Thank you so much for reading, sharing and adding so much valuable content to this site with your value-added comments. It is thanks to you that SocialWork.Career is what it is today!
Reviewing your contributions was so much fun! Below are the top favorite comments for 2016 organized by the two main themes: clinical social work and self-care/inspiration.
These are valuable comments that will provide both regular and new site visitors to the site, a great taste of what the blog offers (aside from the monthly listings of free webinars and bi-weekly roundups of best-in-mental health), and a feeling for who some of its readers are 🙂
The top 16 comments for 2016 appear in these two categories of posts:
Clinical Social Work
- Dementia Care: Use Mind Mapping to Improve Quality of Life, Gang Membership Prevention: It Takes a Village!, The Minimalist Guide to Hookup Culture, Prison Social Work: Does Sex Offender Treatment Work?, Real World Clinical Social Work: 7 Career Tips, and Suicidal Ideation: How to Document.
Self-Care/Inspiration
- Living Forward: 3 Questions to Create the Life You Want, and My Three Words for 2016: Nourish, Simplify and Charge!
The Top 16 Comments for 2016
Clinical Social Work
On Dementia Care: Use Mind Mapping to Improve Quality of Life
ermintrude2 said:
“Thank you so much for posting this. I have worked with people living with dementia for many years and looked at (and used) graphics but never even considered the use of mind maps in this way but can see already many very practical implementations. It’s great to see the examples and I feel sure this post will be incredibly useful and inspiring for many – colours and logical visual representations can be used in many ways to help clarify.”
Rick Ross said:
“This is among of the most helpful dementia resources I’ve found. It acknowledges and addresses the needs of the caregiver and sufferer (often neglected elsewhere) with unique clarity and empathy… I’ve shared it with a caregiver and a person suffering from dementia. I have high expectations that it’ll facilitate a much needed change in perspective and help to relieve suffering. There’s nothing more valuable.”
LuAnn Smith B.A., GCM said:
“Very interesting. I find so much variation in abilities from client to client and I was wondering if you see certain mind mapping strategies work better with certain dementias. certain stages? Maybe this is covered in the book which I’m definitely downloading…”
Vikki Brewster said:
“Interesting idea! The fact that it is ‘expensive’ and requires hours of commitment is a concern though. Does the professional have the time to create the mind map and can the individual with dementia or cognitive decline fully participate in the process or is the family willing to participate if need be? What if there is no family or caregiver(s)? There are many individuals with cognitive decline that are alone either by circumstance or choice…”
On Gang Membership Prevention: It Takes a Village!
Madison Darling said:
“… the information is incredibly interesting and valuable! As someone who works in combating child domestic human trafficking, I would like to ask how quickly you find the social media apps involved with recruitment and perpetration involved with human trafficking changing. I would also like to ask what are ways I could give to parents to encourage them to take an active interest in their child’s online presence?…”
Mercedes Samudio, LCSW said:
“This is such an amazing and informative article!… In working with parents I have found that along with the risk and protective factors you mentioned, helping the parents feel more aware and confident also helps combat a lot of what you shared. A lot of the parents I worked with feel overwhelmed by all that there is to monitor in their child’s lives, especially with social media and apps moving so quickly! What I’ve focused on is what you stated – focusing on strengthening the family unit! That piece has helped so much because families feel committed to one another and feel safe to communicate with each other…”
On The Minimalist Guide to Hookup Culture
Lesley Thompson said:
“Great article! I see a lot of Millennials, so it is very helpful to gain more insight on this generation and ideas of areas to explore.”
On Prison Social Work: Does Sex Offender Treatment Work?
Crissy Schmieder said:
“This is a fantastic article. I believe that there is so much work to be done with educating the general public- even social workers.
It amazes me how terms are used wrong when speaking about sex offenders and sexual deviance. Every sex offender isn’t, by definition a pedophile. A true pedophile is actually not as common as one would think. I enjoy working with the population.
It isn’t for everyone but I feel that in order to discuss recidivism rates and improving society as a whole then each population deserves a stab at receiving rehabilitation.”
Sherry Katz, LCSW said:
“… I imagine this population as a group, is much more vulnerable to stigma and being burdened in their relationships due to the stigma we have on sex offenders.
Wouldn’t we all be better off by separating the crime from the person?…”
On Real World Clinical Social Work: 7 Career Tips
Tamara Suttle said:
“… I appreciate your questions related to the importance of values and “fit” in our work setting as well as the many ways our personal histories can impact our livelihoods and abilities to practice in the field.
Her insights – especially those related to geographic differences as well as “the painful reality of having to invest in one’s career beyond the cost of tuition” – are truths that I find are rarely, if ever, stated in public or privately to those new to the field… It’s maddening to see this pattern perpetuated year after year as new graduates are churned out; and, it’s encouraging to know that you and Dr. Danna have enough integrity to let new grads know what they are in for and how to navigate the systems that they are entering in to!”
On Suicidal Ideation: How to Document
Jonathan Bentley Singer said:
“Thank you for this quick and easy guide to documenting suicide risk. Dr. Hall covers many best practices for documenting a suicide assessment. Her recommendation to use the Safety Plan is spot on. I would like to punctuate a few points:
1. Dr. Hall is correct when she says to write down WHY you conducted a suicide risk assessment… Just to clarify, what you include is your client’s exact words. Dr. Hall demonstrated this in her sample note when she quoted the client… 2. Dr. Hall is correct that it is important that you’ve assessed for risk factors. The key statement in her review is “Identifying risk and protective factors alone does not suffice for a personalized assessment.”… 6. If you are doing a suicide assessment, your note should be longer and more detailed than the one provided by Dr. Hall…”
Self-Care/Inspiration
On Living Forward: 3 Questions to Create the Life You Want
Nancy Smyth said:
“… I have found that clarifying my priorities and taking stock of where I’m putting my energy that’s always been a very helpful process… The more meaningful question for me has been: what do I want more of and less of in my life? This has helped me make the needed decisions to guide me.
I would love to hear more about the Yes-No-Yes approach to decisions.”
Marianna Paulson said:
“… I love that right off the bat you state a life plan is created by you, for you. Too often, one gets stuck dreaming of someone else’s life, when time is best invested in living the life you were meant to live.
A life that includes meaning, which makes room for self-compassion, along with the other things that make your heart sing.”
On My Three Words for 2016: Nourish, Simplify and Charge!
Jackie Yun said:
“Wonderful, your approach to introducing your 2016 Three Words. You’ve made your Three Words do-able for us all via your practical tips!
And for your 2016 journey, here are three quotes ** embedded with your Three Words ** that spurred my imagination and I hope yours, too… Know that you are an artist who is nourishing her community, helping us to arrange our life’s rooms simply and authentically and is the charge pointing us forward…”
Nicole Clark, LMSW said:
“My word for 2016 is “paradigm shift”, and I’m setting intentions to experience paradigm shifts in how I take care of my health, how I give and receive love, how to add more adventure in my life, how to experience more freedom, and to have a higher sense of peace and awareness…”
Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter said:
“Wow – before I read Jackie’s comment, I was thinking similarly, that you’ve made your ‘three words’ actionable for all of us. I also found myself relating to your words!
For example, in acting upon the word, “nourish,” you reference getting enough sleep and setting a schedule/bedtime routine. This is something our household (hubby/I) have worked on over the past few years, and while we generally acquire enough ‘hours’ of sleep, our sleep schedules sometimes get out of sync with our goals and current situations… Oh, and I echo Jackie’s final remarks regarding your artistry and nourishment…”
With much gratitude,
Best wishes for a happy and healthy new year!
Like this post? Please share it!
Dear Dorlee,
I always enjoy soaking up your annual favorite reader comments blog post. I can imagine the time, energy and focus it takes to winnow down the blogs + comments which to showcase. As such, it is a great honor when I discover you also have included one of my remarks! Thank you.
I love your blog and your passion and insights woven through your writings.
Today, I was particularly drawn to the comments on the Dementia-related blog, as I have a loved one experiencing symptoms. I have read through the original post and the comments and am forwarding a copy to myself for further deep-diving.
Thank you, and all the best to you as you pursue a new year of blogging! I’ll continue to be a big fan!
~Jacqui
Dear Jacqui,
Thanks so much for your kind feedback. I am always so grateful when you’re able to stop by!
Your responses are perfect illustrations of how best to leave a comment; they always reflect thoughtfulness and and a valuable extension of the article in one way or another. You truly walk the talk with your “valueintowords” twitter username.
I feel for you having a loved one experiencing dementia symptoms. I hope that Dr Huba’s suggestions regarding mind-mapping as a potential tool may be of some help.
With much appreciation for you and your loyal devotion to this blog,
Dorlee
I am going to echo Jacqui’s comments, Dorlee. The time, energy and devotion you exhibit in this annual posting is admirable.
Here are some of the words and phrases from your readers that resonate with me: “…change in perspective and help relieve suffering.”; “…focusing on strengthening the family unit.”; “‘…the reality of having to invest in one’s career beyond the cost of tuition.'”; “…clarifying my priorities and taking stock of where I’m putting my energy.”; “nourishing”; “…higher sense of peace and awareness.”; “…artistry.”
As always, your care and diligence in your writing illuminates a path that provides a forum for others to learn and share.
Thank you.
Dear Marianna,
Thanks so much for your kind and thoughtful feedback!
I most appreciate the care you took with your response, and am thrilled when SocialWork.Career serves as a forum for others to learn and share. You were so kind when you taught us how to address stress through the breath ! And I love visiting your space to learn more about undressing stress and living healthier!
Thanks again!