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Social Workers, Rise!

Social Work vs. Therapy-Focused Degrees: The Identity Crisis No One Is Talking About

March 23, 2026·25 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

If you’ve ever wondered, “What actually makes social work different from other therapy degrees?”—this episode is for you.Somewhere along the way, social work started getting reduced to “just therapy.” And while social workers can provide therapy, that’s only a fraction of what we’re trained to do.In this episode, we’re breaking down the real differences between a Social Work degree (MSW) and therapy-focused degrees, and why this confusion is contributing to a growing professional identity crisis within the field.More importantly, we’re talking about what’s at stake if social workers don’t start clearly defining—and owning—their unique role.NASW Code of ethics- 5.1 Social Workers' Ethical Responsibilities to the Social Work Profession- Integrity to the profession Here.Advocacy Letter Against Social Work Here.⁠Tap Here to Subscribe⁠ to the Social Workers, Rise! Email Resource List⁠Tap Here⁠ to shop career courses for Social Workers.____________________________________Thank you to our SPONSORSHPSO Professional liability insurance designed for healthcare providersRISE Directory for Clinical Supervision

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