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As any seasoned MSW will advise, the best way to find out if you are suited for a career in Social Work is to speak with those who have experience in the field. We sat down with 3 well-recognized MSWs and asked them about their professional histories, specialties, and insights into choosing Social Work as a career.
Jessica Houston, Ph.D, LMSW
Jessica Houston, Ph.D, LMSWearned a bachelor’s degree from Benedict College (Columbia, SC), her master’s degree from Barry University (Miami, FL), and a doctoral degree from Capella University (Minneapolis, MN). In the 10 years following her graduation from Capella, Dr. Houston has worn a variety of professional hats: she’s been a social worker within the public school system, a social worker in the hospice setting, a counselor in private practice, as well as an adjunct professor and field liaison for Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, Georgia. She founded “Expecting Victory” in Macon, Georgia; a center providing coaching, training and educational resources with a focus on improving the lives of women everywhere. She has recently authored the bookWomen’s Secrets: It’s Time to Stop Suffering in Silence.
I have always been a helper and a giver. However, my desire to become a social worker stemmed from experiencing generational poverty. The most fascinating aspect of my work is having an opportunity to give hope and transform lives. However, the most difficult aspect of my work is seeing clients struggle with pain, addiction, and self-doubt. I believe that my education, skill-set, work ethic, and personality all contributed to my ability to obtain my current position. Someone thinking about a career in social work must be genuinely interested in advocating for the less fortunate. Furthermore, social workers must be non-judgmental and open to working with diverse populations. My favorite work story involves helping a teen who was pregnant and homeless during her senior year of high school go on to earn her high school diploma. Being genuine, compassionate, and supportive are some of the qualities that have made me a good social worker. I love working in the field of social work and I find it to be a very rewarding profession.
Laura Reagan, LCSW-C
Laura Reagan, LCSW-C(Licensed Certified Social Worker – Clinical) is in private practice in Severna Park, Maryland. She holds a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Maryland (School of Social Work) as well as a bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a minor in Human Services from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.
Karen Osterle, LICSW
Karen Osterle, LICSWis a clinical social worker licensed in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. She is on the faculty of The George Washington University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Medicine.
Osterle was a child protective services social worker for almost four years, worked at a for-profit managed mental health care company, then returned back to D.C. government with the Department of Mental Health in an outpatient facility which focused exclusively on mental health evaluations (psychiatric, psychological, psycho-educational testing, and attachment studies) for the D.C. Superior Court. For the past several years, she’s been in private practice as a psychotherapist working with adults (anxiety, depression, and anger issues) and with couples (premarital counseling, couples counseling, and helping couples to break up), particularly those with an international background/experience. In 2009, Osterle was listed inWashingtonian Magazineas a “Top Therapist”; a category of their annual “Best-Of” issue published every 10 years.
I chose social work after my junior year abroad in college. I lived in Barcelona for a year, which really helped open my eyes to the problem of homelessness. The field itself fell in line with my value system: Understand the person in his/her environment, and try to address both the intra-psychic components as well as the society’s contribution. Understanding people in their context or environment continues to fascinate me after all these years, and all of these social work career iterations. Whether the question is, why is this woman homeless (Just ask me for contributing factors, and I can give you plenty.), or what does each person in this couple that I’m counseling bring to the dynamic that got them here in my office. People bring both a very personal set of strengths and areas of challenge as well as a cultural/family or societal context that inform their current circumstances.
As our experts demonstrate, acareer in social workcan be as unique as the social worker. For further information aboutbecoming an MSW.
