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Workplace stress in the social work field
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Introduction Within the social work profession, stress is an element that can be experienced by the client and social worker. Stress is considered the physical, mental, and emotional strain that results in negative consequences (The American Institute of Stress, 2017). For instance, the behavior of the client and social worker can be influenced by stressful experiences or by observing others in a stressful situation. In social psychology, this influence is based on the learning theory of social behavior (Lewis, 1936). The impact of stress relates to the learning theory through the social work practice, the social worker, and the community.
The learning theory related to social work practice The learning theory has evolved to help describe the influence of behaviors within social situations. For example, there is a study on the model of decisions from experience (DFE) that is a part of the
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In addition to stress experienced in the workplace, Huss (2012) describes how social workers can be subjected to secondary traumatic stress caused by the community-based problems that they experience. Depending on the community, social workers can assist families that experience domestic violence, homelessness, and drug and alcohol related issues. Furthermore, the social workers assist clients within the community that are dealing with chronic stress based on their present, past, and recurring traumas. This can cause mental strain if the stress from these situations are consistent. Gonzalez and Martin (2011) state that behavior is determined by social information and by the effects of past experiences in similar situations, which can drive an individual’s motivation, attitudes, and decision-making abilities. Understanding how stress can influence behavior will allow the social worker to acknowledge and manage stress in an efficient way to remain effective in their work throughout the
The person-in-environment approach views a client’s problems by how they react to the environmental contexts within their environment and how they occur. According to Gordon and Richmond, it has been stated that the person-in-environment approach is the “cornerstone” of social work practice. (as cited in Rogers, 2016, p.24). A clients’ systems are the interrelated aspects of a clients’ lives where all parts come together to function. Social workers utilize and focus on a clients’ systems when applying the person-in-environment. A clients’ system is anything that they interact with and hold roles in their lives. These systems can be on a micro level which is the individual and their biology, personality, and genetics. The individuals’ mezzo level would include their immediate environment, family, school, friends, or work. A macro level would include the larger social aspects of a clients’ life such as government policies, discrimination, oppression, or social class. Social workers incorporate these interactions and how they impact clients’ and their presenting problems. This theory and approach are beneficial as it allows a social worker to find out what resources are available to the client during their time with the worker (Rodgers,
Social workers deal with intense situations daily. It is important that social workers are aware of how they are affected by these interactions. Priscilla Dass-Brailsford explains in her book, that countertransference, vicarious trauma (VT), secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue and satisfaction, and burnout are all different ways that counselors can be affected (Dass-Brailsford, 2007). This is where it is important for social workers to have a plan of self-care and stress management resources to use.
Social workers are generalist practitioners that utilize various theoretical frameworks to assist in problem-solving for individuals, family, groups, and communities. They aim to provide interventions at any level based on the need of their clients. The generalist social worker assist with a broad scope problems and can be found in a variety of institutions. When assisting with adult clients who suffer with social development due to childhood trauma, social workers must know what trauma is. Trauma is prevalent in the social work community, almost every social worker has had a client that has suffered from trauma. In order to assist adults that have social development issues stemming from childhood there are The four-fold principles
Despite that many don 't realize the dangers, stress is one of the most significant problems of modern times, causing serious problems on physical and mental health. Stress symptoms may be affecting a patients health, even though a doctor may not realize it. Don 't assume that an illness is to blame for that excruciating headache or your sleep deprivation. Let 's face it, everyone copes with stress. Sometimes stress is in our favor, but other times it could feel like stress is taking over. " Stress is a normal physical response your body uses to protect itself from challenges life throws at it each day"(Stress and Health: How Stress Affects Your Health) Stress affects everyone differently, so it 's important to understand what may be causing
Life is full of obstacles and has shown people that stress is very common and a part of life. When you are running around all the time like you are in an emergency mode, your body will pay the price. What some people do not know is that stress can actually be helpful and can cause a positive effect on you. It can serve as a motivation and be useful under pressure. Without stress, our lives would be boring and pointless.
Clinical social workers in the community strive to enhance and maintain psychosocial functioning of individuals, families, and small groups. They also focus on prevention of psychosocial dysfunction or impairment, including emotional and mental disorders. The perspective of person-in-situation (psychosocial context) is fundamental to clinical social work practice (Austin, Barr, & Coombs, 2006).
Stress is defined in the dictionary as “state of mental tension and worry caused by problems in your life”. Everyone encounters stress in their life caused by many different variables in life and we all cope with in different ways. The way one copes with the stress is how it can affect our body. Some take to working out, eating healthy, take breaks from what is stressing you out and getting plenty of sleep which are good ways to cope with it. Some take to other coping mechanisms that are not very great for the body. Some examples are stress eating, abuse of drugs and alcohol, bottling up the stress, and depression. These bad methods can cause serious damage to one’s health on the body.
As a student, I will study and practice techniques, beyond a generalist perspective, that will allow me to give clients hope and the ability to see something greater than what they are facing. Upon completion of a Master of Social Work direct practice degree and certificate in gerontology and mental health programs, I intend to become a licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I will competently incorporate specialized skills in different professional settings while developing my knowledge of a wide range of social issues and professional standards. With commitment, I wish to develop skills that will enable me to create or find hidden resources and services for my future clients, create platforms through consoling for victims of
Social Work is a profession that prides itself on the ability to cultivate positive relationships with people who may be very different from us. There may be differences in age, race, personality, gender, socioeconomic status, health, sexual orientation, rank, power, and privilege, as well as beliefs regarding religion and politics. The experience of these differences can cause a Social Worker to feel emotionally and cognitively disturbed. The ability to become aware of and consciously attend to these internal disturbances can positively affect the quality of relationship we are able to
From a young age because of my compassion and empathetic nature, I knew that I wanted to work inside the human service field. I wanted to use my personal characteristics to improve individual’s lives. Social work was my calling because of the many different areas in the field that are all primarily focused on making a difference. I am interested in clinical social work, working with individuals and families. Other helping sciences like psychology offers clinical groundwork. However, I knew social work would be a better fit because of its focus and influence of persons-in environment perspective opposed to the more individualized psychological perspective.
Every work environment has certain stress level inherent in its modus operandi, and how employees react to the different situations is likewise varied. Many theories try to explain an employee’s attitude can alter the expected negative reaction to workplace stress. These broad concept of identifying “moderators” can be simplified by considering if the individual employee has a type A or B personality, his or her locus of control, hardiness, and self-esteem. A moderator is defined as “a variable that affects the direction or strength of the association between two other variables”, employee and work related stress (Landy & Conte, p. 469). There are other peripheral factors like social groups that may have less
Everyday life can make people feel a range of emotions. Passing an important exam may make one feel happy, whereas receiving a speeding ticket from a police officer may make a person angry. These are just two events that can happen any day, at any time. What emotion was the person feeling while studying for that important exam? How was the person who received the ticket feeling? Studying for an exam and receiving a traffic ticket can cause stress. Stress is something that people have almost every day and it can even affect people’s health and psychological state (Pietilä & Rytkönen, 2008). Usually when people undergo stress, they can sweat or possibly even become short of breath. Inside of the body, the heart will pound and stress hormones are released (de Kloet, 2008). These symptoms of stress can occur when feeling both types of possible stress, distress or eustress.
families, and communities to enhance their individual and collective well-being. Social workers are change agents and because of that, they aim to help people develop their skills and abilities to use resources provided to them to strengthen and improve their lives and communities to resolve problems. One of the main goal of social workers is to improve the well-being and lives of the most vulnerable populations, fight against poverty, unemployment, domestic violence and the underserviced population by emphasizing on the person-in-environment and social justice model. The social work profession, considerers the individuals’ internal and external struggles, while working with the individuals to examine their relationships, family, work environment, community, and other things that might impact them and identify ways to help address problems and challenges.
Social workers level the playing field for individuals and families that have experienced hardships, terminal illnesses, mental health disorders and other adverse environmental situations that inhibit their ability to thrive within society. Social workers accomplish this by providing individuals and families the resources necessary to ensure that their needs are being met. Social workers serve an essential role to the functioning of our society, as they are committed and dedicated to increasing the quality of life for underprivileged community members. I fully intend on actively contributing to this endeavor, as I believe social workers have the responsibility to ensure that all community members have their needs met and the opportunity to
The social work profession is defined as “a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people (ISFW, ‘Global Definition of Social Work’, 2016).” The definition may be true about the profession but it is more in depth than just that. To me, the profession’s primary focus is to help others through life as much as we can while letting them make their own choices and guiding them. In society, social workers are utilized in many different nonprofit and government roles. They serve the community in many different ways from monitoring parent visits to helping people through mental illnesses. Human beings are so complex and things that happen