r/LCSW

Hi everyone, I’m 21 and never really know what I wanted to do in hs and currently trying to figure out my career path. I feel really torn between becoming a dental hygienist or going the LCSW (therapist) route, and I’d love honest insight from people in either field.

Here’s where I’m at:

LCSW:
Pros:
- I feel very drawn to this path on a deeper level
- I’m passionate about mental health and faith, and I have ideas for a future nonprofit + healing-focused work
- It feels meaningful and aligned with purpose

Cons:
- The amount of schooling + cost is intimidating
- The process seems long (grad school, supervised hours, etc.)
- I’ve heard it takes a while to make good money
- I’m worried about being stuck in a 9–5 and not having freedom to travel or live flexibly

Dental Hygiene:
Pros:
- Stable career, consistent demand
- Good pay without as many years of school
- Flexible schedule (which I really value)
- No overnight shifts, seems like better work-life balance

Cons:
- I can’t really see myself being passionate about cleaning teeth
- It feels more like I’d be doing it for money/stability, not purpose

Important to me:
- Freedom (I want to be able to travel, maybe even live abroad for periods of time)
- Financial stability
- Not feeling stuck or boxed into a rigid schedule
- Eventually building something of my own (possibly a business or nonprofit)

I’m also in the beauty industry (esthetician path), so I do have a creative side and entrepreneurial goals.

If you’re in either field:
- Do you feel fulfilled?
- What does your lifestyle actually look like?
- Do you feel “free” or tied down?
- If you could go back, would you choose the same path?

I’d really appreciate any real, honest advice. Thank you!

My supervisor just told me everyone in NYC will be required to obtain the LCSW within 1 or 2 years( she is not sure), regardless of whether they work privately or not.

I have not heard about this. Have any of you?

Hi all,

I’m really needing some support. I’m new to working at a residential treatment house for adults. I worked in crisis before this, so it’s a step down in terms of chaos, but it’s more intense with the interpersonal stress.

Two of my clients requested new therapists, both for reasons that don’t really feel fair or grounded in reality. They were asked to stick with me, then they both asked again a couple weeks later. One of them, I am now expected to continue meeting with, but with my supervisor present. I got clarification that we will both be providing her therapy in the same room at the same time, as a team effort. I was definitely freaked out, thinking that I was just going to be watched all the time. But it seems even weirder that we’re going to be doing it together?

I would like to know if anyone has ever done this “team effort” thing or heard of this happening. I have never, and it sounds strange to me.

Even if it was just her sitting in the same room and watching me provide therapy, I don’t feel at all comfortable with that. I understand that I need to be okay with being observed, but I am coming to terms with how deeply inadequate I feel. With the level of social anxiety I experience, I just know I won’t be able to give good therapy while being directly observed. I have worked on my anxiety so much, and still, this situation will activate me enough that I won’t be able to do my job well.

I really need some perspectives, support, encouragement, ideas, etc. I’m at the point where I don’t know how to continue in this job or this field.

I wanted to come back on here because a while ago I asked for advice/tips for passing the LMSW exam, and so many people took the time to help me. Thank you all so much, the advice genuinely helped and encouraged me throughout the process.

I passed with a 108 and needed a 98 to pass! 🥹

For anyone studying right now, here’s what helped me the most: • RayTube (especially his Code of Ethics videos — SO helpful) • Savvy Social Worker • Agents of Change • Pocket Prep premium daily • Quizlet • The ASWB practice exam • Savvy Social Worker mock/practice exams

I also completed all 3 mock exams that were available to me and tried to study consistently every day rather than cramming.

On top of that, I also graduated with my MSW last week 🎓 and just accepted a school social worker job offer making $65k. I’ll also be relocating from Florida to Maryland soon, so life has been moving FAST in the best way possible.

If you’re studying right now and feeling overwhelmed, discouraged, or anxious, keep going. You know more than you think you do. The exam is definitely challenging, but it is passable.

Thank you again to everyone who shared advice and encouragement with me along the way. ❤️

Hi y’all,

I was terminated from my job on Thursday for “leaving job site before shift complete, policy/procedure violation, and no call/no show.” Those were the three main reasons for termination according to my previous employer. However, a week ago I reported my clinical director for ethical violations to the state I’m in, and she was made aware of it. This termination happened one week after the report was made.

For full transparency, I was given a written warning in March for “disrupting the milieu” after talking to coworkers about how unethical the practice seemed to me. That’s most likely what the policy/procedure violation was regarding because I did continue to voice my frustrations.

I believe I was wrongfully terminated due to the report I made. I have asked the HR department for the formal documentation regarding these reports, and I was told that HR would be out of office until May 18th so she would not be able to give me that documentation until then.

I am unsure of what to do at this point. Any advice is welcomed, and I’m more than happy to answer any clarifying questions that y’all may have. Thank you guys.

EDIT:

Since I’ve had a few people ask, I have never no call/no showed from this job. I have called out sick before but I always let my clinical director know. The times where I’ve left work early have been to go to therapy every two weeks, which she was aware of before I started.

Hi there. I’m considering an MSW. I have a BA in Sociology and minors in stats and English. I’ve been out of college for about five or six years.

I am in Wisconsin.

My GPA was approximately 2.5 or higher.

Is there a point to considering an MSW at this stage? Am I too late?

Im a 46 year old BSW student looking to earn my LSCW . What advice would you give to an adult learner with children the youngest being 14 in order not to experience burnout.

Hello, I’m considering going back to school for my MSW/LMSW. I currently have a psych degree and former case management experience. My main issue is being unsure if I’ll be able to find a job. I know I don’t want to work in a direct therapy role, a role that requires home visits, or to be on call.

Any advice of what roles I should consider?

I have an upcoming interview with a local Primary Care Provider who is implementing the Integrated Care Model. I think this is wonderful in theory but don’t know anyone in a role like this. I am looking to leave traditional therapy but enjoy clinical work.

Anyone a Social Worker in a Primary Care or other medical office that utilizes an Integrated Care Model?

I [30f] have been working a few case management jobs since earning my Bachelors in Psychology in 2022.

For three years I worked in a county jail (which housed prison inmates as well) as a part of their reentry program. I facilitated in-custody groups on reentry curriculum and held one-on-ones with my clients to assist them through the program. I was trained and certified to administer certain assessments related to criminogenic needs, and was responsible for assisting with resources for up to one year post release. After 3 years I transferred to the county probation department doing the same job.

I absolutely loved it. Loved working with that population, loved facilitating groups, and loved administering assessments. When it came to navigating resources however…. I won’t sugar coat it, I f-ing hated it. The lack of available resources and the hopelessness that I felt when I was not able to fulfill a requirement of my position (providing said resources) was incredibly demoralizing and stressful.

I now work in a resource-brokering case management position under cal-aim community supports. I HATE IT. For all the reasons I stated above, and more. I’ve read enough now to know that these jobs under cal aim do not have great reputations. But it’s raising questions in me about what kind of degree I want to pursue moving forward.

My ultimate goal is to work with justice involved populations and conduct psychological assessments. Translation: I would love to get a PhD in clinical psychology at some point, however I do not believe I have the ability or research oriented drive to get into a clinical psych PhD program at the moment. I am also interested in providing therapy, teaching, and facilitating treatment groups, which is something I know I can do with an LCSW in California.

After doing a lot of research and receiving personal input from lots of different mental health professionals (LCSW’s and multiple MFT’s I’ve worked with) I’ve been told an LCSW is the best and most practical route considering my interest in working with substance abusing and justice involved populations, and for the ability to go into private practice.

However as I stated before, I HATE case management and resource navigation.

If I move forward with pursuing an LCSW, how much of my career will be oriented towards resource navigation and case management? Because if it’s always going to be a major component of the career, I don’t think I can do it.

I appreciate any and all feedback and thanks for taking the time to read.

Hi I’m starting my MSW soon and plan on getting LCSW hours right after. I have my own business so I can’t just get another job to get practicum hours. I understand most people get hours from their job? If so what kind of job? I could probably manage a part time job.

Anyways what is the best way to go about this?
Thank you

I’m in California & I passed the LCSW exam today in a first try. It was the hardest exam I ever took. I studied a lot from TDC, Quizlet, tons of watching YouTube ( RayTube, Agents of Change, etc).

Even though I studied & memorized a lot of concepts, terms, medications, and diagnoses, non of them were on the exam. I think over 90 percent was reasoning. And the exam doesn’t really resemble to the TDC exams or quizzes. I was in shock, and felt unprepared, but somehow I passed with 120/102. The exam is very tricky, has no relation to real world applications, and the questions and answers were so vague that it felt like they are trying to trick you. It was frustrating and I felt angry.

I am still recovering from the stress and anxiety of the exam. For future test takers, work on managing stress and anxiety because it will make a huge difference.

I just graduated with my MSW and I’m starting to prep for the LSW exam here in Indiana. I’ve been looking into study materials, but a lot of what I’m finding is heavily focused on practice questions and mock exams.

I’m definitely going to use those—but I’m really looking for something deeper.

Specifically, I’m trying to find study resources that include:

Clear definitions of key social work concepts (theories, ethics, interventions, etc.)

Breakdowns of real-life social work scenarios (like “what would you do?” and why)

Clinical reasoning explanations (not just the correct answer, but the thought process behind it)

Application of the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics in practical situations.

Differences between similar concepts (like transference vs countertransference, CBT vs other modalities, etc.)
I want to actually *understand* the material—not just memorize answers.

If you’ve taken the exam (especially recently), what helped you most in terms of truly learning the content? Books, apps, programs, or even YouTube channels?
Also—if you’re in Indiana or took the exam here, I’d love to hear if anything felt state-specific or different.

I have been practicing outpatient therapy for 5 years and have only saw medicaid patients who do not have a co-pay. I am NOT a polished therapist and I have gotten a lot of positive feedback from my client base for my warm personality and ability to meet them where theyre at. These folks are typically struggling significantly and are appreciative of any therapy. Problem is the agency pay is low. I finally got credentialed with 6 private insurances and set up my infrastructure for telehealth and use psychology today to advertise. My issue is I am afraid that private insured clients wont like me because Im too laid back and not super charismatic with a DBT book. Im more into philosophy and jungian type conceptual therapy while also incorporating CBT DBT MI etc. Does anyone get the discomfort im trying to describe? I so badly want to have a case load with a bunch of private insured clients because of the money it would change my work life balance an I might even come out of burn out and feel human again but idk if im good enough for clients that have to pay a co pay.

Hello all

So the gist of it is I have been working at 2 agencies. 1 for a very long time. It pays poorly and the paperwork is unnecessarily complicated. I despise working here. The other agency pays a respectable rate and electronic records saves much time and stress.

Heres the problem. The clients at the agency I want to leave are all under age 15, all have abandonment and attachment wounds, and most Ive had very very strong therapeutic relationships with for years. They use state insurance due to poverty. I told 2 today my plans to leave the agency both kids were crushed crying shut down and everything it kills me.

I read that the client has the RIGHT to follow the therapist if they want to on their own accord, and I did not sign a no-compete.

That means if the ones who really are dependent want to transfer to the other agency to continue meeting with me they can? But is it ethical? Given that it is sort of fostering reliance or emotional dependency on the therapist?