What does a Social Worker do?
There are a few members on our team who are Registered Social Workers (RSW). While there are different types of Social Workers in the community, the ones at J. Gordon Psychology have all completed their Master of Social Work (MSW) with a focus on clinical practice.
What this means is that they are all trained to provide mental health therapy and counselling. While they learn foundational skills in their Master’s program, most do additional trainings and certifications after their degree, such as Play Therapy, Accelerated Resolution Therapy, or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Each of our Social Workers have their specializations listed on their bio pages on our website.
What is a Clinical Social Worker?
In Alberta, there is an option for Master’s Level Social Workers to join the Clinical Registry and use the protected term Registered Clinical Social Worker (RCSW). While an RSW may be able to assess and treat various mental health conditions, someone on the Clinical Registry is recognized by the Alberta College of Social Workers as an advanced clinical practitioner and has proven their ability to diagnose and treat mental health conditions. To gain this title, the Social Worker has proven that they have received significant training, supervision and experience in a clinical setting.
