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A Student Member Perspective :
When You Have Self-Doubts as a Social Worker
For years now, I’ve had a deep desire to be a social worker; my passion especially lies in clinical social work. I have been an MSW intern for almost a year now and I love the work I do with clients. I am privileged and blessed that I now get to do what I love most which is work 1:1 with clients in a social work setting. And the one thing that I wasn’t expecting to have happen when I began this work? Self-doubt; self-criticism; self-deprecating thoughts. When I first began my internship, it never crossed my mind that I could possibly have negative thoughts about myself while doing something I love. But the reality is that I face a daily battle of telling myself I’m not doing a good enough job, worrying about if I’m truly helping my clients, feeling afraid of what my clients think about. I become harsh on myself when I make a mistake, no matter how big or small that mistake is; I fear that any mistake I make will mean clients won’t come back to see me. I get fixated on what I did wrong rather than fixating on the things I’m doing right. Perhaps you’re reading this and you’re thinking this sounds all too familiar. Whether you’ve been a social worker for a week, a month, a year, or forty years, chances are you also have self-doubting thoughts. I hear you and I relate to you. What I’ve been learning over this past year is that I’m doing a much better job than I think I am, and I suspect the same is true for you. I encourage you to do as I have and be intentional about reframing those self-deprecating thoughts. Consider what is a more realistic, healthier thought. When we have a healthy mindset, we can better serve our clients. I’m rooting for you.
By Katie Jo Walker, MSW Intern
Do you have a perspective to share?
Email it to ncarlson.naswwi@socialworkers.org
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