The role of the social worker is misunderstood. Indeed, we note that many people still associate social work interventions with delinquency and precarious social situations. However, the expertise of a social worker is very broad and this professional can help people who are confronted with several types of situations. To dispel this persistent myth, we have prepared this article.
Consulting a social worker = big problems
Don’t think that social work interventions are only for people who are seen as “dysfunctional” by society. In fact, social workers can provide support to people who experience very different types of “problems”.
The notion of problems and the perception of their intensity vary greatly from one person to another. Not everyone has the same ability to cope with stressful events, to deal with negative emotions, or to withstand shocks and bounce back. For this reason, many situations in everyday life may seem more trivial to some, while they represent a real obstacle for others. For the latter, these obstacles can prevent them from functioning well, particularly in terms of meeting their needs, or on a professional or social level.
Whatever the problem, it may be appropriate to seek the help of someone who is used to juggling complex situations and guiding clients. Here, we are of course referring to the social worker.
Consult without judgment
As we have mentioned, we all have different perceptions and ways of dealing with hardship. Indeed, we are not all born and develop under the same conditions and with the same opportunities. We also develop certain skills and reflexes through our life experiences. This results in some individuals having more limited or less well adapted “tools” to deal with more difficult situations. Sometimes, it is also possible that a person underestimates his or her own abilities.
The social worker can then adapt his or her intervention according to the situation experienced by the client, in order to deconstruct it. His or her external view and advice allow him or her to provide the client with the necessary tools to deal with the situation and to continue to move forward.
Interventions in social work: concrete examples
In conclusion, we would like to give you some examples of complex social situations in which a person can seek the support of a social worker. These examples are intended to demonstrate that the reasons for consultation can be very varied and that requests can come from people from all walks of life.
The following are examples of reasons for social work consultation:
- To cope with the news of a serious illness;
- To juggle the challenges of loss of autonomy;
- Problems adapting to a new environment, for example following a move;
- Family coaching, to improve relationships within the family;
- Couple problems;
- Stress and anxiety management;
- To develop self-esteem and assertiveness;
- And so on.
In light of these examples, we can see that the problems that may require the intervention of a social worker can affect anyone, regardless of background, level of education, salary… We should not be ashamed to seek the advice of a qualified professional in order to be better equipped if we are experiencing a complex or difficult situation. The ultimate goal of an intervention is to enable us to live better!
If you need to, consult a social worker virtually through the online social work consultation, a service offered by Clinique GO!
Approuvé par Francis Desjardins
