(For more information on these and other clinical social work modalities, check out our Guide to Clinical Social Work or NASW). Starting a business can be intimidating, but there are resources available. Another social worker in private practice who specializes in helping a very specific sector of the population is Buck Black, LCSW, who is a child and family therapist based in Lafayette, Indiana, and the founder of Trucker Therapy, a counseling and therapy service for truckers. Due to the potential risks associated with wilderness adventure-based therapy, LCSWs and therapists who are interested in this modality may undergo training and may require additional certifications. “I coordinated program development, professional development and research projects for staff of the State of Maine Department of Health and Human Services,” she said. Social workers can provide psychotherapy just like psychologists, psychiatrists and other counselors, but it’s also important to check with the state in which you intend to practice. “I’m also called upon as a social worker to go out and give training on emotional health topics. “Equine assisted psychotherapy uses horses for life-skills learning and emotional growth, as well as for organizational team building and leadership development,” she said. She encourages social work students who are interested in helping people with career development (both in office sessions and in corporate settings) to gain additional training outside their social work education. For example, mythic tales or fables might resonate with an adolescent who is experiencing obstacles in his or her life. Pre-licensure education requirements, licensing exams, and experience in the field (not to mention the associated costs) must all be considered before an LCSW can go into private practice. Is a Social Work Degree Worth it? A common population LCSWs in private practice serve is children and families. The prospect of opening a private practice is alluring to licensed clinical social workers (LCSW) for a number of reasons — the opportunity to set your own hours, carve out your niche within the field and opt to see the patients that you feel best equipped to treat. “Once you are mid-career following several years of experience, I think it is wise to specialize and focus on your ‘niche’ population,” she said. “Private Practice: Getting Off to a Strong Start” with Deb Legge and John P. Duggan (WEBA17005) “Counselor Risk Management: Counselors and Technology — A Two-Edged Sword” with Anne Marie “Nancy” Wheeler and John P. Duggan (WEBL18005) LCSWs in private practice may also have to contend with a less regular or reliable income stream, as it depends entirely on client sessions. Even in states like New York that have no specific private practice licensing requirement, professional organizations recommend that LCSWs earn advanced credentials such as the Board Certified Diplomate (BCD) in Clinical Social Work, which requires passing a test, paying a fee and gaining at least six years of supervised clinical experience. “At the start of my private practice, I made a point of personally introducing myself to key people in the community, such as doctors and school counselors, because they make a lot of mental health referrals and I wanted to make sure they had my business cards,” Maglio said. In expressive arts therapy, LCSWs and therapists may ask clients to either be an audience to or a creator of art. Therapists interested in offering EAP must be certified by the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA) and work with a horse professional during EAP sessions, which are typically held in an outdoor arena. Clinical social workers practice solo or in groups when they set up their businesses. According to the NASW, some of the steps involved in working as a private social work (PDF, 4.8 MB) practitioner are: According to the NASW, social workers can work in individual or group private practice settings, or both.
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