What is Social Work?
Social workers help people deal with the day-to-day problems that reduce the ability to cope and function at an optimal level. This includes functioning in personal and family relationships, at work, at school and in the community. Social workers focus on the social and emotional as well as economic factors that contribute to overall health and social well-being.
The social work profession is regulated under provincial legislation in Ontario. The initials “RSW” (Registered Social Worker) after a person’s name indicate that they belong to the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers and they have the legal right to refer to themselves as a Social Worker. Social Workers have university degrees in social work: BSW (Bachelor’s degree in social work), MSW (Master’s degree in social work) or PhD/DSW (Doctorate in social work).
What services do social workers provide?
EKNPLC has our own in-clinic social worker who works closely with our NPs and the rest of our team.
Services include:
- Depression counselling
- Stress/anxiety counselling
- Assistance coping through grief and loss
- Marital/relationship counselling
- Work/school-related problems counselling
- Addictions counselling, including smoking cessation
- Assistance coping with a chronic disease
- Enhancing problem-solving, coping and developmental capacities of individuals
- Providing resources and linking people with systems and supports that offer resources, services and opportunities for the individual’s unique needs
- Various group programs related to mental health and wellness
Ask about CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy), a type of evidence-based therapy used to treat anxiety and depression.
Click here for mental health tips from our social worker.
How do I get a referral for social work?
Nurse Practitioners make referrals to the clinic Social Worker if the patient agrees and:
- When in need of short term support regarding mobilizing existing strengths/ resources, referral and connections to other community resources and advocacy for needed services
- When in need of connecting with the broader mental health system for more intensive interventions. Social worker services can be accessed for individuals waiting for services or have been discharged from hospital services to ensure continuity of care.