One of the fundamentals of social work practice is allowing clients to self-identify, which helps us learn more about how they view their needs from their own perspective. Similarly, MSW students, at some point in their education, must self identify, deciding if they are "macro" or "micro" social workers.
Yet whether a student decides on macro or micro practice, today’s bleak economy is forcing many new MSWs to accept whatever positions they can find, and then hope they are qualified and flexible enough to meet the demands of those jobs. In so doing, their roles often shift, which affects how they see themselves and how they identify themselves as social workers.
In social work, we work in so many different capacities: our world of practice is wide open. We can specialize in many areas, move from micro to macro practice and vice versa, and shift positions based on who we meet and what experiences we have on the job.
So here’s the question of the week: How do YOU self-identify? What title do you use? Does it change depending on the people wth whom you come in contact, or because of other factors?
NOTE: Here’s an interesting article that points out how, in these difficult economic times, more people are preparing to work in a rewarding field like social work. http://www.syracuse.com/progress/index.ssf/2009/02/hard_times_steer_some_toward_s.html
Saturday, February 28, 2009
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2 comments:
As a student, my identity progressed from "wanna be" therapist, to "wanna be" social worker. As I progressed through my MSW career and learned more about our field and its history I became proud of the title of social worker, but still considered myself micro focused. Now, as a graduate and practicing social worker, I first and foremost identify myself as a SOCIAL WORKER. Period. When asked for details about my job I explain that I am an LSW who is not engaged in direct practice with clients, but rather in macro level policy and advocacy.
Like socialworkblogger, I ALWAYS introduce myself as a Social Worker, then take the opportunity to explain what that means in my current position. I am offended by people who report that they are "psychotherapists" or "clinicians" or "counselors" when, above all, they are professional Social Workers. We need more pride in our work, our profession and ourselves!
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