What You Can Do With a Degree in Social Work

If you have a degree in social work, you want to make a difference in people’s lives. Social work gives you the opportunity to help people through some of the most difficult parts of their lives. If you can’t quite decide which direction to go with your social work degree, consider these career options.

Become a Therapist

If you have obtained a degree in social work, one of the paths you can choose is to be a therapist. According to Innerbody Research, there are many types of therapy to specialize in, and you can find the area of therapy that most appeals to you. If you enjoy working with children, you could be a child therapist. You could also choose to be a marriage and family therapist, or provide counseling to community members. As a therapist, you can work closely with people, and help them work through issues in their personal lives. However, this can also be incredibly emotionally draining for you. You’ll see a lot of trauma and difficulty if you choose this path. However, it’s also one of the most rewarding options. You can help people through these situations, and come out stronger on the other side.

Work With At-Risk Children

If you’re passionate about helping at-risk children, this area of social work could always use more qualified individuals. According to Saprea, sexual abuse affects 20% of children in the United States. Children all across the country are going through these incredibly difficult experiences without anyone to help them. Once again, there are several facets of this type of social work that you can work in. First, you can choose to be a foster care social worker. These are children that are often without the presence of a positive role model. If you choose to work within the foster care system, you will be able to advocate for these children’s safety and welfare. 

Hospice Social Work

This is another difficult type of social work. Death is something that everyone has to deal with, but it is an incredibly trying and emotional experience to see it happen to a loved one. If you choose to work as a hospice social worker, you’ll be able to help these families through the grieving process and give them the opportunity to come to terms with the loss of their loved ones. You’ll also be able to help set up care options for individuals in hospice.

As a social worker, you have the opportunity to make incredibly meaningful changes to people’s lives. There are many ways that you can use your skills and knowledge to help people through their struggles. These are a few of the top careers you can choose in social work.

Check out these types of therapy incorporated in treatment programs!