Added to the NASW Code of Ethics in 2021: Part of the Preamble
“Professional self-care is paramount for competent and ethical social work practice. Professional demands, challenging workplace climates, and exposure to trauma warrant that social workers maintain personal and professional health, safety, and integrity. Social work organizations, agencies, and educational institutions are encouraged to promote organizational policies, practices, and materials to support social workers ’ self-care.”
This statement begets numerous questions:
• Why do we have to be reminded to take care of ourselves?
• What does it say about the profession that NASW has sensed the need for us to be reminded of this?
• What is self care and how is it related to community care?
• How do we, indeed connect with our own needs and how do we know what they are?
These and other questions will be entertained through small group and general discussion with prompts by the facilitators.
Learning Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
• State and define the four stages of care for professional well being
• Outline the current factors and forces that inhibit effective professional development
• Discuss the reciprocal relationship between personal and professional distress
Facilitated by Charlie Pohl and Lori Watsen.
Charlie is semi-retired after working at the VA for over 20 years and currently trains psychiatry residents in the fundamentals of psychotherapy and co-facilitates a hybrid support and training group for them. He sees clients and performs consultation and supervision for MSWs from his home office. Lori teaches for the University of Utah College of Social Work and is the current Board President of ISCSW.