Like psychologists, social workers devote their lives to helping others. However, there are some crucial differences. Whereas a clinical psychologist might work with a range of people from all backgrounds, social workers focus on working with people who are vulnerable, impoverished, oppressed, neglected or abused. In addition, social workers provide holistic services by taking into consideration both the whole person and their environment. By nature, social work centers on fighting for social justice, relieving suffering and improving both human lives and communities.
Social workers provide services across a diverse range of settings. They work in hospitals, schools, community therapy centers, prisons, nursing homes, homeless shelters and substance abuse treatment facilities. It is well known that social workers often help children who have been abused or neglected, but they also work with members of the military who have suffered from trauma, as well as individuals affected by natural disasters. In short, social workers are versatile professionals who want to make the world a better place.
For a social worker, every day brings new challenges and no two days are the same. In general, the following are some common job responsibilities:
- Assessing the situation, needs, goals and support networks of individuals
- Helping clients cope with stressors and challenges by providing psychotherapy services
- Referring clients to social support services, ranging from emergency housing to food stamps to employment assistance
- Responding to crisis situations, including natural disasters, mental health emergencies, acts of mass violence and child abuse