Education, Empathy, and Social Justice Shaping the Future of Social Work

 

Social work is crucial for addressing social issues like poverty, inequality, and injustice. With mental health challenges on the rise, understanding the role of social workers is vital for providing the necessary support to vulnerable populations. According to the National Association of Social Workers, over 700,000 professionals in the U.S. alone are dedicated to this impactful field.

What does it take to become a social worker, and what does the job entail? This episode aims to answer these questions for those considering a career in this impactful field.

The AppleOne Show by ActOne Group features guest Efrem Bryant, a seasoned psychotherapist and crisis counselor. He joins host Brett Howroyd to explore the academic and practical sides of social work, its challenges, and the passion required to thrive in this profession.

Key Points of Discussion:

  • Definition and Scope: The difference between micro, meso, and macro levels of social work and the various settings where social workers operate.
  • Career Path: The educational requirements, the importance of empathy and patience, and the need for self-care and mentorship in sustaining a career in social work.
  • Evolution and Future: The growing public awareness of mental health and social justice issues and how these trends are shaping the field of social work.

Efrem Bryant is a licensed political social worker, therapist, crisis counselor, and musical artist with over seventeen years of experience. He has worked in diverse settings, including community organizing, adult day health centers, and private practice. Currently, he serves as a crisis counselor and runs a private practice helping clients with depression, anxiety, racial trauma, and marital conflict. Efrem is also a nonprofit founder and a budding R&B and hip-hop artist.

Recent Episodes

Not every path into analytics starts with code and spreadsheets. For some, it begins with curiosity, adaptability, mentorship, and a willingness to learn something entirely new. That’s the case for Mayank Malviya, whose journey from a humanities education in India to a career in U.S.-based market research reveals how initiative and mentorship can accelerate…

What happens when sharp accounting meets sun-soaked strategy? In this episode of Professional Quotient: Conversations that Build Equity, host Jason Winningham welcomes Olivia Barr, Senior Product Manager at CBRE, for a dynamic conversation that explores career pivots, process excellence, people leadership, and the power of community. Olivia brings the full spectrum of professional equity…

What if the most powerful way to grow your career isn’t by perfecting your pitch, but by telling your story? In this episode of Professional Quotient: Conversations that Build Equity, host Jason Winningham welcomes Hunter Lopatin, the Director of MarketScale, to explore the real value of visibility and voice in the workplace. The discussion…