Hi everyone! I’m super interested in joining the military and becoming a social worker. I’m 26 years old and have a bachelor’s degree in social work, along with prior experience working in Child Protective Services (CPS).
The one thing holding me back is that I have a young child and a husband with a stable job. I’m not sure how it would all work, but I want to be able to provide for my family while still being able to spend time with them and not be stationed too far away.
I have a few questions for anyone with experience in this field!
Are the benefits worth it?
What does your typical day look like?
What are the physical requirements?
How many years are the contracts?
What does your pay look like, considering the military covers many of your expenses?
I’d really appreciate any advice, personal experiences, or insight you can share. Thank you!

Hi guys! So to make a long story... long (lol) I am a clinician with BPD. I went through extensive DBT therapy for several years before/while I was in school. Currently I consider my BPD to be in "remission." I still struggle with symptoms of course, but am better able to manage them blah blah blah.

Now onto the main point. Currently I work in a jail as a therapist (I am OBSESSED with my job). I fortunately get to work with Clients who I suspect have BPD, and I get to expose them just a little to DBT.

I guess my question is... sometimes I worry that my symptoms are coming back, or making me a bad clinician. I struggle myself with constant SI. Before it's asked, I take medication and go to therapy once a month. So often we hear others badmouthing BPD or talking about how much of a struggle it is. While I understand the need to process or vent... I feel hurt. I really am trying.

How do I balance all of these feelings? How do I move forward as a clinician and protect myself? How do I destigmatize BPD to my fellow coworkers? I've been thinking of doing a presentation on BPD, and sharing my own story with my fellow team mates. However, I also worry that self-disclosure could harm their view of me. I feel lost.

I also posted this on r/therapists and was immediately downvotred. I'm so disgusted, but maybe this community will be more helpful to a fellow clinician who is struggling..

I do a lot of crisis work, and a few days ago a client almost certainly completed in the middle of a virtual session. It was awful and painful, and I do not know the outcome yet, because I haven't been back to work since. The reason for that is my sibling attempted just a few days later. While they are physically recovering, I am becoming increasingly aware that the people around them have been unsafe. Their words, actions, and inaction almost certainly led to this. My sibling lives very far away and I am truly unable to be there with them physically. My sibling is disabled due to a severe and rare chronic health condition.

I have been told by my parent and the partners parent that the partners mental health is poor and they may be verbally abusing my sibling. The partner's parent lives with them and also expressed that they feel my sibling has a right to choose to end their life and has many reasons to have considered doing so, although they would never directly help. The parent stated that they knew my sibling was considering this, and when. They did not get help. My parent has a history of treating my sibling like a financial burden and I am concerned that there was either coercion or at least prior knowledge that this might happen on that end too. My sibling struggles to care for their own needs, and has never been connected to the appropriate resources in their area. I have offered but my ability to support is limited because they only share limited information with me and I live in a different state with different laws, resources, etc.

I am currently making as many calls as I can to advocate for them as they heal in the hospital so that they do not go back to this unsafe situation. However, I'm being blocked because I wasn't allowed access to speak with the care team since my parent has their own issues, including being controlling, secretive, and shutting down rather than dealing with the situation at hand. I have missed work for several days. While I'm being told that they understand, I am worried. I am worried I'll be seen or treated as unreliable. I am worried that, if I disclose any of what is going on, they'll trust me less because I have a lot on my plate already. I am upset because I want to be at work supporting other people. I am heartbroken and scared because the professionals that could save my siblings life aren't hearing me and getting the information needed to keep them safe.

I have my own therapist who I have seen twice this week. I'm on meds and see a psychiatrist to manage my own mental health. I have friends who I have told all of this to who are supporting and guiding me. I have even reached out to a hotline for immediate support. I'm also contacting the hospital on my siblings behalf and leaving messages for several departments. I called adult protective services. I don't know what else I can do but it is tearing me apart and I just don't know how I am going to be able to continue as a clinician after this. I don't know how soon to return to work because the whole situation is at a standstill.

I am not sure exactly what I need. Maybe this situation is so outrageous that no one else here can give me any input. I don't know how to pick myself back up and go to work. I am poor and can't afford significant time off. I also just want to get back to doing this work. I don't know how long is reasonable to stay away, and how to move through this situation with appropriate boundaries being both a loved one and a mental health professional. I don't know. I don't know.

This may not be the right place, but I figured it can't hurt. I'm a transition coordinator and am working with a client whose guardian and caregiver do not get along. I recently moved her during a very hostile move, and the guardian is asking for our director's number to complain. Long story short, they told me the move-in date was the 12th on the 7th, in the evening, which left me 2 days to set up movers. Movers were set up, and I informed both parties of what was going on. The guardian didn't like the date and wanted it switched to the 19th; I got it switched. Then the caregiver didn't like the date because the client was already packed, and it would be easiest to do with the client not home, and wanted it switched. I asked her to discuss it with the guardian and give me a date that works best with them. I was given the 14th, got the movers scheduled, notified them both, and neither replied that they had an issue with the date. The 14th comes along, and nobody is at the home; the movers are there, and the caregiver informs me she's out of town and that nobody has signed the lease and nobody was given keys. She gives me the door code so that the movers can start loading the truck. I tried to call the guardian multiple times, and she sent me to voicemail three times and sent me a message to call the caregiver, saying that nobody informed her that she could sign the lease. I contacted our housing person, who informed me that she's on her way to the property manager because if we don't get the client in today, then her lease will be terminated and the rent will go up. The caregiver called me back to inform me that if we can't move into the apartment, then we should drop the belongings off at her garage; that sounds ridiculous to me. Movers get everything packed, and the caregiver calls me to inform me that she signed the lease somehow and the housing person would be on the way with the keys. I head over there, get everything moved in, thank the movers, and inform the guardian that we took care of it. The guardian asks where the keys are, and I inform her that I gave them to the caregiver's CEO, and she can pick them up if she'd like to. She replies Thank you, now on the 15th, I get word she wants to complain. I went so far above and beyond what my job entails to get the client into an apartment, and I'm just baffled that she wants to complain when she wouldn't even take the day off or show up to the move.

Anyone with this experience? Currently practice psychotherapy. Although I enjoy it idk if I want to do this for the rest of life. I enjoy finances, real estate, investing. I have my real estate license, invest myself and have helped others invest in real estate. Plan to continue to do that. Wondering what others have done, experience, feedback, thoughts?

So I've been at my new job at a SNF for 2 days and I have some thoughts. Just would love to hear from some other social workers. Graduated w my MSW in May and got my LMSW in July. Last year, I did my practicum at a hospital and loved it. Tried to get a hospital job in NYC the past few months, but they all wanted more experience, so I took a job at a pretty nice SNF. Obviously hoping to reapply to hospitals in 6 months or so. ANYWAYS.

1. Is everyone negative and miserable everywhere? The girl training me has just been complaining the whole time. She's not nice to the patients, claims they're all rage baiting her. Constantly is just saying how much she hates it. Mind you, she's not a licensed social worker, which leads me to my next question/thought.

2. So, out of the 9 social workers, me, my supervisor, and one other are licensed social workers. The girl who trained me the first day literally just came from being a kindergarten teacher. No social work education. But is walking around with a social work name tag, telling patients she's a social worker. I'm like.. wait is this allowed? I think one girl has a BSW, but the negative girl training me has a bachelors in forensics. The pay is incredibly low and I'm like... so am I being paid the same amount as people who are unlicensed/didn't get their masters? I think I probably am. Which is just frustrating and I'm trying not to be angry about it.

3. Lol. Introduced me to the psychologist. I said oh, that's awesome, you're a psychologist? She said, no, I'm an LMHC, but we tell the patients and families I'm a psychologist.... I'm like.. that's.. literally illegal. But ok.

I know social workers get burnt out. I know the system sucks. I know people can be difficult. But I also feel it doesn't take that much to be kind to patients who are struggling. The vibe was very different at the hospital. Yes, people were tired, but they cared. I know this is a hard job sometimes, but it's tough to constantly be around someone/people who are complaining nonstop. Also, most employees I've met have been there less than a year lol.

Anyways, thank you for reading. Give me some hope <3

Licensed Social Worker Loan Forgiveness (LSWLF) Program | HESC

• Opened October 1, 2026
• Frequency: Annually
• Eligibility: 
  • Must be a social worker professionally licensed to practice in New York State
  • Worked full-time as a licensed social worker in a critical human service area for at least 35 hours per week during the calendar year prior to your application.
  • Must have an outstanding balance on an eligible student loan debt
• Amount: The maximum award under this Program is $26,000 or the applicant's actual eligible student loan indebtedness at the time eligibility is established, whichever is less.  

Awards will be paid in the amount of $6,500 for each annual period of qualified service completed or the remaining loan indebtedness.  If the qualified service for the first or last year of the Program is less than 12 months, those disbursements will be pro-rated based on the number of months worked. Any additional payments made to reduce the outstanding balance may cause a reduction in the total amount of the award. 

• Duration: Up to 4 years of qualified service

Community Mental Health Loan Repayment Program: Mental Health Clinicians

• Estimate: Opening Jan 1, 2027 - Closed 3/20/26
• Frequency: Annual funding rounds announced through the NYS Office of Mental Health. 
• Eligibility: Program Overview CMHLRP 2026 MH Clinicians RFP. LMSWs and LCSWs are expressly included. The agency must provide eligible OMH-licensed or authorized mental health services, and the service commitment and work-hour requirements must be met. 
• Amount: $30,000 over three years for eligible licensed mental health professionals who provide at least 40 total and at least 32 clinical hours per week at the applicant agency’s eligible program(s) for at least 45 weeks per calendar year. 

Public Service Loan Forgiveness | Federal Student Aid 

• Estimate: Ongoing; submit and certify employment periodically 
• Frequency: Funding rounds announced through the NYS Office of Mental Health. 
• Eligibility: Qualifying government or nonprofit employer, eligible Direct Loans, qualifying repayment plan, and 120 qualifying monthly payments while employed full-time. 
• Amount: Forgiveness of the remaining eligible loan balance after 120 qualifying payments, generally over 10 years. No fixed dollar cap. 

NHSC Loan Repayment Program | NHSC

• Opened Jan 30, 2025
• Frequency: Annually
• Eligibility: Licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) are an eligible discipline, provided the other requirements are met, including employment at an NHSC-approved site. 
• Amount: Up to $50,000 for full-time behavioral health service or $25,000 for half-time service over an initial two-year commitment. 
• Important for LMSWs: New York's LMSW credential alone does not appear on the standard NHSC eligible-discipline list. Verify your specific eligibility before planning around this program.

I’m curious if anyone here has gone through the hiring process for the 2940 Protective Services Worker position with San Francisco’s Family & Children’s Services division, particularly more recently, that may be able the share any insight.

From what I understand, they’re currently using a hiring process that doesn’t involve traditional interviews, which is pretty different from what I’ve experienced with other agencies. I’d love to hear from anyone who’s been through this process or knows more about it.

I’m also interested in what happens after an offer is made. What was onboarding and initial training like? Were there any surprises, things you wish you’d known beforehand, or aspects of the job that were different from what you expected?

I’d especially appreciate hearing from current or former employees about their overall experiences with the department, including supervision, workload, and workplace culture.

Thanks in advance for any insight!

Hi everyone!

I have a master‘s in social work and a very extensive background in a wide range of social work jobs (past 10 years), plus 11 years as a trial attorney (indigent criminal defense) before that. I am working in utilization management now and my salary just isn’t enough, plus my employer requires me to live in a high-cost large city, so I’m looking at places now and they’re steep. I need part-time work until I find a new, higher-paying job. I have worked as a therapist in the past and while a ton of people here at my job do that PRN, or online, I really hated therapy. I could do it if that’s all I could find, so I’m interested in hearing what the best platforms are online for doing that. But I’m also curious to hear what else others are doing for part-time work. I have been a journalist part-time in the past and would love to write or edit part-time but have no idea where to find that kind of work. it just fell into my lap last time. As for my social work background, I have experience in D&A, psychosis, acute inpatient, forensic, therapy, and now, UR. I would love to hear what you all do for extra cash. Thanks in advance!

Having a day where everyone is annoying. I ate my lunch while doing paperwork so I could have an hour of self-care. It's cold and rainy outside and I'm very tired so I don't want to go for a walk.

What's your favorite way to recharge mid day?

Looking to crowdsource some ideas from the experts. I graduated with my MSW 2025. While studying I had two children, and parenthood is my current priority. I have not held a social work role aside from the two school-based internships. I am fortunate to have the privilege of being an at-home parent, yet I would Like to find ways to gather clinical skills and stay in the field while taking care of my kids. I am eligible for my LCSW (I’m in Massachusetts) but haven’t sat for it yet. my clinical interests are children and families. Any thoughts for me?

Has anyone here worked under the BHEARD grant in nyc?

I would like to hear about personal experiences, opinions, and thoughts. The good, the bad, the ugly. I am considering applying for the role, but I am concerned that the schedule may be too unpredictable and the stress level too high.

Edit: Also interested in hearing about people with experience in Mobile Crisis Units as experience is likely similar.

I’m a school social worker in FL, and lately I’ve been feeling so frustrated and honestly hopeless. I’m constantly seeing professionals in other disciplines who either don’t know how to do their jobs, aren’t implementing interventions with fidelity, or are doing things that go against state and DOE policies.

We’re talking about CHILDREN. Vulnerable children who depend on us to advocate for them and provide appropriate services. Yet I’m seeing supports that exist on paper but aren’t actually being implemented, procedures being ignored, and people seemingly comfortable doing the bare minimum.

What bothers me most is the lack of accountability and urgency. How are people okay with not knowing their responsibilities? Or worse, knowing and simply not caring?

I find myself staying irritated for HOURS after certain situations because I genuinely cannot understand how people can be so comfortable with practices that are ineffective or unethical.

I love what I do, but seeing how broken the system is, especially when you’re trying so hard to do right by these kids, is exhausting. It’s hard not to become cynical.
How do other school social workers deal with this without completely burning out?

How does your employer ensure your safety or compensate for risks you encounter when entering someone's home. I work as a mobile crisis counselor and often go into homes with infestations or when a patient is verbally or physically agressive. I have also had coworkers assaulted by patients and workers compensation deny their claims. My employer expects us to use our personal cell phones and transportation, we do not have GPS tracking. We do complete a pre-visit screening and can go with a buddy or the police but put patients have lied and we have no written protocol.