Social Workers in Private Practice
What is Private Practice in Social Work?
Private practice social workers are employed by a private office, or an office of their own, rather than a government agency. Requiring an advanced social worker license, and having your own private practice is an opportunity to expand your own practice techniques. Clinical social workers in a private practice setting might counsel a patient with cognitive behavior therapy, teaching self-harm prevention, and techniques to manage their emotions and process traumatic events using healthy positive reinforcement.
Pros and Cons of Starting a Private Practice as an LCSW
Flexible Work Schedules
Setting up your own social work private practice allows you to make your own hours. This flexibility allows you to have the work-life balance you have been looking for, allowing you to determine your own work schedule.
Control of Your Working Culture
Compared to counterparts in a government setting, private practice social workers are able to have more opportunities to work independently.
Increasing Your Social Work Salary
Even if you work full-time in a government agency, being involved part-time in private practice is an excellent opportunity to supplement your income.
One work encapsulates the pros of working in a private practice social work: freedom. If you have the autonomy and discipline to work hard, you have the potential to get a successful career that you have 100% control over. Of course, with this comes a few disadvantages, especially if you are beginning your career starting your own private practice:
Isolation
While the freedom to work alone might entice some, it also can be a challenge for young up-and-coming social work professionals who are looking for advice and guidance from an experienced clinical social worker. Private practice skills are built around past experiences, many of which you learn from working alongside other social workers.
A Slow Start
This is especially pertinent if you are setting out to establish your own social work private practice, but building up a network of clients and fellow clinical social workers can be a slow and gradual process.
What are the Education Requirements for a Career in Social Work Private Practice?
Starting a private practice in LCSW comes after having at least a few years of experience in the field, to help establish your social work credibility and build legitimacy as a clinical social worker. Of course, before a clinical social worker even steps out in the field, it is highly recommended that they get a graduate degree, either a master's or, preferably, a PhD. At ICSW of Chicago, the Phd program gives you the opportunity to really get a solid foundation that is carried by hands-on experience and field work to make sure you are prepared for a career in clinical social work in both public and private practice. Taking only three years, this program can be taken both in person and online, and blends together classroom experience and students’ own practice settings. Contact ICSW today to learn how you can get a PhD in clinical social work in only three years.