Clinical Social Worker and Marriage Counselor
A clinical social worker and marriage counselor works with couples, individuals and families to help them understand the underlying issues for relationship problems. The marriage counselor usually works with the couple together but may also have individual sessions to help one party clarify issues or enter into a decision making process. When working with families the counselor may break the group up into working with the children, then the parents, or may choose to work only with the group or only in individual sessions at least initially.
Clinical social workers and marriage counselors do not tell clients how to solve problems, rather they guide the clients to find and determine their own "right answer". The counselor must be very careful to not impose their beliefs or values onto the couple or family that has come for assistance. Counselors use various counseling tools and techniques to help the family or couple find the answers they require. Some counselors may work with families for many months whereas other families or couples may only require a few sessions.
A substantial amount of a counselor or social workers time is spent completing case notes, entering data and completing billing and information forms. There are strict federal and state as well as professional requirements as to documentation and retention of case notes and records that social workers and counselors must be aware of. In addition licensed counselors and social workers must complete a set number of professional development training hours per year to ensure their license is renewed.
Common work activities include:
- Hiring secretaries, receptionists and billing managers.
- Scheduling appointments with clients, meeting with clients, and working with clients to resolve issues and problems within relationships.
- Keeping case notes, records and billing date up to date and accurate.
- Making referrals to other mental health or other professionals in the community if required.
- Attending professional development training as required for licensing.
- Participating in various community programs, school programs or services for special groups within the community.
- Reporting any disclosures of abuse to the proper authorities as required by law.
Programs related to Clinical Social Worker and Marriage Counselor careers
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