By Social workers do a lot more than many people ever realize. While they help connect people with services and resources, they also play an important role in healing and trauma recovery. Fostering positive emotional well-being is important for any community. In this article, we will review the role that social workers play in helping clients heal and recover from trauma and some of the tools at their disposal.
Trauma-Informed Care
Social workers need to be trained in trauma-informed care. This means recognizing and trying to have as good an understanding as possible of the past traumas, adversities, and challenges clients have faced, as well as those they are currently going through.
Through better understanding, a social worker can make more efficient use of the time they spend with each client and help them heal and recover at a healthy pace.
Read Also: EMDR Therapy: A Path to Healing for Black Women Facing Trauma
Trauma-Informed Care Is Based On Trust
Establishing trust between clients and social workers is a must. Without trust, a client will not open up and allow the social worker to get the whole picture. Trust also encourages clients to listen to advice and to be open to making positive life changes that can support long-term personal growth and development.
It can be hard for a client to open up right away, so patience and understanding that it is very hard to talk about some things is necessary. Although it may seem like there is little progress initially, realizing that small steps lead to big changes is important when it comes to overcoming challenges.
EMDR Therapy
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, or EMDR therapy, is a method of working through trauma by using a series of eye movements. This therapy helps patients work through traumatic memories and supports healing. Since it is an easy-to-practice and inexpensive method of treatment that gets results, its use is becoming more popular.
Counseling
Just having someone to talk to that you can rely on to be non-judgmental and there to help in whatever way they can means a lot. Social workers receive more training in counseling and talk therapy than they have in the past. A lot of social workers have earned degrees in clinical social work and are certified and licensed counselors in their state of practice.
Social Justice And Serving Underprivileged Groups
Social workers need to be trained to be culturally aware and in touch with the unique challenges and backgrounds that others may have. An improved understanding means that social workers can more easily reach out to people from all backgrounds and provide them with the support and help they need.
Being able to provide more people with high-quality care is a side effect of better understanding and improved methods of treatment.
Social Work Is Set For Major Job Growth
There is a strong demand for social workers that will continue to grow over the next decade. If you are considering what career to pursue or changing your career path, social work may be right for you. There is a lot of room for determined and caring individuals who want to make a positive difference in the world around them.
The high levels of substance abuse and general increase in mental health awareness post-COVID have highlighted the strong need for more social workers, particularly those trained in counseling and trauma-informed care techniques.
How To Become A Social Worker
If helping people change their lives for the better and overcome trauma and challenges sounds good to you, then earning an advanced degree in social work online is an option to consider. While you do have to complete fieldwork to earn your degree and take your social work exam, all your coursework can be completed entirely online.
Earning an online Master’s in Social Work degree from a reputable institution such as Keuka College is an excellent option for those with a bachelor’s degree in another field and those who have earned a bachelor’s in social work. The program will prepare students to work in family and youth services, to understand the relationship between human behavior and the social environment, etc. Your state may have some specific requirements. For example, if you want to practice as part of the Pennsylvania social work professional community, then you would need to follow their exact guidelines and pass the state-sanctioned exam.
Continuing education is required to maintain your social work license and ensure you are aware of any major changes in the field.
Social Worker Specializations
Many social workers have an area of social work that they are most passionate about. If you know what area you are most interested in while you are earning your degree, then your program advisors will try to find you a fieldwork placement that allows you to gain valuable experience before you are licensed. This increases the odds that you will find a position within your specialization after you are fully licensed. Some placements turn into full-time positions when there is availability and need.
Common specializations include substance abuse, behavioral and mental health counseling, child and family, and clinical social work. Social workers may find employment in a variety of settings, including government agencies, hospitals, private clinics, psychiatric hospitals, substance abuse centers, and non-profit agencies.
Healthier Minds Mean Healthier Communities And A Brighter Future
To meet the social work demands of the future, there must be more people entering the field. Social workers play a larger role than ever before in helping those in their communities heal from trauma and overcome the many challenges that modern life can throw at any person at any given time.
Addressing mental healthcare is going to be a major challenge in the future due to the extreme demand. Social workers play a pivotal role in helping people access the resources and help they need to lead healthy and productive lives.
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