long story short, I’ve hated every social work job I’ve had, especially my current one.

I got my BSW in 2024, MSW in 2025, and LMSW in 2026, and I’m current 2 months into LCSW hours. My undergrad practicum and first full time job were both at a Children’s Advocacy Center. I was an intern with a family advocate and then a forensic intake coordinator for two years. My masters practicum was at a medium security forensic treatment center for adults deemed incompetent to stand trial, and my current job is at a children’s psychiatric hospital as a caseworker and therapist. I have never really enjoyed the work I’ve been doing, just liked the people I work with. The work has been extremely depressing, scary, and caused compassion fatigue, chronic imposter syndrome, and dread every Sunday and week night. My current job especially has made me hopeless, depressed, and wishing I never went into social work in the first place.

Considering the amount of debt I went into to get these degrees… I doubt it would be wise to leave the profession. But, are there any social work jobs that aren’t soul crushing and won’t have me feeling like one mistake at work will ruin a persons life? Or, are there any no-social work type jobs I could get with an LMSW that wouldn’t be a massive pay cut?

I wish I didn’t feel this way, and maybe it’ll get better with time! But, right now, I am not looking forward to the future I chose to build :/

Originally posted by u/Advanced_Cookie4785 on Reddit.

Top comment by u/PhantomEyes

Honestly, get out of therapy. I was able to get all of LCSW supervision hours as a dialysis social worker. No formal therapy involved, and I learned a ton about the medical field. Dialysis felt like a DREAM after a decade in CPS and supervising. I used to joke I was the least important person in the building and it was great. My decisions wouldn’t kill anyone. I could call in sick and the place could still open and run just fine. I really enjoyed it.