Why I Became a Social Worker (& How It Shapes My Therapy Today)
- Mar 6
- 4 min read
March Is National Social Work Month
March is National Social Work Month, and I’ve been thinking a lot lately about my origins, my story, my why. In marketing and business you learn a lot about the importance of storytelling and I've been tasked with considering my origin story.
Why did I choose to become a social worker?
And what does being a social worker actually mean to me?
Choosing social work never made much sense to the people around me.
I would hear: “Why would you want to work with people experiencing homelessness or severe mental health issues?”
“Why would you pick a career that pays so poorly?”
And my personal favorite: “I could never listen to people complain all day long."
But here’s the truth: I don’t have a single magical, movie-worthy moment that led me here.
My Path to Becoming a Social Worker
I didn't have a "calling", I had experiences that shaped me.
When I started college, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I briefly considered the medical field, my parents LOVED the idea of me becoming a doctor (lol). I on the other hand did not love the sound of even more science classes.
What I did know was that college was expensive and I couldn’t afford school on my own, so I joined the Navy Reserves at 19 years old to help pay for my education.
That experience shaped me in many ways.
It exposed me to hierarchy, power, identity, structure and the very real ways systems shape people’s lives. I learned a lot about resilience. I learned a lot about survival. And I learned a lot about myself.
Over time, I began thinking more critically about the systems we live within — and how certain groups of people are marginalized, silenced, or left behind entirely.
I took an "Intro to Sociology" course and I couldn't get enough of it. I genuinely loved learning about relationships, social change, behavior patterns, and inequalities. I became so curious about how our environment shapes us.
That curiosity became a thread I kept following.
The Work That Solidified My Path
So I declared my major in Sociology.
During my undergraduate experience, I interned in jails.
I worked with children who had experienced sexual abuse.
I supported people navigating substance use, chronic homelessness, and severe mental health concerns.
And through all of it, one thing stayed consistent:
I care deeply about dignity. About justice. About seeing the full humanity in someone, especially when the world doesn’t.
Social justice has always tugged at my heart. It’s also one of the core values of social work: challenging injustice, pursuing social change, and advocating for vulnerable and oppressed communities.
But what I didn’t realize at the time was how deeply this lens would shape the way I practice therapy today.
How a Social Work Perspective Shapes My Approach to Therapy
Social work taught me that mental health does not exist in a vacuum.
Trauma is often relational. Symptoms are often protective. And coping strategies almost always make sense in context.
Now, as a therapist specializing in eating disorders, body image concerns, and relational wounds, this lens is everything.
I don’t see eating disorders as vanity. I don’t see anxiety as weakness. I don’t see perfectionism as a personality flaw.
I see adaptation. I see protection. I see a nervous system trying to survive.
When a woman sits across from me struggling with food or her body, I’m not just looking at behaviors. I’m considering:
Family of origin
Attachment patterns
Cultural messaging about bodies
Gender expectations
Trauma history
The parts of her that learned shrinking felt safer
Social work taught me to ask: “What happened to you?” instead of “What’s wrong with you?”
That shift changes everything.
Why a Social Work Approach Matters in Eating Disorder and Trauma Therapy
If you’re looking for therapy that:
Honors your full story
Understands trauma in context
Integrates social awareness with personal healing
Balances accountability with self-compassion
Helps you build self-trust instead of self-criticism
That’s the lens I bring into every session.
Being a social worker isn’t just a credential behind my name. It’s a framework. It’s a value system. It’s a commitment to seeing you as a whole person shaped by real experiences... not just a diagnosis or a symptom list.
Why I’m Proud to Be a Social Worker
I’m really proud to carry the title of social worker.
Not because it’s easy. Not because it’s glamorous. But because it reflects a commitment to justice, dignity, and deep, relational healing.
If you’re here, whether as a client, colleague, or quiet reader, thank you for being part of this work.
Happy National Social Work Month! The theme this year is "Uplift. Defend. Transform." Learn more about it here!
If you’re someone who has been struggling with your relationship with food, your body, or patterns in your relationships, therapy can be a space to slow down and make sense of those experiences with support.
I offer virtual therapy for adults in Wisconsin and Illinois navigating eating disorders, body image concerns, and relational healing.
If you’re curious about working together, you’re welcome to reach out or schedule a free consultation. I’d be honored to walk alongside you in your healing.
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