Clinical social worker

Who are social workers?[edit | edit source]

Clinical social workers in the United States and most other countries are professionals that are licensed to diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional disorders.

Other names[edit | edit source]

They are also called clinical social workers (CSW) or licensed clinical social workers (LCSW).

Services[edit | edit source]

The clinical social workers provide individual, group, family, and couples therapy;
CSW's work with clients to develop strategies to change behavior or cope with difficult situations;
CSW's may refer clients to other resources or services, such as support groups or other mental health professionals.
Clinical social workers can also develop treatment plans with the client, doctors, and other healthcare professionals and may adjust the treatment plan if necessary based on their client’s progress.

Work environment[edit | edit source]

They may work in a variety of specialties.
Clinical social workers who have not completed two years of supervised work are often called master’s social workers (MSW).

Types of CSW's[edit | edit source]

The following are examples of types of social workers:

Child and family social workers Child and family social workers protect vulnerable children and help families in need of assistance.

They help families find housing or services, such as childcare, or apply for benefits, such as food stamps.
They intervene when children are in danger of neglect or abuse. Some help arrange adoptions, locate foster families, or work to reunite families.

School social workers

School social workers work with teachers, parents, and school administrators to develop plans and strategies to improve students’ academic performance and social development. Students and their families are often referred to social workers to deal with problems such as aggressive behavior, bullying, or frequent absences from school.

Healthcare social workers

Healthcare social workers help patients understand their diagnosis and make the necessary adjustments to their lifestyle, housing, or healthcare.
They may help people make the transition from the hospital back to their homes and communities.
Moreover, they may provide information on services, such as home healthcare or support groups, to help patients manage their illness or disease.
Social workers help doctors and other healthcare professionals understand the effects that diseases and illnesses have on patients’ mental and emotional health.
Some healthcare social workers specialize in geriatric social work, hospice and palliative care, or medical social work.

Mental health and substance abuse social workers

Mental health and substance abuse social workers help clients with mental illnesses or addictions.
They provide information on services, such as support groups and 12-step programs, to help clients cope with their illness.
Many clinical social workers function in these roles as well.

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