By Laura Cowley

There is an outdated perception that only psychologists and psychiatrists are capable enough help people with mental health concerns and, while psychology and psychiatry are outstanding and valuable fields of practice, this perception is in fact a myth!

So, what about social workers?

There are many misconceptions out there about us social workers. It’s likely you have heard some before… “Social workers are cardigan wearing do-gooders” (I do love my cardigan). “Social workers aren’t qualified enough to help with my mental health”. Often, these misconceptions come from pop culture or a lack of public knowledge about contemporary social work. Social work has evolved a great deal in the past 15 years. It continues to grow as we advocate for legitimacy amongst other professions in the mental health space.

Social workers practice in a wide variety of settings. So, perhaps not every social worker will be the appropriate person to help you with your mental health. It’s a bit like how you probably wouldn’t ask a plastic surgeon to perform your heart surgery. Both surgeons are valuable professionals, but they have chosen to do additional study in different areas. You might be wondering what to look for in a social worker who can best support you. Well, you’ve come to the right place to find out…

Look for the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) Trademark

The AASW is the professional body that social workers (or social work students) can choose to register with. In a mental health setting, finding a social worker that is registered with the AASW is important! It shows that they are accountable to a professional body and are practicing under a strict Code of Ethics.

You might be interested to know that there are two accredited trademarks that indicate formal accreditation with the AASW and represent the “gold standard” in professional recognition of social workers…

What is an AASW Accredited Social Worker?

An Accredited Social Worker is a professionally qualified social worker considered by AASW to be a preferred service provider. When you see an AASW Accredited Social Worker, you can assume they have:

• Graduated from a 4-year Bachelor degree or 2-year Master’s degree in social work.

• Completed 30 hours of continued professional development each year of practice.

• Committed to staying up to date with relevant professional approaches and knowledge.

What is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AMHSW)

A social worker with accreditation as a Mental Health Social Worker has completed advanced training that prepares them to work with people with complex mental health concerns. They use a wide range of evidence-based therapies, and they are recognised providers of services under Medicare and other schemes such as DVA, NDIS, and some private health funds.

You might be surprised to know that the process to become a credentialed AMHSW is quite rigorous… It involves university training in an AASW accredited program AND a minimum 2 years’ full-time equivalent (FTE) social work experience in a mental health setting. That’s 3360+ hours after graduating! When you see an AMHSW, you can assume they have:

• Graduated from a 4-year Bachelor degree or 2-year Master’s degree in social work.

• Met the strict AMHSW credentialing criteria, including demonstrating their experience in providing focused psychological strategies (fancy term for evidence-based therapies approved by Medicare) and sitting an exam.

• Completed 30 hours of continued professional development each year of practice.

• Committed to staying up to date with relevant professional approaches and knowledge.

So, how do I choose the right mental health professional for me?

Counsellor, psychologist, social worker, psychotherapist… it’s hard to know who to choose to help you with your mental health. At the end of the day, it’s about finding a therapist that you can connect with and that has the skills to support you with the challenges you are facing. Your perception of the relationship with your therapist is the biggest predictor of treatment success. So, don’t limit yourself when looking for the right mental health professional to support you.

Laura Cowley is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker at Healthy Mind Centre Launceston.