HISTORY

Founded in 1981

The Institute for Clinical Social Work (ICSW) was started by a small group of visionary social workers from leading Chicago-area institutions. The founders were aware that most doctoral programs in social work focused on policy, administration, and research, with little preparation for clinical work. ICSW’s founders understood why: these programs resided within universities, where they were pulled in multiple directions by the needs of the larger institution, its competing departments, and its dependence on grant-winning research.

In 1979, discussions began with the following fourteen prominent social workers:

Carl Bartolucci, Richard Calica, Arthur Diers, James Forkeotes, Connie Goldberg, Tom Kenemore, Janet Kohrman, Helen Lane, Arnold “Arnie” Levin, Paul Reizen, Joseph Palombo, Louise Saltzman, Arthur Schwartz, and Bruce Smith. The group met to begin developing a plan for an independent higher educational institution to offer advanced clinical training.

In 1981, just two years after the initial discussions began, on November 3, 1981, ICSW drafted its articles of incorporation and submitted its application on November 28,1981, for incorporation to the Illinois Board of Higher Education for operating authority. In 1983, twelve faculty members welcomed its first class of six students into the PhD program. On March 19, 2012, the Institutional Actions Council of the Higher Learning Commission approved the MA program in clinical counseling and psychotherapy.

ICSW is proud to be the first and only independent, accredited clinical social work Ph.D. program in the United States. It boasts 130 full- and part-time students and 60 faculty. ICSW remains independent and is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. It is recognized across the nation for its outstanding faculty of scholar-practitioners, dedication to students, and contributions to the field of psychodynamic education.

VALUES

MISSION

In keeping with our roots in social work and our commitment to social justice, we develop psychodynamically informed professionals who recognize and celebrate diversity, practice compassionately, and have the knowledge and skills to empower people to lead meaningful lives.

The mission of the Institute for Clinical Social Work, an institution of higher education, is to prepare scholars and practitioners to advance the knowledge and quality of practice in the fields of clinical social work and counseling and to serve diverse communities through professional and academic contributions.

2022-2025 Strategic Plan

2023 Annual Report

WE ARE

Psychodynamic professionals and practicing clinicians who are nationally recognized as leaders in the field.

**Amy Eldridge, PhD**
**Dean Emerita, Institute for Clinical Social Work**
President, International Association for Psychoanalytic Self Psychology

**Gabriel Ruiz, MA**

**Faculty, Institute for Clinical Social Work**
Private practice in psychoanalysis and psychotherapy
Professor Ruiz teaches the highly popular course on making use of dreams in clinical process.

Committed to Social Justice

**Lynn McIntyre, PhD, LCSW**
**Faculty, Institute for Clinical Social Work**
As a new graduate student working in the public schools in a poor African American community, I witnessed a principal tell his graduating 8th graders that his “dream “ for them was that one day they would graduate from high school. I immediately thought of the social justice issue at hand; the low expectation presented for these students in contrast to those in neighboring, affluent White communities. That year, I made the decision to enter ICSW’s PhD program to address these psycho-social issues. ICSW’s academic preparation allowed me to use my skills to deepen the care given to marginalized youths. Now, as a professor at ICSW, I share with my student colleagues the satisfaction that a rigorous psychological training program, infused with cultural awareness can provide.

Compassionate Practice

**De’Asia Thompson, LISW-S**
**PhD Student, Second-Year, Institute for Clinical Social Work**
DeAsia focuses on improving the mental health and well-being of Black women and other women of color. At her practice, she focuses on providing a safe space for clients to heal as they navigate various terrains such as race, gender, sexuality, and other intersectional places they meet that contributes to their depression and anxiety.

Recognize and Celebrate Diversity

Diversity Statement

The Institute for Clinical Social Work is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. The Institution does not discriminate in access to its educational programs and activities, or with respect to hiring or the terms and conditions of employment, on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity and expression, political affiliation, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information or sexual orientation.

Statement on Racial Equity

(June 2, 2020) The tragedy of George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis reveals, once again, the effects of institutionalized racism has become a flashpoint for justified lack of trust that will be seen and treated as a symptom of implicit bias in all systems. The Institute for Clinical Social Work understands that institutional racism is not isolated to police departments and hears the protests as a call to action to work for racial equity in our nation, in our communities, and in our institutions of higher education.

The Institute for Clinical Social Work believes in equal access to education, health care, and the right to exist and calls upon its members to reflect individually on what actions we each can take to seek justice and to commit collectively to create an institute that lives its values.

We must turn our listening ear and our great capacities for empathy to the voices of African American people who do not feel safe, to black and brown mothers and fathers who send their children out in the world and must tolerate unyielding fear for them, and to our colleagues, co-workers, students, and partners who are generous enough to share their experience, and we learn from each other.

We use our self-awareness to know that if we blame the police and leave it at that, we are avoiding our own privilege and our own responsibility to act, speak up, demand equity. IF we stay silent, we are complicit. Our education and work seek to amplify all human stories and perspectives.

Here are some specific action steps that the Institute for Clinical Social Work will implement as we continue to live our mission and work towards combatting institutionalized racism:

Academic curricular- We will review our curriculum to include a greater diversity of authorship in psychodynamic and psychoanalytic theories and practices.

Community education- We will organize a summer training on implicit bias in theorizing, agencies, and practices.

Faculty development- We will focus on Diversity and Inclusion and include training on White privilege and racial inequity at our next Faculty Retreat.

Recruitment - We will focus recruitment efforts to reach underrepresented groups in our faculty, student, and staff recruitment efforts.

We must collectively acknowledge that institutionalized racism can only exist if we do not acknowledge our own privileges and commit to working together to dismantle social injustices within all institutions. We recognize that it begins here, it begins with us at the Institute for Clinical Social Work. Please join us in our commitment to racial equity.

ICSW recognizes the need to diversify the field of clinical counseling and supports and celebrates diverse students through the Presidential Scholarship.