Well, according to wikipedia, “Social work is an academic discipline and practice-based profession that concerns itself with individuals, families, groups, communities, and society as a whole in an effort to meet basic needs and enhance social functioning, self-determination, collective responsibility, optimal health, and overall well-being.” To me, social work is being in a position to help folks find resources they need in order to improve their lives. My path to social work was not linear, and in my freshman year of college I had no idea the profession even existed. Thinking about it now, I can’t imagine taking any other career path. The options are limitless when it comes to what you can do and who you can work with. Although we may be a support, a resource, or a catalyst as social workers; it's up to the individual to do the work.  The ability to make a difference in someone's life and see them grow is an incredible feeling.

One of the reasons I love social work so much is because it's broad, giving professionals the opportunity to work in many different settings.  When I started as a mental health assistant at twenty years old at an Adult In-Patient Psychiatric Hospital, I was immediately hungry for more experience. I was fascinated by my patients' stories, their struggles, and everything they were going through. I saw people in times of crisis, and I wanted to help. I still find that my time there was extremely valuable in exposing my natural interpersonal and de-escalation skills. When it comes to values and beliefs, the premise I work off of is that we are all human and we all matter. I find it incredibly important to acknowledge cultural differences, carefully taking into account someone's background and ethnicity. These characteristics really change and shape individuals' worldly experience. When working in the social work field it can be important to put your own emotions aside, try to access people as they are, not who you think they are. I’ve worked with individuals with substance abuse issues, those in domestic violence relationships, people who have been to jail for serious offenses, those with mental illness and trauma. What I have found is that listening to their stories, the things they’ve been through, is essential to helping them move towards a healthy, functional future. We are not here to ridicule, judge, or force our beliefs on our clients. 

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This blog has started out of my own selfish need for community. I’d like to build a place for others in the field to come and feel a sense of understanding and general comradery. This profession can be particularly taxing on one’s mental health and their overall wellness, so it’s incredibly important to me to find similar professionals going through the same issues. I’d like to share stories, exchange tips, and hopefully some laughs too. Forewarning: we’re going to get messy here. We’ll talk about racism, privilege, feminism, religion; No topics are off limits. While I don’t claim to know absolutely everything about social work, but what I do know, I’d like to share. I’m hoping others in the field will visit and share their stories as well. Social Work is a truly collaborative profession, so everyone is welcome here. 


Feel free to drop me an email or comment down below, whether you want to give me your thoughts on the blog, share a story of your own, or simply say hi!

Check out my Youtube Channel below:

McKenzie Johnston - YouTube


How I got started in social work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhcGXKNMaCY&t=9s

5 Things you should never say to clients: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I24ygQBQ17c

Unboxing the Microsoft laptop go: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6wLjNSfXdc

5 Tips for building rapport with clients: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpFKBGKvo8M&t=35s


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