A mental health social worker is a professional who works with people who have mental illnesses or are addicted to drugs or alcohol. Individual or group therapy, crisis intervention, teaching of necessary skills for day-to-day living, and other treatments may be used. In-patient and out-patient settings are both possible settings for these social workers.
A social worker, in general, assists people in dealing with problems or issues that arise in their lives. They may offer counseling, therapy, or practical assistance to people in crisis situations. For those interested in this field, a bachelor’s degree is generally recommended, and a master’s degree is required for some positions with higher levels of responsibility.
The responsibilities of a mental health social worker are determined the work environment and individual job expectations. The social worker may assist with discharge planning in in-patient settings, where patients reside in a supervised facility. Self-medication training, obtaining housing, organizing outpatient therapy or programs, or ensuring that the patient has adequate support after discharge are all examples of this.
This professional can serve in a variety of capacities in outpatient settings. A worker in an employee assistance program may be available to help people deal with work-related stress or personal issues that are interfering with their ability to work effectively. Counseling and periodic drug testing may be part of the role in substance abuse clinics.
Rather than working for or through an agency, some social workers work in private practices. Clients make their own appointments and present issues that determine the therapy’s focus.
A crisis intervention is a short-term therapeutic relationship in which a social worker helps an individual cope with a sudden loss or change in situation that is beyond his coping abilities. This could be due to an occurrence such as an earthquake or fire, an assault, illness, or the death of a loved one. The goal of crisis intervention is to improve coping skills so that you can function at your best for the duration of the crisis.
In-patient or out-patient therapy sessions may be facilitated a mental health social worker. Individual therapy may concentrate on issues arising from the diagnoses. The goals of a social worker are usually to encourage patients to take their medications as prescribed and to help them develop skills for dealing with issues that arise in everyday life.
Patients with similar emotional, mental, or social issues usually attend group therapy sessions. To keep interpersonal interactions from becoming antagonistic and to maintain the appropriate focus, a social worker may facilitate sessions. Group therapy can take many forms, including general group, drama therapy, and music therapy.