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The New Social Worker is the quarterly magazine for social work students and recent graduates, focusing on social work careers for those new to the profession. This blog is a companion to the free online magazine at http://www.socialworker.com.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

My first one-on-one session

Today my field instructor threw me into the water and said, "Swim!"

I may have done something that more closely resembled dog paddling as I performed my very first one-on-one session ever. I thought this would happen differently. I thought it would begin after Spring Break. I thought I'd be able to plan ahead.

So much for thinking!

Even though "my client" arrived 45 minutes early, I was able to jot down his treatment goals and objectives before I sat down with him.

Without going into details, I think (there I go again) it went fairly well. My field instructor knows what she is doing and she knows me well enough after 8 weeks to trust me with this most important aspect of the learning experience.

I tried to relax, and guide the session, and, most of all, listen. I also prayed before I met with him, which can't hurt!

What a day. What a life. What a fabulous career choice I have made.

--Ms. T. J.
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Posted by Southern Social Worker at 11:47 PM
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6 comments:

  2. Good for you! I was very nervous in my first on on one. I think we always feel sort of thrown into these things. Congrats on it going well. It only gets better from here, as you get experience under your belt.
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  3. I'm so glad everything worked out for you!!! I"m not in grad school yet but I will be very soon and I'm looking forward to the challenges I will face
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  4. Robert Brooks said it best, "I want to apologize to all my initial clients, I did not know what I was doing". Getting our feet wet, so to speak is the nature of social work. It is always challenging and always rewarding. Remember this first time, there needs to be thousands more before you really can run solo. Good luck! Our profession needs good social workers.
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  5. I'm scared to death to start grad school in June. I don't feel like I'm ready. My BSSW program was rather lax. I don't feel prepared. I feel like I don't know what I'm doing. I was told I did an outstanding job in my undergrad internship, though. I'm doing advanced standing, so the foundation curriculum won't be there for me. We'll see. I keep telling myself the point of going to school is to learn. That I'm not expected to go in there knowing it all. Whew!
    My hat's off to you, TJ, and to everyone else.
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  6. Anon-

    You can do it! My undergrad is journalism, so you already have more SW education than I did as you walk into your grad program.

    I believe we are social workers before we get the degree; we just need the credentials.

    You will learn so much; most of all that you are absolutely in the right place!

    I support you in acheiving your goal. Congrats on earning your BSW!

    --Ms. T. J.
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