Seeing a Social Worker for Therapy

Individuals struggling with mental illness often wonder if they should see a psychiatrist, a psychologist or a social worker. If they are interested purely in medication, treatment by a psychiatrist is necessary. For those who wish to receive therapy, Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) can provide mental health assessments, diagnosis and counseling.

Unlike psychology, which is more person centered, social workers are trained in Person-In-Environment (PIE). PIE is the social world that an individual inhabits and includes factors such as gender, race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status. LCSWs work with clients to determine what natural skills and talents they possess and can use in tackling the difficulties in their lives. In addition, a LCSW can be an affordable, qualified option for obtaining therapy for mental health issues.

Often, LCSWs are available through health insurance, Employee Assistance Programs and/or mental health hotlines. In fact, every Fairfax County Public School has an assigned social worker. LCSWs teach coping skills and typically offer more feedback than psychiatrists or psychologists.

In treating depression, cognitive-behavioral and interpersonal therapy have proven to be as effective as medication for many individuals. If you are not seeing improvements, changing the approach you are taking with your current therapist (rather than switching to a new practitioner) may be all that is needed.

If you like and trust your therapist and look forward to sessions, it is more likely that your treatment will be successful. When you are trying to locate a provider, it can be helpful to read his or her website to learn if his or her area of expertise is a match for your needs. A viable alternative to psychiatrists and psychologists, LCSWs can offer fresh perspectives, confidential support, problem solving skills and coping strategies for mental health issues, including depression.

Thank you to Allison from SocialWorkLicensure.org, who recently E-Mailed suggestions for resources to add to the website. Visit SocialWorkLicensure.org for guides on “Becoming a Social Worker” and “Social Work Licensure in Virginia.”