Are you about to embark on a career in social work or mental health? Or are you an experienced mental health practitioner with pearls of wisdom to pass on to newcomers?
In September, Linda Grobman and Karen Zgoda put together THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER® Magazine’s Back-to-School Guide for Social Work Students [affiliate link] and asked several social workers for some of their back-to-school tips. I was most honored to be included among the contributors.
Below is some advice that I had to offer.
Got Therapy? We All Have Wounds…
You are on a mission to help others,
This is indeed a noble crusade.
What advice would I offer you?
You may have wounds, some of which,
You may be aware of,
Others you may have forgotten or,
Even totally repressed.
As you are working with clients,
Or as you and your field supervisor,
Are discussing various issues,
Be brave and compassionate with yourself,
Past personal sufferings are likely,
To be triggered and/or brought to light,
Though you wish they could stay in the dark.
Acknowledge your feelings and scars,
Talk them through so that you may heal,
This will enable you to,
Be present for your clients,
And avoid having your own issues,
Inadvertently interfering,
Warning: This may will hurt…
Should you risk it?
You won’t really have a choice…
Issues/things will be coming up,
Forcing you to pay attention,
You can either face your hurts,
And move on, or pretend they don’t exist,
And get stuck with your clients.
Be courageous and ask for the support and,
Guidance of a trusted therapist,
You will build resilience and strength,
Gain a better understanding of who you are,
Develop deep [er] empathy for your clients,
You will learn that we all have wounds,
This will equip you to be the best social worker you can be!
By Dorlee M/Dorlee Michaeli
The above entry has been reprinted with the permission of Linda Grobman, Publisher/Editor, of THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER Magazine.
Wow, Dorlee, what a meaningful way to express your advice to future social workers. You wove in so many reasons ‘why’ it is important for up-and-coming social work careerists to not only be introspective but to also be courageous and seek support of a trusted therapist, if needed. This will ensure a more robust, effective career as well as an ability to fully serve their clients’ needs.
Warmly,
Jacqui
Thanks so much, Jacqui, for sharing your thoughts and reactions to this poem with some advice to future social workers [or other mental health professionals].
It was both an “easy” piece for me to write in that the words came out of my typed fingers without much pause, as well as difficult guidance to offer.
The hard part lay in the painful or bitter taste of the medicine. With traditional medicine, typically, when a doctor has to prescribe bad-tasting syrup or a difficult regimen of some sort, you know exactly for how long you will have to endure it [how many times per day/how many days/weeks] and then it’s over.
The situation with my recommendation is far from being so clear cut or simple. In addition, the pain that one may feel as a result of the internal exploration may run very deep for an indeterminate amount of time.
The rainbow awaiting you at the end is that by facing and ultimately releasing the negative emotions, you are not only able to be present and care for your patients in the way that they need you but you are also able to feel much deeper joy and happiness than you were able to feel before…
Warmly,
Dorlee
Terrific comparison to ‘traditional medicine,’ Dorlee. Thank you for the edification regarding how indeterminable the time-frame for experiencing the pain and undergoing the therapy might be. However, as you said, the ‘rainbow awaiting you at the end’ enables deeper joy and happiness and better care for your patients (making the process more than worth it!).
Thank you, Jacqui 🙂 I’m so glad that the comparison to traditional medicine was helpful.
Actually, there are more positive effects than those mentioned in the poem. There are also positive ripple effects that you may experience that extend beyond your ability to be more present with your patients/clients and joyful… you are also able to be more present and joyful with your immediate family, friends and next generation [you are carrying fewer unresolved issues]; you, your family and friends experience more joy; connections/relationships deepen; we are all interconnected; what helps one person ultimately helps another 🙂
I am so grateful for your warm and supportive friendship!
Dorlee,
I really think this point is critical: ‘You, your family and friends experience more joy,’ [based on YOUR ability to be more present/joyful]. To me, this underscores the critical importance of taking care of yourself FIRST in order to be ‘there’ and be of value to others.
You’ve probably heard the reference to ‘putting on your oxygen mask first?’ I think that metaphor definitelyapplies here.
VERT grateful for your warmth and friendship too, Dorlee!!
~Jacqui