The end of the year is a natural time to pause and reflect. Many of us create vision boards for our personal goals, but what about our professional lives? This year, I want to help you do that for your social work practice. On Thursday, December 10, I’m hosting What’s Your Next Move?, a one-time, 90-minute business planning session designed specifically for LCSWs and LMSWs. This session is about more than just seeing clients. It’s about building a practice that lasts, one tha

This morning, I did something I don’t particularly enjoy doing. I stepped on the scale. And there it was. Confirmation of something I already knew. I’m at my highest weight since around the pandemic. I could tell you I was surprised, but that wouldn’t be entirely true. Nobody gains a significant amount of weight overnight. I knew my body was changing. I could feel it in my clothes. I could see it in the mirror. There were signs along the way. I walk regularly. I try to be min

When Every Conversation Becomes an Argument: Learning to Choose Your Battles Most of us have heard the usual relationship advice: listen to your partner, use “I” statements, validate their feelings, and try not to get defensive. And honestly, that's good advice. But it assumes both people are interested in understanding each other. What happens when that's not the case? What happens when you try to explain how you feel, and somehow the conversation turns into a debate? Or whe

By Sadaqa Ward, LCSW Today, I fell. Not metaphorically. Not emotionally. I literally fell. I was walking along a trail when I stumbled over something and went down. Hard. My knee hit the ground. My arm hit the ground. My face hit the ground. And there I was, lying on my back in the wet grass, looking up at the sky, trying to make sense of what had just happened. Everything hurt and for a moment, I didn’t know what to do. Do I call 911? Do I call someone to come get me? Do I t

Making the leap from Supervision to independent licensure is one of the biggest transitions in a social workers career. In this panel, hear from LCSW's who've built meaningful careers well beyond traditional mental health settings.

~Sadaqa Ward, LCSW Let's Talk About EMDR: What It Is, What It Isn't, and What to Expect Let me guess. You've heard about EMDR from a friend, saw it on a therapist's profile, or scrolled past a video of someone moving their eyes back and forth and thought, "Okay, what is that?" Or maybe you've done talk therapy before. You understand why you feel the way you do. You've named it, unpacked it, talked it through. And still, something from your past keeps showing up in your presen

Therapy is health care, so insurance is more likely to cover it Therapy is usually the insurance-friendly option because it is a clinical health service. In the United States, therapy is commonly provided by licensed professionals such as: Psychologists Licensed clinical social workers Licensed professional counselors Marriage and family therapists Psychiatrists, when medication or medical care is involved Therapy may focus on anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, relationship

Breakups are some of the most painful experiences we face. They shake our sense of security and leave us feeling lost. As someone who has supported many through these tough times, I know how important it is to understand the emotional journey that follows a breakup. Grief is not just about losing a loved one to death; it also applies to the end of a relationship. Recognizing the stages of grief can help us support those going through a breakup and guide them toward healing.

Life as a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) often involves a period of supervision that shapes our early professional experiences. But what happens after that phase? How do social workers with backgrounds outside traditional mental health carve their paths? I’m excited to share an upcoming virtual panel discussion that explores exactly this topic. Hosted by Drawanert in collaboration with the GA Bello Foundation for Wellness, this event will bring together LCSWs whose ca

When you bill insurance for psychotherapy, knowing your codes is not optional. You have to know them well. One of the most common confusions I see among therapists is about the codes 90832, 90834, and 90837. Many say, “I do 50-minute sessions,” or “My sessions are always an hour.” That might be how you schedule your appointments, but billing depends on the actual psychotherapy time you provide. Let’s clear this up. Understanding Psychotherapy Billing Codes CPT codes tell insu

Understanding Cultural Competence Cultural competence is more than just a skill; it is a vital aspect of effective clinical practice. It involves understanding and respecting the diverse backgrounds of clients. This understanding goes beyond mere facts about different cultures. It requires a deep, personal engagement with the cultural experiences of each client. Many clinicians believe cultural competence is something you earn once and then carry with you. This misconception

Forensic social work sits at the intersection of behavioral health, law, and public systems. If you’re exploring this space, you’ll quickly notice there isn’t just one ‘forensic’ job—there are many paths, each with different settings, populations, and day-to-day responsibilities. Below is a practical list of 30 roles you may see in the field, followed by a simple framework to help you decide which direction fits your interests, values, and current stage of practice. 30 forens

The process of becoming a licensed social worker involves passing rigorous exams. One such exam is the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) exam, which many professionals must pass to obtain licensure. However, concerns about bias in these exams have surfaced, raising important questions about fairness and equity in the licensing process. In this post, I want to explore what ASWB exam bias means, how it affects candidates, and what steps can be taken to address it. I will

Imposter Syndrome: What It Is and How to Overcome It instagram.com//imdatherapist/ Imposter syndrome is a psychological phenomenon in...

As you prepare for that very important licensing exam, you may find yourself watching hours of Youtube videos on test taking strategies, or maybe a friend of a friend who recently took the test, gave you all of their study guides and a lucky rabbit foot too. Perhaps you‘re in eight different Facebook groups for Social Work exam preparation. There‘s a lot of information and programs out there, some even guarantee that you will pass on the first try....."if" you just follow the