Rhonda Love

Self Compassion and Social Work

Self Compassion and Social Work

Self-Compassion is a component of working in the field of Social Work that isn’t discussed as much as it should be. Self-Compassion is something that can’t be taught in a classroom. It is something that is learned along the journey of gaining experience in the field. Individuals in the field of Social Work, as well as other fields, have to have a special gift to be able to do the work that we do. Our jobs aren't easy, yet they can be rewarding in the end. Before a person gains self-compassion, they usually experience the negative side of the field. Social Work is a career path that can cause burnout however, you have to be able to view the overall outlook in situations. 

Acceptance: Self & Others

Acceptance: Self & Others

Acceptance of Self 

Becoming a Social Worker requires a special level of compassion, humility, and integrity. Working in this field can bring issues that have been suppressed to the forefront. Working with individuals can bring upon memories of past experiences that may have caused trauma. Being able to remove yourself is a skill that is learned through experience. There have been times where I have felt as if I wasn’t worthy enough to work with certain populations. To add on, there have been many times where I felt like I failed, because I wasn’t able to save someone, they weren’t able to be serviced, or they weren’t ready to make the change. Through it all, I had to learn to accept that I always give my all with every client. Understanding and accepting that no story will be a success story has been a breakthrough in my career. I no longer allow the bad to outweigh the good. Learning to accept that I am great at what I do in this field is more than enough gratification for me.