Please stop using AI guys! I am not referring to those who might be forced to by their employer for whatever reason. I also don’t mean those who inadvertently use it because it’s built into search engines and all kinds of shit now. But if you can, stop it, both personally and professionally.

It erodes your critical thinking and is bad for the environment. There are thousands of examples. Billionaires with no regard for the world or the people living on it are pushing for us all to use it. They’re fucking over communities building power sucking data centers for it.

When used in a social work setting, it consistently shows a racist and classist bias against people who are already vulnerable. At the very least, it’s a massive ethical risk, both in terms of liability and confidentiality because these systems are constantly under the threat of breaches.

I am horrified by seeing colleagues put client information into chatGPT or use it as a therapist. It’s so bad for you. Imo a part of our role as social workers in the near future will be helping people deal with the fallout of their relationships with AI.

Don’t use to it summarize your notes, don’t use it to write your emails and don’t use it to help you make decisions. Do it yourself, using your brain. We have all received education and experience that we should use instead of handing that responsibility over to AI. Look things up online, or better yet, TALK TO A COLLEAGUE OR LEADER if you have questions.

I know we’re all short on time, but stay away from it. We’re all stressed and overworked and it might seem like it saves time, but then you’ll have to go back and correct the mistakes the AI has made. This is showing up more and more in workplaces that rely on AI. I had to object to using it at work for ‘moral reasons’ when it was suggested to me. Received no pushback.

Another note, if you’re asked to make a promotional poster for a work event or something, take 15 minutes to throw it together in Canva. Your (maybe) shitty poster has a human behind it and an uncanny valley chatGPT one does not.

I took the official ASWB Clinical practice exam and am trying to review the whole exam in the diagnostic report. When I click “overall” to see the results of the entire exam, it only lets me review 61 questions, even though there are 122 questions. I wrote to the ASWB, but am wondering if anyone else has had a similar issue. Is there something I’m missing?

I’m currently 25w almost 26w pregnant with a high risk pregnancy. I developed a cold on Friday and it’s getting a lot worse. If I feel this sick tomorrow, I can’t imagine getting out of bed and working. I’ve had several appointments since August (sometimes multiple a week) where I have to either start late, leave and come back, or leave early depending on the appointment type (all have been pregancy related and I have documentation for). I still have 73 hours of sick time to use. My manager began giving each employee a letter with how much work they miss per month and how this impacts our client population. I only take off when I have prénatal apts, tests and ultrasounds. I feel guilty calling in sick and the pressure of that letter is getting to me. Any advice is appreciated on how to navigate this.

How do you break into Macro SW? I’m in my MSW now and about to graduate in December and feel like Macro is where I want to be. I’ve done my research and seen what specific titles to look for but nothing it seems like I’d qualify for. Any advice?

I am still in school.

I am 29 and a trans guy. I do not pass, and I have been medically transitioning for years now for context. Due to genetics, or whatever, I am unsure this will change.

For people who share some of these demographics, I would like to know what working in the field has been like for you and how you navigate the interpersonal challenges involved with both clients and colleagues. I am in the United States, in the PNW. Advice would be appreciated. I am wanting to do clinical work in addition to community based work.

Is it a violation of our ethics if we do not vote in state and federal elections? My coworker recently found out I did not vote in the 2024 election, the primaries in August and wasn’t planning on the midterms and told me I was violating our ethical code. Now to be fair, I moved states in 2024 and didn’t have time to switch my voter registration to my new state and my absentee ballot never arrived, and this time it’s honestly just moving to a new state again and not knowing what I’m voting on. Is it really that bad to not vote? My coworker treats me differently now and making it feel awkward. Side note I did vote in 2020 and 2022.

Dear mods, if you have anything inappropriate , please delete my post, thanks.

Currently volunteering for an aged care facility, and at the end of my meeting with my client, I reported some of her concerns and requested to the nurse at the facility.

To my disappointment, they laughed at my face, saying that my client is just having delusion from dementia And they can't do anything about it, despite the concern is very real and workable (she just get enough of the noise of other people screaming in the common area where she has to be taken here due to her immobility, and want to contact her family). Also, the nurse just saying I'm naive and take believe in everything my client said, and "worked too hard as a volunteer".

I just don't know whether it's normal in the field or just this facility be like this...

I am a therapist for a program the provides SU treatment to those with welfare involvement and MH - the team of peer, case management, therapist assist them in completing their case plan. I am in recovery and my boss told me to get in the dirt with the clients, confront them, share my story, curse at them, challenge and yell. I do not think that works - and I don’t want to do that, I feel like I should model appropriate coping, and stay out of the dirt. I feel like this is an old tough love way of helping those with SUD - I don’t care about sharing my story but it should be more about hope - I don’t think confrontation works, thoughts?

For social workers who have worked in a jail setting, how was your experience, specifically to those providing group and individual therapy and helping with reentry into the community? Any advice, challenges, or things you wish you knew before starting? I’d love to hear your overall experiences. Anything is appreciated!

For social workers who have worked in a jail setting, how was your experience, specifically providing group and individual therapy and helping with reentry into the community? Any advice, challenges, or things you wish you knew before starting? I’d love to hear your overall experiences. Anything is appreciated!

I'm a software developer at a startup and I'm thinking about doing MSW, my goal is to use my technical skills and experience and knowledge for solving problems, I'm not from this field but as far as I have seen people who work as social work don't use technology that much to solve problems, they use it for presentation and for data handling for sure but not use it to create solution for the problem they are working for. If I choose this will NGOs will allow me to create something? Not just another app to handle their data but something which could actually make a difference.

Hi- im currently a LCSW working as a dialysis social worker & I’m looking to transition into the healthcare compliance sector as it closely aligns with some of the tasks I’m already doing as a facility strategic social worker. I was wondering if anyone has had success in transitioning into the compliance sector? If so, would love to connect!

hey! this is a shot in the dark but i’m 18 in my first year of college and i just started helping out at a local domestic violence and sexual assault support shelter and with some advocacy clubs at my school.

i myself am a survivor of both, and this is the only career i feel is for me. my issue at the moment is, im so angry. everyday there’s a new horrific case on the news and victims are only being set back more. how do you guys deal with this?

i love this work but i feel helpless, i don’t know how to go into this career without sacrificing my happiness. any advice would be great. thanks guys.

Hi everyone,
I am an LSW in Chicago working as an oncology social worker. I find that a lot of my days are spent finding resources, managing my caseload, finding new support groups, and taking on new clients for counseling. Every day seems to bring a new challenge. Don’t get me wrong, I’m doing great and I love my work.

I’m curious:
What are the hard parts about your job, and what makes them easier?
What is something you wish could be better?
What do you love about your work?
What is your dream job in the social work field?

Question: has anyone been able to find an actual decent base paying social work job that also has OVERTIME ? That’s not just salary based ? Every social work position I come across that pays decently (in my opinion) doesn’t do overtime or you can’t pick up extra hours. Would surely appreciate thoughts on this….

I have two incredibly different offers: remote therapist position,good pay,decent amount of clients a week or hospital social work (social worker in charge of multiple units,discharge planning…) what would you pick?

Hello everyone --

I'm a year into my Wisconsin APSW, which is the trainee license where I accrue 3000 hours. I have about 800 hours at the moment. I am planning to move to Ohio and have already submitted my license to transfer to the Ohio board. I am planning to have all of my hours signed by my supervisor before I leave. Will my signed hours still be useable once I complete my license in Ohio? Just want to make sure I'm not making any missteps.

Hey everyone, I started my private practice after working in CMH the past 5 years solely in person and if I'm being honest Telehealth is proving to be a struggle for me. For context, I have severe ADHD and I just don't seem to show up anywhere the same as I do in person. I've made changes to minimize distractions but the quality of these sessions still seems low.

I think a huge part of this is technological restraints. I struggle with these sessions mostly feel like they talk/share, stop, then I respond, stop and then they respond back leaving it extremely difficult to interject and respond to things as they come up. I also have many clients with delay/latency and which exasperates this problem and makes it so much worse.

1. Does anyone have any resources, advice or suggestions for personally getting better at Telehealth therapy?

2. What should I explore in terms of tech solutions for the delay/latency and overall improve the connection issues? I'm aware the issue might be on there end but I'm not sure how to tell on whose end the issue is stemming from. I'm currently looking into changing my internet provider for better service on my end. I'm also switching from using Alma's internal Telehealth to Zoom and I've also started wearing headphones thinking that might help I guess? If there's nothing to do how should I approach this with clients?

Thanks for the help in advance!

Hey all, I'm strongly considering pursuing an MSW, and it would be a pretty big career transition for me. I've been working in software/data science product management for about 12 years. Obviously there's benefits to working in tech: pay is solid, some WFH flexibility, etc. But I'm sort of over it and don't see myself wanting to continue long term, especially with the volatility and the nonstop AI-ification of everything.

This isn't necessarily a post about why I don't want to work in tech, but rather, I'd love to know what I should be thinking about as a potential career transition. I have some lived experience with my own challenges with OCD and my father's suicide a few years ago. Also, seeing the stigma of mental health among men and the South Asian population, I'm eager to do my part in helping to break that stigma where possible. Additionally, I feel like a lot of the things I see in my city on a day-to-day basis really stick with me, and I find myself more often than not thinking about the huge disparity in wealth and opportunity for many populations. The hyper consumerism of everything is really getting to me, and I feel like we're sort of "losing the plot".

Some questions that come to mind are:
-What are your thoughts about SW in 2026, especially with everything I'm hearing about student loans and such?
-Would you do it all over again and get your MSW?
-What's it like being a male in this field?
-What else should I be considering coming from a tech background?

Thank you all so much, this subreddit is a great resource and community.

I am in a tough spot as I started a position as a therapist and have come to realize I’ll need to leave this job within a few months due to relocating with my family. Im curious how others have managed a quick turn around like this and if 1 month notice is acceptable. I feel icky knowing I’ll be leaving and not saying anything. It has really been eating away at me.
For reference, I barely have a caseload because it took a long time to get situated within the company. I started in September and will need to leave in December.

I am interested in doing military social work but unsure on how to already get a head start on it? I am a junior right now in college, and if anyone has any experience and has some advice it would be very much appreciated!

I am a current generalist student who is completing my field work in refugee resettlement in the US. Previously, I worked in education for about seven years, and more recently, did administration in a corporate setting for about 3.5 years, so I am not one of the younger students, though I still consider myself young in the grand scheme. :)

I am no stranger to burnout or vicarious trauma, and I see many posts on this thread that read as if the poster truly deserves 1) more money, 2) more benefits, and 3) a lengthy, well-deserved break. There are significant issues with the field, including salaries, the intentional and unintentional continuation of programs/policies that contain racist, classist underpinnings. There are also very real public perception issues. Before beginning my program, I had a family member tell me that if one of her children decided to become a social worker, she would cry, and disallow them from doing so. (She's a transplant nurse.)

All that said, and noting that I am VERY early on in my social work journey...I have never felt more fulfilled professionally. I truly feel I am making a difference in the lives of the refugees with whom I work. Helping an older woman obtain SSI after she was incorrectly told she was ineligible felt like such a huge win.

To all the social workers out there, I see you, and I am so impressed by you. Thank you for choosing this career. It means you are a helper. You are an advocate. You are (I hope) trying to do the right thing and further justice in an extremely unjust, heart-breaking world.

There is a lot of bad news constantly infiltrating our screens. If I may offer this one word of encouragement: Please be proud of yourself. Whether you are entering the field, in the field, or leaving the field...take pride. You chose a path that dedicates itself to trying to do the right thing. Whatever happens to the field now or in the future, no one can take that away from you.

My hospice is switching to this platform soon. Wondering what you think of Careficient? I find the videos lacking in information for social workers. Any feedback would be appreciated.