Interview with Lindsey Chapman
Licensed Clinical Social Worker / Therapist
- Education (what degrees or certifications they have)
Mrs. Chapman’s education includes a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a Master’s degree in Social Work. Following the master’s degree, she had to work under the supervision of another Licensed Clinical Social Worker for 2 years, and take 2 exams to earn the credential of Licensed Clinical Social Worker. This license has to be maintained with Continuing Education Credits every 2 years.
- What inspired him/her to get into that field
She really enjoyed learning about human behavior and the brain, as well as being able to support others who need help. Mental Health has always been an interesting topic for her which is why she started out with psychology. Once she was working, she learned more about the different programs or certifications and ultimately chose Social Work as her master’s because of the field’s focus on client-centered support she said.
- What was his/her path to his/her current job
When Mrs. Chapman originally graduated with my Bachelor’s degree, she began working in a non-profit organization that included a food bank and crisis services for families in need, and this is how she became more interested in social work originally. Following this job, she worked in a community mental health agency and received several training sessions that I gave her several intervention techniques to use in helping assist families with children with mental health needs. Mrs. Chapman really enjoyed this experience, and this ultimately helped guide her decision towards earning a master’s degree. Once she graduated with a master’s she returned to community mental health as a therapist and worked for 2 years under supervision, ultimately earning her clinical license. From there, she came to be in my current role as a therapist in a group practice.
- Basic roles and responsibilities
Mrs. Chapman’s basic roles and responsibilities include assessment of mental health issues, diagnosing clients as needed, and providing individual therapy based on the client’s needs and goals. She meets with most of my clients weekly for an hour, and utilizes interventions from multiple models of evidenced based treatments to provide the most appropriate treatment and support. Mrs. Lindsey says that due to COVID-19 mostly all of her appointment have been moved to zoom, which changes the dynamics of the sessions, and she really misses being able to see her patients in person.
- His/her favorite (or most rewarding) aspect about the job
According to Mrs. Chapman the most rewarding aspect of the job is when a client or family that she has been working with feels they have made progress or a breakthrough with something that has historically been really challenging for them, “It is really rewarding getting to be a part of their progress towards their own goals.”
- What is the most surprising aspect of their career
The most surprising aspects of the job for her includes the variety of needs and backgrounds she has encountered, as well as how much she has learned from each person she works with. “As much as I am here to support the clients, I learn a great deal from them as well.”
- What is the most challenging aspect of their career
The most challenging aspect of this career for Mrs. Chapman is being able to recognize when the work she is doing is not helping a client accomplish the goals that client has set and having to work with that person to identify a new plan or refer them to a new therapist. She finds it is very hard to terminate a relationship in this way, as she wants nothing more than to help the client, but the best thing to do for the client is find someone who can provide the support they need.
- Advice he/she would give to someone getting into the health field
The advice Mrs. Lindsey passed along to me, was that it is wonderful working with people and helping people, but it is also hard and frustrating at times, finding a good support system and mentors to guide you along the way is a great way to help you not get overwhelmed with some of the challenges that come up.
- Take away/ reflection
After interviewing Mrs. Lindsey Chapman, it gave me a new perspective and insight into the mental health professions. I never really thought about how much patients affect therapists, and how hard of a call it must be when you have to end that relationship and advise them to see someone else that fits their goals better, I’m not sure I would be able to admit that very easily. I also learned that you do not need to have a doctorate to practice as a therapist.