Looking for a Master’s in Clinical Counseling or a Ph.D. in Clinical Social Work?

Founded in 1981 by a group of visionary social workers, the Institute for Clinical Social Work provides students with a psychodynamic graduate education that values social justice, diversity, and compassionate practice.

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The ICSW Graduate School Experience

How do our Chicago-based social work alumni make a difference in the lives of others?

Amanda Aguilera

Amanda Aguilera chose ICSW to expand her knowledge about the psychodynamic approach to therapy.

De’Asia Thompson

De’Asia focuses on improving the mental health and well-being of Black women and other women of color.

Andrew Petersen

PhD student, Specializing in Lacanian Psychoanalytic approaches to Psychosis.

Joan Berzoff, MSW, LICSW, Ed.D

graduated from Smith College School for Social Work in 1974 with a Masters in Clinical Social Work and from Boston University in 1985 with a doctorate in Human Development. Joan lived and worked in Northampton, Mass, where she served as a faculty member of the Smith College School for Social Work for 37 years.

There, she co-chaired the Doctoral Program, chaired the Human Behavior in the Social Environment Sequence, and developed and ran the End-of-Life Certificate Program. While at Smith, Joan lectured nationally and internationally including in Bulgaria, Hong Kong, Sweden, England, and Canada, plus was very honored to receive a Social Work Leadership Award from the Project on Death in America and the writing award from the American Association for Psychonalysis in Clinical Social Work (AAPCSW).

Graduates of the Institute for Clinical Social Work, who have received a graduate degree in social work, share why they chose Chicago’s ICSW for their Master’s or Ph.D. in Social Work. Alumni answer questions like, “What is psychodynamic psychotherapy?” and “What is the transition from a past career to working as a clinical social worker”, and explore how ICSW helped them go through their social work courses with confidence and pride.

Why Get a Master’s or Ph.D. in Clinical Counseling or Clinical Social Work?

Makes you a competitive job candidate for social work or clinical counseling
Take social work courses on adult development, couples therapy, and child welfare
Write a thesis that is specialized in a particular area you're interested in
Gain invaluable clinical social work experience in the field
Work on a Masters's degree or Ph.D. either in person or online, at your own pace