Post your thoughts on your future career goals and your interest in moving into a leadership position opening a private practice as LCSW. Based on the video and other research you have done, what is another area of social work that might interest you social worker in sports therapy? Why? Then, explain at least one significant idea or experience from this course that may be of value in preparing you for a future role.

VIDEO: MATTHEW ATWOOD: My nontraditional role was working as a social scientist. JENNIFER BOECKEL: My nontraditional role in social work is program evaluation. PHIL FARMER: I’ve been a consultant at prisons and in hospitals. EARL SMITH: Diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant for various law enforcement agencies. KRISTIN RICHARDS: I’m a financial therapist and a financial therapist takes a look at the psychological and sociological aspects of finances. [MUSIC PLAYING] The financial therapist is someone who recognizes that money is more than numbers. So, we understand that the psychological and sociological variables of money are essential and should be considered. For instance, what meaning does one ascribe to money? It’s something that I often ask. How was that meaning cultivated? What patterns of spending, saving and investing are maladaptive and need to be addressed? Conversely, what patterns serve as strengths and should be capitalized upon? So ultimately, the goal is to help an individual achieve their financial goals. This role developed out of my social work education, actually. I had professors both at my BSW, MSW, and PhD levels encouraging me to think critically and on a deeper level. So, what does that mean? That means having an understanding of human behavior theory. Examining the research literature to identify gaps in the research and ask questions regarding how theory might apply to unique circumstances and situations. EARL SMITH: My non-traditional role in social work has been a diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant with law enforcement bureaus or departments around different trainings relevant to improve community and police relationships. There’s so much happening in law enforcement, and in policing, and defunding across the country. For social work to really to go into this area and bureaus are looking for people who have a diversified background to be able to do this type of conflict resolution, mediation, trainings. JENNIFER BOECKEL: My nontraditional role in social work is program evaluation. And what that is really is a systematic method for collecting, analyzing, and using information to answer questions about projects, and programs, and sometimes even policies. We look at their efficiency and their effectiveness. And in social work, this is really a macro level activity and it can focus on a single organization to programs and policies in the community, county, state, and even national levels. Being able to build rapport is one of the things that we learn in social work and it’s proved to be extremely beneficial throughout my career. I rely on it across all the levels of practice. Right? But it comes down to developing relationships and those relationships allows you to work together and to bring about that change. PHIL FARMER: Over the past 45 years of practice there have been several nontraditional things, including being a consultant in a prison where I worked to assess prisoners and especially their mental health. Also, with hospitals to consult with them to review patient records. Social work training is so broad that I had the advantage not only to be able to understand the mental health issues, but also the socialization issues and also the social justice issues that went with consulting at this private prison. MATTHEW ATWOOD: My nontraditional social work role was working with the Department of the Army as a social scientist. We would go with the commanders in the Army units and do social, cultural research for them. During the time of the Iraq and Afghanistan war we wanted to win the hearts and minds of the people. And one of the ways we could do that was to actually go in and talk to the people in the villages of Afghanistan and Iraq and find out how we could best help them and meet their needs. Learning, just, how to talk to people, how to interview, how to do research, these are all skills that we learn and we do in social work. KRISTIN RICHARDS: I was raised by grandparents and parents that were entrepreneurs. And I saw their ideas start with just small seed of an idea and then grow into something very successful. And I knew that I wanted to help individuals make a difference. These are things social workers say all the time, but really enhance the quality of life of the people that I was serving. And I initially thought, 20 years ago, that that had to be within a traditional social work role, but then I really began to explore what was out there. EARL SMITH: I encourage anyone that’s going into a non-traditional role to definitely solidify their social work background on the master’s level and to work with their advisors to see whether or not they are really suited for a non-traditional role. MATTHEW ATWOOD: Sometimes students will come out of graduate school thinking that they thought that they knew what they were getting into. And they do it and they realize this really isn’t for me. And that could be a good thing because you’re left with a degree that can go into other types of career fields. JENNIFER BOECKEL: Often, we don’t look carefully enough at the macro level aspect of social work and I do really think it’s a place, not only that we need to be, but we really belong there. There’s work to be done and it’s exciting work. PHIL FARMER: Say yes to lots of things. Try new things you’ve never heard of. It’s been helpful to me. And I think it’s very helpful to the profession as well because we fill in a lot of places most people don’t expect to see us. JENNIFER BOECKEL: Find an area of interest and then go explore it and find where you fit in there because there will be a role for you. [MUSIC PLAYING]

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

Step-by-Step Guide to Structuring and Writing Your Career Reflection Assignment

This assignment calls for a personal and professional reflection that connects your career goals with course insights and the video. Here’s how to structure your post effectively:

🔹 Step 1: Introduction – Set the Stage

Start with a brief sentence or two about your long-term passion for social work.
Mention your desire to grow in leadership and establish a private practice as an LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker).

Example:
“As I look ahead in my social work journey, my primary goal is to step into leadership by opening a private practice as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, where I can provide individualized mental health support to diverse clients.”

🔹 Step 2: State Your Career Goals Clearly

Describe your motivation for opening a private practice.
- Do you want to offer trauma therapy, family counseling, or serve underserved populations?
- Highlight your leadership aspirations—clinical direction, managing staff, or shaping therapeutic programs.

Tips:

Use strong action verbs like “lead,” “build,” “serve,” “empower.”
Emphasize independence, innovation, or direct client impact.

🔹 Step 3: Introduce Another Area of Interest – Sports Therapy

Transition into your secondary interest: sports therapy as a form of social work.
Explain why it appeals to you:
- Do you value teamwork, discipline, and mental resilience?
- Have you seen athletes struggle with identity, injury, or pressure?
Tie this to social work values (e.g., promoting well-being, client-centered care).

Example:
“Another emerging area that excites me is social work in sports therapy. Athletes at all levels face immense mental and emotional pressure, and I see great potential in using my social work training to support their performance, identity, and mental wellness.”

🔹 Step 4: Reflect on the Course and Video

Pick one significant concept, experience, or idea from the course that will shape your future practice.
- Examples: trauma-informed care, nontraditional roles, program evaluation, or macro-level practice.
Explain how the course or the video helped you see new career possibilities.
Be specific: name the lesson or role that resonated (e.g., Kristin Richards’ work as a financial therapist or Earl Smith’s DEI consulting).

🔹 Step 5: Conclusion – Tie It All Together

Reaffirm your commitment to growth, leadership, and innovation in social work.
End on an optimistic and empowered note.

✅ Final Tips:

Use first-person voice to make it personal.
Keep it between 300–500 words.
Include references if required (APA format for external sources).
Maintain a professional yet reflective tone—you are shaping your future!

Exploring Future Social Work Roles: From Private Practice to Sports Therapy