SJSU School of Social Work Monthly Newsletter March 2022

Office Hours and Contact Information

Office Telephone # 408-924-5800

Official Website: www.sjsu.edu/socialwork/

General Email Address: socialwork@sjsu.edu

PPSC Email: socialwork-post-masters@sjsu.edu

In-Person Office Availability

Monday - Wednesday 9:30am-6:30pm

One Washington Sq. WSQ 215

San Jose, CA 95192-0124

My Self Care Journey

Misty McNay, LCSW

SJSU Social Work Professor

I am humbled to contribute to this discussion of a topic that is near and dear to my heart: self-care. I am so happy that the NASW has taken a stance on the need for self-care for social workers by adding language to the Code of Ethics. It affirms for all of us that spending time to recharge is not only important for us as individuals, but for those we serve as well. Experience has taught me that as social workers we are great at telling others that they have to take care of themselves before taking care of others, but we are not so good at relaying that message to ourselves (sound familiar – do as I say, not as I do).

When I was in school and early in my career I recall that the extent of self-care messaging was: do it. Every once in a while I would have a colleague or supervisor tell me, “be sure to take care of yourself: bubble bath, massage, something.” I didn’t find those messages to be very helpful. For one, I was terrible at making time for myself and two, I didn’t even understand the concept fully (makes me wonder how effective I was at relaying the message to clients) to integrate the intent of the message – make time to do something to recharge my batteries.

After years in the field and numerous struggles with stress eating, insomnia, neglecting relationships and myself, and various other things we do to numb ourselves, I started a short, 20-minute morning routine of cardio. In all transparency, I initially did this because I had hit my highest weight and didn't like the way I felt or looked. But the weirdest thing happened a few weeks into my routine. I noticed that I was sleeping better; I didn’t feel so stressed all the time; I was able to handle work demands with a bit more ease; and most importantly I had a bit more energy to play with my child who was a toddler at the time. It was a complete ah-ha moment for me and a realization that all that research that I relayed to clients, friends, and families was true and applied to me as well. Around this same time I attended my first Reflective Practice training and when I look back I think of this serendipitous time as life changing. A two-day training that was reinforcing all that I was learning about myself.

This helped me to put effort into my self-care and helped me realize that self-care made the most sense to me when I broke it down in to buckets. There is the crisis moment self-care that consists of reminding myself to breathe through the moment, releasing my shoulders and jaw – these important reminders help me to focus on safety for whomever I am with and myself and to be in the moment to attend to the situation as my best as possible.

Then there is the post-crisis or processing of stress, return to me self-care where I seek the support of a colleague or supervisor to vent, process, or whatever I need to do to process the stress I am feeling. In addition to verbally processing stress, I have found over the years that a little movement and fresh air can do wonders. A walk with a colleague can shift any perspective and even spending time with plants or nature can be helpful.

Then I think of the pampering self-care. This always entails a bit more time and planning and could consist of that elusive massage or bubble bath that takes a bit more time and sometimes funding. I also think of vacations, day trips, or a day on that couch with a book or Netflix series that is planned and not avoidance based in overwhelm (that usually leads to more overwhelm). Self-care should feel refreshing and not a burden.

The final bucket I consider for self-care is maintenance. When I started off on my 20-minute cardio routine I had no idea I was starting a maintenance plan for myself. But years later, I still get up a little early, religiously, to have some exercise time. Over the years I have added meditation and journaling to that morning routine. Yes, the routine now takes longer than 20 minutes, but I find that it has been a positive time-investment for myself. Even through escalated moments of stress with family or work, I have stuck to this routine because it helps to provide me with a time to clear my head and reset on a daily basis. I am not saying that you have to exercise and meditate or journal, but find something you can do consistently that grounds you and gives you the energy to get through the day(s). I also encourage trying a lot of different things until you find what works for you. When I first tried meditation in undergrad, it did NOT work for me and stressed me out. But as time went on and things in my life shifted, it has been a life saver. So if you try something and don’t initially like it, don’t be afraid to try it again later on. No one stays stagnant so your self-care should be as fluid as we are as humans.

I hope for the reader you can take a bit of this messaging and make it your own. Self-care is so personal and critical to our own care and client care. It doesn’t have to take much to make a big difference. Please invest a small bit of time to discover what works for your and then put it into practice and keep exploring. Start small especially if the idea of taking time for yourself puts you in a tailspin of stress. Five or ten minutes can go a long way. You may find as you build, you can sprinkle in a bit more self-care than you thought.

Faculty Spotlight

Jennifer Price Wolf, MSW, MPH, PhD

she/her/hers

Associate Professor, SJSU School of Social Work

Dr. Wolf, Dr. Bridget Freisthler, professor of social work at The Ohio State University, and Nichole Michaels of Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus was recently featured by The Ohio State University news for their lead work on an opioid neighborhood-level study that was published by the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. According to the study, which is one of the first, neighborhoods with more opioid overdoses have higher rates of child welfare investigations and confirmed cases of child maltreatment. The study was recently published in the January 2022 issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.

Thank you Dr. Price Wolf for your contribution to the social work field and research!

Faculty Spotlight

Yvonne Maxwell, LCSW

she/her/hers

Yvonne Maxwell is a professor at SJSU School of Social Work, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Executive Director of Ujima Adult and Family Services. Professor Maxwell has recently co-published an Op-Ed regarding incarceration in Santa Clara County. Check out the op-ed by clicking below!

ALUMNI, WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Alexis Session, MSW, ASW

She/her/hers

SJSU MSW, Class of 2019

Wraparound Program Supervisor, Seneca

Hi, my name is Alexis Session. I'm glad to share that I graduated from the MSW program in 2019 and immediately after accepted a job where I interned which was Seneca Family of Agencies. Life after graduate school has been very fulfilling. I accepted a position in the Wraparound Program as a facilitator to support youth referred by the Department of Family and Children Services and Juvenile Probation. The children we serve have high mental health needs that require intervention in order to avoid hospitalizations, detention, and placement disruptions. Last year, I was promoted to supervisor of the Wraparound Program. At Seneca I have been able to receive clinical supervision and gain hours towards Licensure.

I am extremely grateful for the support I received along the way. One bit of advice I would share is to create a community with your cohort. This journey has been much easier with the support of my classmates and I gained lifelong friends in the process.

ALUMNI, WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Jessica Schneider, LCSW

she/her/hers

SJSU MSW, Class of 2011

Director of Clinical Services and Training at Rebekah Children's Services (RCS)

Thank you for inviting me to be a part of this special publication. I still remember the day that I received the call from Barry Goldman Hall, letting me know I had been accepted into SJSU’s MSW program. I had always known that I wanted to be a social worker and I was eager to help youth have a voice. While I was excited and nervous to begin my career, I especially appreciated the support and guidance that SJSU offered me. As I advanced through the program, I was able to gain experience as an Intern at Uplift Family Services and advocate for Foster Youth’s rights at lobby days which led me to confirm my purpose as a Social Worker. After graduating in 2011, it was during the great recession, and getting a position as an ASW was incredibly competitive. Fortunately, the relationships that I had built at SJSU allowed me to apply for the Clinician position at Rebekah Children’s Services (RCS). I eventually studied and trained to get my LCSW, and have now been at RCS for 9 years, where I currently work as their Director of Clinical Services and Training. I have maintained my connection with SJSU as a Field Instructor and have especially enjoyed working with their interns, who were like me, starting in their careers.

Some of my achievements include receiving my National Certifications in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT) and multiple evidence-based practices. I was also nominated to be RCS’s employee of the year in the wake of the tragedy at the Gilroy Garlic Festival, where I helped triage assistance between RCS, Community Solutions, the Gilroy Unified School District (GUSD), and Behavioral Health Services Department (BHSD) to coordinate community support. During this time, I was 5 months pregnant and while this was one of the most difficult times in my career, I am still amazed by the #Gilroystrong community spirit. It was a true honor to be trusted with the communities’ tears, stories, and resilience.

Outside of work I enjoy time with my child and partner, who always remind me to laugh. I also enjoy traveling, gardening, and cooking food from around the world. If I could offer any advice to future students, it would be to take time to maintain your relationships with your peers, know who your “go-to” supports are, and when feeling lost in the field, remember your purpose…the reason that drew you to the field of Social Work.