Social work – how does it differ?

In the world or human services/counselling support, there are generally two fields of thought.  One is the field of Psychology, and the other is Social Work.   

So, where do these fields differ?  Some might say they don’t, but in reality, they often have very different treatment perspectives for an individual’s needs.  For example, a Psychologist will often look at behaviour and what is driving the behaviour, they may consider a diagnosis, and then further refer you to a Psychiatrist who may then treat with medication, to address the presenting concerns, which follows the clinical medical model.    

On the other hand, a Social Worker will assess a person’s circumstances from a Biopsychosocial Framework and determine where their equilibrium may have been disrupted.  In the instances of a biological mental health condition i.e. disorders such as schizophrenia, where clinical medical intervention is required, the Social Worker will work collaboratively with a Doctor or Psychiatrist, to meet the optimum level of care for the individual. You may be asking, what does a Biopsychosocial Framework look like when working with a client in crisis.

The Biopsychosocial Framework considers an individual’s needs from many differing perspectives.  As per the diagram above, it is easy to see there can  be many impacting concerns outside of a mental health diagnosis, that can contribute to a person’s wellbeing.  Often life can be disrupted by circumstances that are beyond our means, throwing us into disarray and creating stress and anxiety/depression, decreasing our capacity to cope.  A Social Worker considers all these factors and focuses on regaining equilibrium (balance) and establishing calm, within our lives again.   Include functional referrals or counselling and creating a toolbox of strategies to cope with future challenges that may arise. The distinction between a Psychologist and a Social Worker is not always clear, and finding the right person for you is paramount, when in you are in need.  In this sense what is extremely important, is the therapeutic relationship, ensuring you connect well to your therapist, is key to a positive outcome.