Is a finance background necessary?

Thanks in advance!

Hi all,

I just got my LCSW and my company wants me to get liability insurance, CAQH, and NPI numbers. I’m a bit overwhelmed because I had been researching this ahead of time because I wanted to do private practice on the side a few hours a week. My question is: what liability insurance do you guys like?? I asked AI about this and it said for CAQH and NPI I could use the same for both my job and PP. But for insurance I don’t know. I haven’t done any research on it yet and I’m not sure where to look. Any suggestions?

Hello! I was wondering if anyone could share an easy workflow for assisting a client looking for substance abuse treatment ? For example do you find yourself calling multiple treatment centers for bed availability and or insurance coverage? Or is there a resource readily available that simplifies this process ? Although i am currently situated in Florida , I am also curious about what process and or resources are in place to make this process more efficient rather than spending hours calling numerous treatment centers.