Are you looking to become a social worker? A clinically focused social work degree could be the perfect choice for you.
Not only will you gain invaluable knowledge and skills, but you’ll also develop a deep understanding of the clinical aspects of social work. A clinically focused social work degree offers many unique benefits that can help you become a successful and impactful social worker.
It focuses on hands-on experience, teaching you the practical knowledge and skills to succeed in this vital career. With this degree, you can pursue various career paths to help you reach your goals as a social worker.
Whether you’re looking to work in a hospital, with families or in the community, a clinically focused social work degree can help you get there. Read on to discover the many advantages of obtaining a clinically focused social work degree.
What does a clinical social worker do?
A clinical social worker is a skilled professional working with individuals, families and groups struggling with mental or emotional disorders. Clinical social workers assess the situation and determine the best treatment for their clients based on their needs.
They use various approaches, such as psychotherapy, case management, child welfare and substance abuse treatment. These professionals are typically skilled in working with people with depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder and other major mental illnesses.
They also provide psychiatric rehabilitation to help clients function better at home and work after a psychiatrist has treated them. To become a clinical social worker, you can enroll in an online MSW program offered by Florida State University.
Their program is focused on preparing students for social work licensure as clinical social workers. The Master of Social Work (MSW) degree provides graduates with knowledge about theories, concepts, research findings and practical skills that will be useful in many roles.
15 benefits of a clinically focused social work degree
A clinically focused degree in social work will give you the knowledge, skills and abilities to become a more knowledgeable and effective social worker.
The degree will provide competency-based education in day-to-day work and a greater understanding of social contexts. To help you better understand the advantages of pursuing this career path, here is a list of the benefits of a clinically focused social work degree:
Access to clinical/field education
It’s common for social work programs to offer clinical field education which provide you with the opportunity to experience first-hand what it is like to be a social worker.
Clinical field experiences build self-confidence, leadership and communication skills vital to the success of your future career. It also allows you to observe and experience different settings in which you can practice your newly learned skills.
In addition, most clinical education is hands-on, and the learning process is very active. You will be doing what you are learning about, which will help cement the knowledge in your mind.
Learn how to use new technologies and tools
A clinical placement allows you to learn how to use new technologies and tools. You will gain experience using data management software, such as electronic medical records (EMRs), and utilization review software, such as Epic and Banner. With practice and training, you can identify which of these systems might be helpful for your clients or others.
A clinical focus prepares you for direct practice
A clinically focused degree will lead you towards social work practice. You will be better prepared for direct service in various clinical settings, including medical centers, hospitals, nursing homes and other medical facilities.
Your classes will prepare you with the practical knowledge to work in various settings, allowing you to benefit from working with diverse populations, from children and families to teens or the elderly.
Networking opportunities
Clinical field placements offer an excellent opportunity to network while gaining experience in social work. You can meet and speak with different people, including managers, supervisors and co-workers.
You will also have the chance to interact with other students who are going through the same training program that you are. By taking advantage of networking opportunities, you may develop close relationships with people you meet that can help you build your professional associations in the future.
Acquire clinical knowledge and skills
A clinical focus in your social work education will provide you with the skills and knowledge to help you become a better worker. You will be able to apply the knowledge acquired during your course of study to actual practice, including evaluating situations critically, thinking on your feet when things don’t go as planned and making decisions according to the needs of clients or patients.
You will also learn how to operate within ethical practice guidelines. This will allow you to be more resolutive and actively follow up with clients.
For example, time management skills are essential for helping you satisfactorily meet deadlines. In a clinical placement, you must write reports and make recommendations based on your findings.
You will also need to be able to meet time constraints and deadlines. This experience will go a long way in helping you be a more effective social worker.
You learn how to advocate for clients and provide social services
With a clinical focus, you will be better prepared to help and serve clients. You will be able to handle various situations, and you will be given the ability to advocate for the people you are helping.
You can effectively handle difficult situations and determine the steps you should take. By having field placements and gaining experience in various settings, you will better understand what it’s like to work as a social worker.
For instance, you will know what to expect in an interview or how best to approach difficult situations. You will have the opportunity to identify how your values influence the way you deliver services and how you should use resources.
Additionally, you will have a better understanding of a client’s strengths and weaknesses, which will help you better match the required service to the client.
Clinical placements provide real-world experience
A clinical placement is just like any other job opportunity. You must attend to clients’ needs and help them with their problems.
This can be a difficult task, especially when children are involved. For example, you may be working with children as young as eight in a daycare program or teaching children how to read, write and do the math.
You may also have health-related placements where you will provide medical assistance or perform physical therapy at a nursing home or rehabilitation center. In most clinical assignments, you will be responsible for tasks such as changing diapers and dressing wounds.
You will also have the chance to spend time with people who may not be able to speak due to their disabilities. Alternatively, you may serve elderly clients in a nursing home by bathing them or helping them prepare for bedtime.
You learn how to work with different populations
A clinically focused degree will allow you to learn how to work with different populations. From working with children to the elderly and people with disabilities, you will be able to handle abuse, neglect and poverty cases.
You will also be able to practice your new skills when working with clients from various cultures and backgrounds. For example, in a nursing home placement, you may have family members come in to visit or receive services at their bedside.
Gain developed leadership skills
A clinically focused degree will help you gain the ability to handle leadership roles. You can effectively manage people and tasks in hospitals, nursing homes and other medical facilities.
You will also be able to identify how you can use your leadership skills with individuals or groups of people within a given setting or community. For example, being a leader may mean advocating for a client or helping an elderly client make arrangements for hospice care in their own home.
A clinical focus can lead to better job prospects
A clinical focus will help you gain the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue a career in social work. You will develop your strengths and address your weaknesses in order to solve client problems.
You will also be able to identify areas of your life that you want or need to improve, such as your communication skills or on-the-job management. With clinical field experiences, you will gain a clear picture of how your future career will develop, which can help make you a more effective social worker.
You learn how to be a team player
Clinical field placement will help you learn how to work as part of a team. You will gain experience in counseling and problem-solving within a group of professionals and apply your new skills to solving problems experienced by the client’s family.
In a healthcare setting, you are responsible for working with other therapists or specialists who have differing opinions on treatment methods, clients’ needs and may even have personal conflicts.
For example, you might work with a nurse who is unhappy with her current position and has resigned herself to the possibility of being let go. This may cause stress in the workplace and make it difficult for you to do your job as a counselor.
In this situation, you would need to learn how to manage your time, balance your responsibilities and handle working with people who are unhappy or have different opinions on how best to help a client.
Clinical placement can offer a variety of types of care
A clinical field placement can be an excellent way to prepare for a career in social work and advance your skills as a worker. You will learn about different types of care and how other professionals interact with clients in various work settings.
For example, you may obtain an overview of how mental health professionals offer treatment plans for different situations or manage people on the verge of committing suicide or who are behaving violently toward themselves or others.
You may also have the chance to see how specially trained workers can deal with people suffering from substance abuse, eating disorders and mental health issues. You will also gain experience in crisis and emergency care as you quickly learn how to handle clients’ needs and your own.
Gain experience and learn new skills
A clinical placement allows you to gain experience and learn new skills. You will be able to apply all your training in your specific field, such as mental health or gerontology, and use that experience to identify problems you can solve.
You will also learn to use new tools and techniques in working with clients. For example, you can record a client’s feelings via a computer-based journal entry.
You will also gain experience in taking charge of your job, so you are ready for your future role as a counselor or other type of social worker.
You can have a positive impact on society
A clinical field placement can help you have a positive impact on society. During your work, you will see how your piece affects people’s lives.
You can also see how different professionals, such as doctors and nurses, may disagree with a particular treatment or care plan for clients.
By working with them and learning how to solve problems together with different types of people, you will be able to use that knowledge when you are working alone as a counselor or therapist.
You will learn more about yourself
A clinical field placement can help you learn more about yourself. You may gain experience in self-reflection, which will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses and ways to improve your practice.
For example, you could learn to identify how your tendency to react quickly to a crisis could cause problems for others or yourself. You could also learn to recognize how your own life experience can impact how you interact with people and work.
Final thoughts
Completing a clinically focused social work degree provides countless benefits that can help you become an even more effective social worker. This degree offers many advantages, from an enhanced understanding of clients’ complex needs to acquiring valuable research and technical skills.
The benefits can help you provide better services and improve outcomes for those you serve. As you consider advancing your education, remember that having a clinically focused social work degree could be the key to achieving your professional goals.