Social workers help people cope with challenges in their lives. They help with a wide range of situations, such as adopting a child or being diagnosed with a terminal illness. Advocacy is an important aspect of social work. Social workers advocate or raise awareness with and on behalf of their clients and the social work professional on local, state and national levels. Some social workers work with groups, community organization and policy makers to develop or improve programs, services, policies and social conditionals. These individuals are typical bachelor’s social workers.
Social workers who are licensed to diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional disorders are clinical social workers or licensed clinical social workers. They provide individual, group, family and couples therapy; they work with clients to develop strategies to change behavior or cope with difficult situations. They refer clients to other resources or services such as support groups or other mental health professionals. Clinical social workers can develop treatment plans with the client, doctors, and other healthcare professionals. They work in a variety of specialties. Clinical social workers who have not completed additional training and supervision are often called mater’s social workers. Social workers can work as child and family social workers, school social workers, healthcare social workers, mental health and substance abuse social workers.
