The Difference Between Direct-service And Clinical Social Workers
Social workers are caring and compassionate individuals who help people cope with a wide range of challenges. Students who are interested in earning their bachelor's degree in social work should make sure they understand the responsibilities associated with a career as a social worker.
There are two types of social workers: direct-service and clinical. (In this instance, please don't confuse "types" with a social worker's work environment or specialty. Individuals earning a traditional or online bachelor's degree in social work can become health care, school, or family and child social workers, just to list a few.)
Although there are similarities, the differences between clinical and direct-service social workers are plentiful.
Direct-service social workers respond to crisis situations such as natural disasters or child abuse. They assess clients' needs, situations, and strengths to determine the goals that need to be set, develop plans to improve their clients' well-being, follow up with clients to ensure that their situations have improved, and evaluate services provided to ensure that they are effective. Direct-service social workers help clients adjust to changes and challenges in their lives and work with government agencies to help clients apply for and receive benefits such as Medicare and food stamps. This just might be the biggest difference between the two types of social workers: direct-service workers have a relationship with community resources.
Clinical social workers represent the largest group of behavioral health practitioners in the nation. Licensed clinical socials workers diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional disorders including anxiety and depression. They encourage clients to discuss their emotions and experiences to develop a better understanding of themselves and their relationships through individual, group, family, and couples therapy. They refer clients to other resources if necessary, develop a treatment plan with the client, doctors, and other health care professionals, and develop strategies with clients to positively change behavior. They also evaluate the client to make sure treatment is working correctly.
Career titles for social workers include family counselor, clinical administrator, family caseworker, and drug and alcohol rehabilitation counselor. Although your degree is in social work, in order to have the social worker title, you are required to have a master's degree in social work, a clinical license in the state where you practice, and in most instances, a minimum of two years or 3,000 hours of post-master's degree experience.
After earning your bachelor degree in social work online, consider joining the National Association of Social Workers. Networking, access to publications and job openings, professional development, liability insurance, malpractice workshops, and legal assistance are all NASW membership benefits.
There are two types of social workers: direct-service and clinical. (In this instance, please don't confuse "types" with a social worker's work environment or specialty. Individuals earning a traditional or online bachelor's degree in social work can become health care, school, or family and child social workers, just to list a few.)
Although there are similarities, the differences between clinical and direct-service social workers are plentiful.
Direct-service social workers respond to crisis situations such as natural disasters or child abuse. They assess clients' needs, situations, and strengths to determine the goals that need to be set, develop plans to improve their clients' well-being, follow up with clients to ensure that their situations have improved, and evaluate services provided to ensure that they are effective. Direct-service social workers help clients adjust to changes and challenges in their lives and work with government agencies to help clients apply for and receive benefits such as Medicare and food stamps. This just might be the biggest difference between the two types of social workers: direct-service workers have a relationship with community resources.
Clinical social workers represent the largest group of behavioral health practitioners in the nation. Licensed clinical socials workers diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional disorders including anxiety and depression. They encourage clients to discuss their emotions and experiences to develop a better understanding of themselves and their relationships through individual, group, family, and couples therapy. They refer clients to other resources if necessary, develop a treatment plan with the client, doctors, and other health care professionals, and develop strategies with clients to positively change behavior. They also evaluate the client to make sure treatment is working correctly.
Career titles for social workers include family counselor, clinical administrator, family caseworker, and drug and alcohol rehabilitation counselor. Although your degree is in social work, in order to have the social worker title, you are required to have a master's degree in social work, a clinical license in the state where you practice, and in most instances, a minimum of two years or 3,000 hours of post-master's degree experience.
After earning your bachelor degree in social work online, consider joining the National Association of Social Workers. Networking, access to publications and job openings, professional development, liability insurance, malpractice workshops, and legal assistance are all NASW membership benefits.
