Clinical social worker career guide

Clinical social workers provide help and support to a wide variety of individuals impacted by social problems and personal difficulties. The profession encompasses different duties, depending on the specific role, but frequently includes counseling people and connecting them to appropriate resources.

What does a clinical social worker do?

Clinical social workers provide services in mental, emotional, and behavioral health. They are licensed and trained professional able to assess and diagnose problems in these areas, and provide treatments such as individual, group, and family therapy and counseling. They are not qualified to prescribe medication.

A clinical social worker may also work to help prevent certain social problems: for instance, initiatives aimed at reducing addiction rates. Clinical social workers may be employed in various settings, including agencies, private practice, hospitals, or other healthcare settings.

Social work roles as a whole can be broken down into the micro, mezzo, or macro levels, based on the typical work performed.

Macro social work

At the macro level, social workers focus on change on a broader scale instead of providing individual or small group services. In this role, you might work to institute a policy change impacting mental health at the state national level.

Mezzo social work

The mezzo level focuses on local and community social service initiatives, as you work directly with the people you’re trying to help. This role could involve starting a behavioral health program at a school or supporting a community-run initiative.

Micro social work

The micro level involves direct counseling with individuals and small groups to support their mental health, family dynamics, and other areas of life. Examples of this include individual counseling, family counseling, or small-group therapy.

Clinical social work generally belongs to the micro level, yet most social workers do not stick to a single  level, since the nature of the work rarely allows for such neat categorization in practice. As a clinical social worker in a hospital, you may provide one-on-one therapy to terminally ill patients on a weekly basis at the micro level. At the same time, you may institute a support group for family members of the terminally ill at the mezzo level. Finally, at the macro level, you may write a proposal to the health department on increasing home healthcare service funding for terminally ill patients.

What type of people become clinical social workers?

Having certain traits and characteristics makes people a good fit clinical social work. People who best suit this role tend to have the following qualities:

Good with people

Clinical social workers consistently work directly with individual and small groups of people. Thus, they have excellent interpersonal skills and are able to work with diverse individuals, building healthy relationships.

Problem solvers

Professionals in this role regularly come up with helpful solutions to problems that individuals or groups face in society. They come up with solutions that work within the available resources but also think outside the box to develop tailored solutions to unique problems.

Excellent communicators

A significant part of working well with other people involves effective communication. Clinical social workers practice active listening and work to understand the experiences and needs of their clients, clearly communicating in a way each client will understand.

Organized

Clinical social workers balance many duties and clients at the same time. The role often includes paperwork and documentation, which social workers organize and keep confidential.

Emotionally balanced

Clinical social workers use empathy, compassion, and patience in their interactions with clients. At the same time, they manage their emotions, create boundaries, and remain composed while working with people who are may be distressed, emotional, and going through a difficult time.

How to become a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW)

While non-clinical social workers can practice with a bachelor of social work (BSW), or a BSW and state licensure if they wish to be licensed social workers, licensed clinical social workers take the following additional steps:

• earn a master of social work degree
• complete additional coursework required for clinical social work specialization (may be completed online in some cases)
• complete the number of supervised clinical hours required by relevant state
• pass the LCSW exam administered by state social work licensing board
• if applicable (depending on state), pass a law and ethics examination

» Read: Check the top schools for bachelor’s in social work

How to become a board-certified clinical social worker

Advanced practitioners such as LCSWs, as well as clinical generalists, psychoanalysts, and family practitioners, can become board-certified through the American Board of Clinical Social Work (ABCSW). The ABCSW sets national standards and issues the Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Social Work (BCD) certification. Practitioners with this credential are recognized as highly competent by courts, government agencies, insurers, and consumers.

How to become a licensed master social worker (LMSW)

Another option is to gain credentials as a licensed master social worker (LMSW), which allows you to perform social work roles under the supervision of an LCSW. Generally, aspiring LMSWs complete the following steps:

• earn a master of social work degree
• complete social work internship hours required by state
• pass the state licensing exams
• apply for state social work licensure

You also have the option to obtain a doctorate in social work (DSW) and practice as an advanced clinical social worker or serve in leadership roles.

Education options for LCSWs

Master of Social Work (MSW)

master’s in social work is the minimum degree requirement for becoming a LCSW. The program of study provides students with advanced knowledge of social work areas such as human behavior, clinical practice, and social policy. You can enter different concentrations to focus on various goals at the micro, mezzo, or macro levels of the field.

» Read: Check the top schools for Master’s in social work (MSW)

Doctor of Social Work (DSW)

A Ph.D. in social work allows clinical social workers to advance their careers to higher-level positions. Study areas generally include advanced clinical social work, as well as management and administration in the field. In many cases, you complete a dissertation or residency within an SW doctorate program.

Salary and future outlook for LCSWs

Planning your career as a clinical social worker

In the clinical social work profession, a potential career path begins with becoming a LMSW.  As a LMSW, you practice under the supervision of an LCSW. Following 2 years of supervised experience, you may move on to working as an LCSW, which is the highest licensing level in this career.

You may decide to stay at the level of an LCSW or choose to advance your career by obtaining a doctorate in social work and becoming employed as an advanced clinical social worker. This choice can put you in high-level social work positions, including leadership roles.

Clinical social worker careers can differ by the area you choose to pursue. You can work at the micro level, directly helping people; at the mezzo level, instituting local and community-based programs; or at the macro level, providing advocacy and working toward broader social change. Many careers include a combination of these levels.

You can also work in different specialties, focusing your efforts on helping individuals from specific communities. Some examples include working with terminally ill patients, people with mental health struggles, families dealing with various social risks, and people with addictions. Your work may put you in various settings, including private practice, healthcare centers, addiction treatment centers, or hospitals.

» Read: Social workers and the child welfare system

Why pursue a career in clinical social work?

Working as a clinical social worker can be a good fit for those who want to help others create positive and practical change, whether on an individual, group, or societal level. This role helps you directly make a difference in the lives of people facing various struggles.