Clinical Social Work
Clinical social work students are trained to work with individuals, families, and groups. Students are able to develop knowledge and skills in diagnosis and assessment, treatment, and prevention. Numerous human behavior theories and social work perspectives are taught to inform the practice learning. Both theory- and evidence-based practice inform the teaching of practice.
Clinical social work practice focuses on collaborative problem solving, helping clients increase connections with others and their environment and advocating for the social environment to be more responsive to the client’s need.
Clinical practitioners are trained to do this work through use of a professional relationship, purposeful conversation, planned activity, and resource mobilization. Guiding principles of clinical practice include worth and dignity of all people, use of a strengths perspective, confidentiality, and client self-determination in decision making.
Clinical social work students are trained to practice within a context of social policy and macro systems and to consider how these policies and systems impact clients and worker practices.
Clinical social workers are employed in a variety of settings including early childhood intervention programs, hospitals, community health settings, schools, housing developments, nursing homes, mental health clinics, and child welfare.
