Empathy – You must be caring and understanding of those who come to you for help. Patience – You must work through problems at your clients’ own speed. Dependability – You must be there for your clients when they need you if you are going to earn their trust. Organization – Because you will often be dealing with a heavy caseload, the ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects efficiently is key. Giving yourself time for breaks also can help you feel less overstimulated. Perceptiveness – You will be dealing with topics that are difficult to talk about like abuse. More than just being a good listener, you need to be able to read between the lines to get at what your clients’ want to tell you, but are often afraid to say. Objectivity – Becoming too emotionally involved can both drain you and make you less effective. Even while being empathetic, you must maintain the emotional distance necessary to be effective. Persistence – Continually overcoming setbacks is the nature of the job. Perseverance is vital. Flexibility – Social work is not always a 9-5 job. The best case workers have the flexibility to help their clients when they need them most. Resilience – You will see the worst in humanity and face heart-rending problems every day. You must be resilient in order to last in the job. This means knowing how to take care of yourself and recharge your batteries when not working.
Talk with your colleagues – Don’t be afraid to tell them about your disappointments and frustrations; they no doubt have them too. Knowing you are not alone can help you deal with frustration. [4] X Research source Do not blame your clients – They might miss meetings. They might not do as you ask. They might even lie to you. Blaming them will not help you, or them. They are dealing with huge problems. Remind yourself of that every day. It is the problems to blame, not the clients. [5] X Research source Focus on problems you can control – Of all the problems you face, some you have total control over solving (e. g. when you do your paperwork or how your write up your reports), some you have limited control over (e. g. your schedule), some will be totally out of your control (i. e. whether a client shows up), and some will be so confusing you can’t even figure out what the problem is (e. g. office politics; managerial incompetence). The key is to focus on the things you can control or influence, and to recognize you cannot control the rest and let it go. [6] X Research source
Join professional organizations such as the British Association of Social Workers or the National Association of Social Workers in the U. S. in order to take advantage of conferences, workshops, and mentoring. [7] X Research source Develop helping relationships with peer groups, spouses, or friends. Interpersonal relationships are key to helping social workers deal with their own distress.
Self-Evaluation – The ability to effectively monitor one’s own condition has been cited as the number one trait of effective therapists. This means both using introspection and being attentive to interpersonal feedback, such as a family member or colleague noting that you look tired or are working longer hours. Creating a Pleasant Work Environment (aka stimulus control) – Changing one’s environment is a proven way to impact one’s mood. There are a variety of steps one can take: get a comfortable chair; play calming music while writing up reports; put plants in your office; take time to talk to colleagues; don’t eat at your desk; etc. Relaxation, Exercise, and Diversion (aka counter conditioning) – These are activities that replenish you physically and psychologically, and they are vital to success as a social worker. Typical activities include: reading or watching TV; working out; hobbies; vacations; meditation; worship; volunteer work; and keeping a diary.
Create a realistic care plan – Don’t try and fix a client’s problems overnight. If you create a reasonable care plan with small intermediate goals, you will have a road map to stick to and be less likely to pour time into seeking an immediate solution. Be wary of devoting extra time to particular clients – While some clients do require more work, treating one client differently than others is often a sign that your boundaries – both in terms of time and your emotional relationship with the client – are overextended. Limit client communication – Always use your organization’s process for communicating with clients. Allowing a client to contact you directly leaves you out of control of your work schedule and, if you are unable to respond when needed, may create a loss of trust. In the case of a crisis, your clients should be directed to the emergency services. Discuss your workload with your supervisor – Speaking regularly with your supervisor about your workload and particularly difficult cases can help manage your caseload and set boundaries. Know that working extra will not help your organization, it will only set unrealistic expectations for your fellow social workers.
Clarify vague terms – If your manager offers vague advice with no clear indication of how to enact it (e. g. use your time more efficiently), ask him or her to clarify or provide a series of clear steps. [12] X Research source Bring your own questions – Managers are more likely to give candid feedback if you ask for it. So ask a general question – “What two things do you think I can do to most improve my work?” – or ask about areas you think need strengthening, such as “Can you recommend a strategy for dealing with all this paperwork?”[13] X Research source Make a plan – After any performance review, take time to write down your manager’s recommendations or areas where you are underperforming, and then make a step by step plan for how to enact the recommendations or improve your performance. Consult your manager or colleagues as needed in creating your plan.
Conduct multiple forms of therapy: individual; couples; group Work with different types of problems Work with different types of patients: ethnicity; age; social background; profession Try teaching, researching, or learning alongside counseling
Motivating factors in seeking your services Living arrangements, including the safety of the home environment Vocational history Cultural values and beliefs Family composition and potential support offered by family Barriers to the client’s use of community resources Client’s coping styles Client’s perception of the needed changes
Education and coaching in life skills Individual, couples, and group counseling and psychotherapy Mediation and conflict resolution Advocacy on behalf of clients Resource information and referrals (often including financial, housing, legal, and medical resources) Planning for the termination of services
