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LCSW x 25yrs & Social Work Documentation Expert

@marcythemsw

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Social work coach, trainer, educator & mentor. I develop clinicians who can assess and document (without a form/format) in any social work setting.

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Listen, I’m not trying to make everything about race. But I’m also not going to pretend race has nothing to do with some of the things we experience as social workers.

I've been doing this work for 30 years, and to this day, I still encounter people who look at me and question whether I'm actually the person qualified to conduct a psychiatric evaluation.

I can usually tell the difference between someone being confused about my role and someone questioning my authority.

And sometimes, it's not what they say. It's that they keep questioning, even AFTER I've explained who I am and what I do.

Because apparently, I just couldn't possibly be the person making the treatment recommendation based on my assessment.

I know I am not the only one! Prepare Black social workers - share you experiences.

Follow for more real conversations about social work and the profession.

#blacksocialworker #lcsw #blacklcsw #psychiatricsocialworker #mswstudent by @marcythemsw

Getting an A in practicum and actually learning how to practice are two different things.

Did you learn how to assess? Do you understand how to formulate a clinical impression? Can you document your reasoning clearly enough to explain it years later?

Because one day the question may be, “Explain how you reached this conclusion.”

It will NOT be, “What grade did you get in practicum?”

Now, to be clear, I’m not anti-AI. I’m anti-outsourcing skills you never learned in the first place.

Start with learning how to document. Build the foundation now or get caught up later.

📌 The Essentials of Documentation LIVE — 9/9 | $99

Or join SSSW, where the asynchronous course is included.

⚠️ CE credits for the online version are available only through 9/11/26. After that, the course remains available, but CE credit will require attendance at an eligible live presentation.

School is starting. Practicum is starting. Learn the skill before you look for the shortcut.

Link in bio. by @marcythemsw

Some of you are documenting like nobody will ever read your notes, when you should be documenting like someone is going to question every decision you made.

Because when something goes wrong, your note becomes the only record of what you knew, what you learned, what you saw, what you did, and why you did it.

“Client stable, kids appeared healthy, no concerns” is not going to get it. Half-done notes don’t just look bad. They create risk.

Documentation is how you prove you knew what you were doing. If your documentation doesn’t provide clear details of your assessment, your rationale, and your next steps, you are taking a chance, and putting everyone else, including the agency at risk.

MarcytheMSW

#mswstudent #socialworkcoach #mswloading #socialwork #mswgraduate by @marcythemsw

One of the things I love about social work is that there are SO many ways to use this degree!

But here's what I see happening. Social workers spend years developing skills, gaining experience, and building expertise, only to convince themselves that the job they're doing now is the only thing they're qualified to do.

That's simply not true!

Your social work skills are transferable, and you may have more career options than you realize. You just have to learn how to recognize those opportunities and position yourself for them.

Career diversification is one of the things we talk about in Strategies for Success in Social Work (SSSW). Because I don't just want you to get through social work school, get licensed, and find a job. I want you to build a career that gives you options, opportunities, and room to grow.

And sometimes that means thinking beyond traditional social work roles.

🔗 Join SSSW through the link in my bio. Let's work on building a successful social work career, not just surviving one! by @marcythemsw

You're a social work STUDENT. You're not supposed to know everything yet!

But there's a difference between not knowing something and not making an effort to figure it out.

Ask questions. Be curious. Accept feedback.

And most importantly, APPLY what you're learning.

Your practicum is where you develop the skills you can't learn from a textbook alone.

💬 What's something you wish you'd known before your first day of field placement?

Follow for practical Strategies for Success in Social Work. by @marcythemsw

“We don’t do macro here.” Meanwhile, policy determines who qualifies for your services, who pays for them, and what you can offer. 👀☕️

This week’s election belongs in the classroom AND clinical supervision.
Connect power, representation, and policy to the people your students serve.

Supervisors and students: how is this conversation showing up in your agency? Your classroom? Your practice? Your life?

Marcy by @marcythemsw

You spent 50 minutes with a client, and when it came time to document the session, you basically wrote a transcript of everything they said.

That's one of the biggest documentation mistakes I see newer social workers make- using most of the note recapping what the client talked about, without documenting the actual clinical work.

Then, when it's time to describe the intervention and response we get:

“Provided supportive counseling. Client was receptive.”

What did you address? What intervention did you use? Why did you choose it? How did the client respond?

Your documentation should communicate your clinical reasoning, not just the topics of conversation.

And here's the part I really want you to hear: If you genuinely weren't sure what to do during the session, that's a SUPERVISION conversation.

Your supervisor needs enough information to evaluate your clinical work, provide meaningful feedback, and identify where you may need additional support.

Document the clinical service, not just the conversation.

Follow for more documentation lessons from a social worker who's been reading, writing, and reviewing clinical notes for 30 years. by @marcythemsw

SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS & ASSOCIATES:
Here's something you can add to your resume!

Imagine walking into an internship or entry-level job interview already having completed specialized training in clinical documentation.

While other applicants may still be learning how to write defensible progress notes, communicate clinical reasoning, and understand documentation requirements, you'll have additional training to discuss AND a certificate to show for it!

And supervisors? 👀 That BBS email is a reminder that documentation goes WAY beyond progress notes!

TIME IS RUNNING OUT!

My Essentials of Documentation course will remain available asynchronously, but CE credits will not be issued after January 6, 2027.

Don't miss your opportunity to earn eligible CE credits and a certificate of completion while they're available!

🔗 Click the LinkTree in my bio to enroll!

#socialworkdocumentation #socialworktraining #mswstudent #mswloading #socialworker by @marcythemsw

You can memorize every clinical term in the book and STILL struggle in that interview.

Because knowing the terminology and being able to explain your clinical thinking are two different things.

Stop rehearsing in your head and start practicing out loud - just like a role play!

I created the Interactive Interview Prep Playbook to help you practice with 50 interview questions, randomized mock interviews, and strategies for answering with confidence.

Click the LinkTree in my bio or comment “PREP” for access and a FREE 48-hour trial.

And follow for practical strategies for success in social work!

#socialworkhelp #socialworkcoach #mswloading #socialworkjobs #futuremsw by @marcythemsw

Preparing for a social work interview is about more than memorizing diagnostic criteria and hoping they give you a vignette that matches the diagnosis you're most familiar with.

They want to know how you THINK!

Can you explain your clinical reasoning? Recognize risk? Discuss ethical dilemmas? Know when to seek consultation? And communicate all of that with confidence?

You don't need to have every answer. But you DO need to practice explaining what you know, what you'd do, and WHY.

And please don't let the actual interview be the first time you practice saying those answers OUT LOUD!

My Interactive Interview App lets you practice before you're sitting across from a hiring panel.

Try it FREE for 48 hours! Access the app through the LinkTree in my bio.

Follow for more practical social work career advice from someone who's been on both sides of the interview table.

#socialwork #mswloading #futuremsw by @marcythemsw

Just because you're attending supervision doesn't mean you're getting what you NEED from supervision. 👀

Good supervision should challenge your thinking, strengthen your skills, and provide meaningful feedback—not just check a box.

And remember, you have a responsibility to come prepared, too!

If your supervision is falling short, don't wait until the end of your placement to seek additional support.

Comment “GROUP” to learn more about my group supervision opportunities.

Follow for practical Strategies for Success in Social Work. by @marcythemsw