2 answers
kayleigh
Student
Portage, Michigan
1
Question
Asked
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How Can I Be Better at Helping Others when I am a Social Worker?
I am a 17-year-old high school senior, and I am interested in pursuing social work. I know it will be a hard career to have, as I've heard it is emotionally challenging. Putting the future hardships past me and looking for a positive future in helping others to my full potential, I was wondering if there were any ways I can cope with stress and my emotions so I can be fully there to help and support when I need to be?
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2 answers
Dawne McGibbon
Sr. Director, Field Services - Canada Division
3
Answers
Milton, Ontario, Canada
Updated
Dawne’s Answer
Hello Kayleigh,
You've asked a fantastic question, and it's one that many people entering this career might not consider. Being a social worker is tough because you deal with challenging situations every day, especially in child or youth services. People often advise staying detached and not getting personally involved, but that's easier said than done. We're all human, and it's natural to feel affected.
To succeed in social work or psychology, it's crucial to have a strong support system. Consider joining groups or taking classes where you can share your experiences and feelings, while keeping everything confidential. Having someone to talk to, like a therapist, can help you manage your emotions and protect your mental health.
Staying active is also important. Engage in sports, join a gym, or find a local support group. These activities can help you avoid feeling overwhelmed by the emotional weight of the job. Keeping busy both physically and mentally can make a big difference.
Many people thrive in this field by taking care of their own well-being. Remember, like the airplane metaphor, you need to put on your own oxygen mask first before helping others. Taking care of yourself is key to being able to help others effectively.
Wishing you the best on your journey!
You've asked a fantastic question, and it's one that many people entering this career might not consider. Being a social worker is tough because you deal with challenging situations every day, especially in child or youth services. People often advise staying detached and not getting personally involved, but that's easier said than done. We're all human, and it's natural to feel affected.
To succeed in social work or psychology, it's crucial to have a strong support system. Consider joining groups or taking classes where you can share your experiences and feelings, while keeping everything confidential. Having someone to talk to, like a therapist, can help you manage your emotions and protect your mental health.
Staying active is also important. Engage in sports, join a gym, or find a local support group. These activities can help you avoid feeling overwhelmed by the emotional weight of the job. Keeping busy both physically and mentally can make a big difference.
Many people thrive in this field by taking care of their own well-being. Remember, like the airplane metaphor, you need to put on your own oxygen mask first before helping others. Taking care of yourself is key to being able to help others effectively.
Wishing you the best on your journey!
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
1186
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hello Kayleigh,
First of all, I appreciate your honest question. I can tell you already have the groundwork for a successful social worker, since you are thinking about ways to help others before you even start your career.
Here's the reframe I want you to cling to: knowing how to take care of yourself, guilt-free, is the first step towards being good at helping others. Yes, social work is emotionally taxing, but it doesn't require unwavering strength or selflessness. It has to do with being controlled, thoughtful, and encouraged.
Emotional awareness is one of the most important skills you can begin developing right now. This involves understanding your feelings, recognizing when you're feeling overwhelmed, and knowing what is and isn't yours to carry. Rather than taking on everyone's suffering, effective social workers learn to sit with it, provide help, and then let it go. Boundaries are important in this situation. Boundaries are methods that safeguard your ability to provide long-term care, not walls.
In this sector, stress management is more about long-term routines than it is about fast remedies. Think of it as building your own resilience toolkit, which includes journaling, regular exercise, creative outlets, talking things out with people you can trust, and, if you can, therapy. These are essential skills for helping professions; they are not extras. In order to handle challenging cases, many social work professionals actively use peer support and supervision. This type of work is never designed to be done by you alone.
Accepting that you won't have all the answers, and that you shouldn't, is also OK. Progress, not perfection, is the goal of social work. You show up, listen, speak up, and try your hardest within the constraints of the system. This way of thinking keeps your work interesting rather than overwhelming and helps you avoid burnout.
In the future, keep in mind that the most successful social workers are those who learn to maintain their composure while working, not those who give away everything. You're on a solid path to a long, rewarding career where you genuinely make a difference, since you're already asking the right questions.
Best wishes!
First of all, I appreciate your honest question. I can tell you already have the groundwork for a successful social worker, since you are thinking about ways to help others before you even start your career.
Here's the reframe I want you to cling to: knowing how to take care of yourself, guilt-free, is the first step towards being good at helping others. Yes, social work is emotionally taxing, but it doesn't require unwavering strength or selflessness. It has to do with being controlled, thoughtful, and encouraged.
Emotional awareness is one of the most important skills you can begin developing right now. This involves understanding your feelings, recognizing when you're feeling overwhelmed, and knowing what is and isn't yours to carry. Rather than taking on everyone's suffering, effective social workers learn to sit with it, provide help, and then let it go. Boundaries are important in this situation. Boundaries are methods that safeguard your ability to provide long-term care, not walls.
In this sector, stress management is more about long-term routines than it is about fast remedies. Think of it as building your own resilience toolkit, which includes journaling, regular exercise, creative outlets, talking things out with people you can trust, and, if you can, therapy. These are essential skills for helping professions; they are not extras. In order to handle challenging cases, many social work professionals actively use peer support and supervision. This type of work is never designed to be done by you alone.
Accepting that you won't have all the answers, and that you shouldn't, is also OK. Progress, not perfection, is the goal of social work. You show up, listen, speak up, and try your hardest within the constraints of the system. This way of thinking keeps your work interesting rather than overwhelming and helps you avoid burnout.
In the future, keep in mind that the most successful social workers are those who learn to maintain their composure while working, not those who give away everything. You're on a solid path to a long, rewarding career where you genuinely make a difference, since you're already asking the right questions.
Best wishes!