Develop a Friendly Relationship with Your Social Worker: It Could Be Life-Changing

For the vast majority of people (if not all of us), there are times when life can feel overwhelming. Mental health issues can make it even worse. Finding a social worker you can relate to in a friendly manner can be life-changing if you struggle with mental health.

Letting Down Your Guard

Sometimes, seeing a professional can feel, well, unnatural. It’s normal to want to put your guard up and keep someone new at a distance. Though it might seem counterintuitive, letting your guard down and becoming friendly with your social worker could actually have a positive, life-altering impact on your life.

Some people have the mistaken idea that social workers are interested in taking children away from their parents or trying to control other people’s behavior. These characterizations, based on old stereotypes, are quite unfair. The vast majority of those who dedicate their professional lives to social work are caring people who want to do everything they can to help others.

The History of Social Work

You may be surprised to learn that the early history of social work lies in charity organizations. In the late 1800s, some good Samaritans looked around and realized that although industrialization had allowed the economy to prosper, it brought many social problems. Concerned individuals noticed higher unemployment and child neglect rates than they had ever seen, so they organized efforts to help those in need by providing aid in various ways.

Today, social work has flourished into a highly organized field designed to benefit and aid as many people as possible. Staying true to the origins of their profession, social workers do everything in their power to provide struggling individuals with the help and resources they need to improve their circumstances.

How Becoming Friendly with Your Social Worker Can Have a Positive Impact on Your Life

Social workers want the best for those that they are assigned to help. Furthermore, social workers have access to many resources that have the potential to help you turn your life around.

If you find yourself in difficult circumstances and don’t know who to turn to for help, social workers are trained to help get you out of those bad situations. Whether battling addiction or struggling with an abusive relationship, social workers have the skills and resources to detect problems and aid you in making your way back to a good place.

Social workers have a working knowledge of all types of resources, from mental health providers to rehabilitation centers. For those times when you don’t know what to do or where to go, social workers can help provide you with guidance and comfort in these difficult times.

Furthermore, these professionals are ready to be your advocate at the drop of a hat if they believe that it will help you. Whether you need assistance with legal troubles or referrals to other services, these professionals can help get you where you need to go.

When you resist or work against your social worker, you deprive yourself of all of the ways he or she can help you. This is especially true for those struggling with mental health disorders. By pushing away your social worker, you could inadvertently be refusing a powerful lifeline.

Understandably, opening up can be difficult. It may take time to get to a place where you’re comfortable enough to do it with someone new in your life. However, you don’t have to expose all your secrets and vulnerabilities at once or even let your guard down fully. All that matters is that you treat your social worker with respect and a friendly demeanor. By doing these simple things, you’re opening yourself up to a world of potentially beneficial and positive possibilities.

So, the next time you feel the urge to hurl a passive-aggressive comment at your social worker or just shrug when you’re asked a question, remember the harm you could be doing to yourself. By being friendly and opening yourself up to the possibility of receiving help, you could be stepping toward a newer, brighter life path.

Just a Little Bit of Friendliness Can Go a Long Way

While there may be lingering mistrust of social workers in some communities, they are usually compassionate people with your best interests at heart. Furthermore, these professionals have access to many resources to help you recover from mental health struggles or other adverse situations in life.

So to receive the help these professionals can offer, put on a smile and treat them in a friendly manner. Though these small acts of friendliness may seem simple, they can end up changing your life.

If you or someone you know experiences mental health issues, it is important to seek help from a qualified professional. Our Resource Specialist can help you find expert mental health resources to recover in your community. Contact us now for more information on this free service to our users.

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About the Author: Sarah Daren has been a startup consultant in multiple industries, including health and wellness, wearable technology, nursing, and education. She implements her health knowledge into every aspect of her life, including her position as a yoga instructor and raising her two children.

Photo by Kindel Media: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-holding-adoption-documents-8301237/

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