March is Social Work month and this year [written in1998]  marked the centennial celebration of Social Work Education. Many people may not know that there are two different yet very similar schools of thought in the field of social work. One perspective, born 100 years ago this month, still addresses social ills on a large scale from the outside in, such as working with the homeless or doing community service.

The other perspective, which has been slowly evolving since then, addresses social ills on a smaller scale, from the inside out, such as working with an individual and with smaller groups regarding personality issues.

Studying social work entails looking at the individual in the context of his environment. Working in social work entails focusing on one of these aspects, but not to the exclusion of the other.

Psychotherapy, or clinical social work, involves focusing on the individual or on the group (such as couples or families or groups of individuals) with the hopes of improving that individual’s relationship with himself, primarily, but ultimately, with others in his or her  environment.

People often enter psychotherapy because of difficulties they are having in their relationships with people. They are sometimes surprised to discover that, in fact, the relationship they have with themselves is truly at the heart of their difficulties, and therefore the area that becomes the focus of the work of therapy.

Clinical social workers are Masters-level psychotherapists trained to help people deal with and work through issues of difficulty in life. Licensed clinical social workers are those who have reached a level of competence, tested and approved by the State’s Department of Social Work, and who have been determined to have the skills and abilities necessary to practice in a private setting.

Insurance companies reimburse LCSW’s (Licensed Clinical Social Workers) at the same rate as psychiatrists, and many people prefer to see a social worker because their fees are generally lower. Others may prefer to see a psychiatrist because of their ability to prescribe medication.

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