Social Worker Mammas

[runnerbrit]

Talk to me about your job. What do you like/dislike about it? How many hours a week do you put in? How many of those are "in office" vs. at home?

I am currently on the corporate treadmill and am ready to get off. I have always had an intrest in social services. I have my B.S. in Business Admin so would need to go back to school for a 2nd degree. I am planning to get my duel Bachelors in Psychology.

Looking for some feedback as I begin making this life change.

[Drummer's Wife]

Have you thought about getting a Masters in Social Work since you already have a B.S. ? Because my understanding is that you really can't do much with a BSW, you need a MSW to get a decent job. Even better is to become a LCSW after a few years of working.

I am interested in what the SW mamas have to say about your questions, though, b/c it's something I am strongly considering. I just wish the pay was better, is all.

[runnerbrit]

I have considered going for my Masters. So far, my thought process is this. I may start off as a social worker and then end up not liking it (the school tract or job) or burned out (know SWs that this has happened to). If I have a Bachelors in Psych I could possibly segway into counseling.... if I have a MSW then I am more "stuck".

What do you think, is my thinking logical?

[shepav]

Hello!

I am a BSW, considering getting my MSW once the kiddos are older. I work part time (24 hours/week), and enjoy my job for the most part... my job is doing service coordination for children with delays and disabilities.

I am getting paid the most I've ever gotten paid (even more than some MSWs that I know), and it's not a lot, even still. My husband often teases me about pay, but he has an engineer's salary, well, it's a lot more than human service work. But I'm saving the world, right?

If you are considering going back to school, I would also suggest getting the MSW track. You can still do counseling. In fact, some insurances prefer MSW vs. a psych degree. Just a thought.

[Drummer's Wife]

You should be able to do counseling, even private practice, with a MSW/LCSW. My understanding is also that your services are more likely to be billable if you have that degree vs. psychology. I think that the only reason to go the psych route is if you plan to get a doctorate and become a psychologist -- but even that will be harder to get paid than a LCSW for counseling. Have you looked into various Masters programs in your area? I ask b/c the school I am considering includes counseling as a concentration. Instead of family/children/mental health/etc.

[Holland73]

My bf is a LCSW and is in private practice and also works part-time in a hospital out-patient program. My therapist, who has a Masters of Science in Counseling Psychology shares her office with another therapist, who is a LCSW.

I am currently gearing up to start a Masters of Arts in Counseling Psychology with a specialization in Transpersonal Psychology. I have spent the past year researching different programs and looking at the differences between a MSW and a Masters in Counseling.

The two degrees, either a Masters in Counseling Psychology or a MSW, are pretty synonomous, in regards to becoming a therapist The only exception that I have found is that more LC/MSWs work (and are more accepted) in hospitals.

Really think about what you want to do... therapy, hospital work (in or out patient programs), etc. Then, you should start researching what kinds of programs are offered in your area and talk to the program advisors.

Personally, I would not go for a bachelors. You truly cannot get too far (or earn much money) with a Bachelors nowadays.

Good luck!

[canadianchick]

I am a social worker and have been working for 8 years with a bachelor's degree. I am currently a CPS worker in Maine and I work about 40 hrs/wk depending on whether there are emergencies to deal with. I work mainly from the office but do also work some from home. I am more productive when I am at the office. I am an assessment worker so I am the initial knock on the door, I assess and am open with a family for around 35 days. If the case needs to stay open or if I have removed the kids then the case transfers to a different worker who carries the case for longer. I like this because I get bored easy so this job is always changing, I am never with a family for long. I don't really have anything that I do not like about the job though.

[bananabug]

Originally Posted by runnerbrit

I have considered going for my Masters. So far, my thought process is this. I may start off as a social worker and then end up not liking it (the school tract or job) or burned out (know SWs that this has happened to). If I have a Bachelors in Psych I could possibly segway into counseling.... if I have a MSW then I am more "stuck".

What do you think, is my thinking logical?

You'll be more stuck with a BA- go for an MSW. An MSW gives you a lot of flexibility in terms of job choice, including higher pay. It also depends on where you live- in Mass I came out of college with a BA in psychology and couldn't make 20,000. My salary jumped quite a bit once I got my MSW, and with it I can work as a school counselor (which I did for 8 yrs), work in a hospital, work for an adoption agency, do private practice, etc etc. Can't do much here with a BA in Psych.

[alicia622]

I will echo- go for the MSW!!!

I have been in the field for a while- my bachelor's is in child development/family studies and it is limiting with what I can do. That said, my job offers great flexibility and I could do more than half of my work at home if I wanted- I don't because I would never get anything done!!! but some of my coworkers are rarely in the office. I do a lot of travel though (I cover about a 60 mile radius so some days I spend a lot of time driving to families.

I work as a children's case manager- the pay is okay and the benefits sack but the flexibility of my job is wonderful.

Feel free to PM me if you have questions