Identifying as a Professional Social Worker

The Counsel on Social Work Education has developed Advanced Social Work Practice in Clinical Settings. I find this super helpful when providing supervision for those working on their independent license because it helps differentiate between advanced social work competencies and basic ones. 

Under Educational Policy 2.1.1- Identify as a professional social worker and conduct oneself accordingly, the first advanced competency is to readily identify as a social work professional. I've been thinking about this for some time because on first glance, the competency seems to repeat the educational policy. The clear distinction between the two is the word readily. 

I didn't want to take the time to define readily because I think that often times it is used to add some length without adding content. In this case however, a simple Google search defines readily as without hesitation or reluctance. This provides more depth into this competency of readily identifying as a social work professional. 

Often times, I see social workers identify themselves as anything but a social worker. I often hear the terms therapist or clinical therapist for social workers in private practice or other mental health settings. Some social workers tend define themselves by their role or job description such as case manager or discharge planner. This begs the question, why? Why do social workers not say they are social workers? There are probably a few reasons. 

1. Describing Role

    Let's be honest, the public can be very confused by what social workers are and what they do. Sharing the primary job function may be helpful for someone a social worker is working with to understand what they are doing. A social worker may enter a patient's room and identify as a discharge planner to allow that person to know that they are there to to plan for discharge. It can also help a person understand the difference between their case manager and therapist who may both be social workers. 

2. Stigma

    Another reason social workers may not readily identify as a social worker is because there is some stigma within the profession. Perhaps people do not want to associate with the profession or know that some people do not think highly of social workers, so they say they are something else. Social workers often get a bad reputation by some who misrepresent themselves as social workers. Some people believe that social workers just take kids away or refer people to resources. To not associate with the negative views toward the profession, some may feel it's better to say something along the lines of what they do. 

Readily Identifying...

As someone who provides training supervision, this is a topic I like to bring up with those I supervise. It is an advanced competency, but as a professional social workers who do quality work I want those I supervise to be proud of being a social worker. I challenge them to say "I'm a social worker who provides therapy" rather than just identifying as a therapist. Even in my personal life I tell people I am a social worker knowing they will automatically think I work directly with clients. I want to help the public understand the depth and breadth of social work so I explain that not all social workers work with clients and that I work in administration. In all of my roles I am a social worker first. Some jobs we take as social workers may be appropriate for many different types of professional backgrounds, however if you have a social work education you bring that with you to any job. 

As professionals, we have a responsibility educate the public and other professionals on the profession of social worker. I am an ambassador for the profession and need to conduct myself accordingly. We can help reduce stigma against the profession when professional, competent social workers readily identify as such.