Introduction
To celebrate Black History Month, we asked African American social workers to talk to us about their career.
Shawn Wilson, MA, LCSW, DCSW
Captain, United States Air Force
San Antonio, Texas
Capt. Wilson
Q. Ms. Wilson, where did you earn your social work degree, where are you employed, and what is your area of expertise?
I am a Captain in the United States Air Force, employed as a Clinical Social Worker. I earned a Master of Arts in Social Work from the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration in 2001.
My areas of expertise are cognitive behavioral therapy to include the Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) for combat related PTSD. I currently provide services to military families through the Air Force's domestic violence program also know as the Family Advocacy.
Prior to joining the military, almost three years ago, I was employed as a Psychiatric Social Worker (PSW) with the Milwaukee Sheriff's Department for five years. There I was afforded the opportunity to provide a variety of behavioral health services to inmates ranging from comprehensive psychological assessments to crisis response/management to supportive psychotherapy with the chronically mentally ill inmate population.
Q. Why did you choose social work as your profession?
It's actually quite interesting how I became a social worker. I received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Lawrence University in 1999. It all started when a couple of my social psychology professors inquired about my interest/plans post graduation. I was, in fact, quiet confused in that the goal, since high school, was to become a psychologist. However, I was not up for an additional four years of education before I'd be able to provide services or work as a psychotherapist. Additionally, I had a relatively limited view of social work; namely the "traditional" CPS worker or TANF case manager, neither of which excited me. To compound this confusion, I also found that I was equally intrigued by psychopathology as I was issues explored/highlighted in social psychology.
Randomly, two of my psychology professors (at separate times) advised me to look at clinical social work as it would afford me the opportunity to work in the areas in which I am most intrigued. I also learned that the power and freedom to work independently, have private practice, consult and other per diem/fee for service opportunities were available to master's level social workers with a clinical license. I have been blessed to effectively assist people through tough, troubling and trying times. To guide through the process of self discovery, maximize resiliency factors and foster an environment of hope using various cognitive techniques.
So as it may seem as if I haphazardly fell into the social work profession, I am convinced it was divine intervention as I love every day of it. I can honestly say God has "ordered my steps".
Q. If you were able to make one lasting impact on the world, what would it be and what would be your strategy for achieving it?
If I could make one lasting impact on the world it would be empowerment through an increased sense of self efficacy. This may sound like an overwhelming task, and it just might be. However, ‘if I ruled the world' the strategy to accomplish this lie within a total overhaul of the public education system, primarily in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods/districts. In the richest nation in the world, our economically disenfranchised population should be at a minimum.
As a society we have the privileged obligation to provide the youth with quality education to succeed past a high school and cease the practice of graduating functional illiterates. State dollars as well as federal monies should be made available to keep schools in economically disadvantaged areas functioning at a level comparable to that of those in the suburban areas. This is not to say it has to mirror the suburban school system 100%, instead to provide comparable resources that allow out children the ability to take a book home to study (as simple as this may seem). There is always a notion that the state and federal agencies do not have the funds to invest in the school system. In my experience, if the money is not allotted for the education system it is in turn used in the penal system i.e. juvenile detention, jails and prisons. Research indicates a high correlation with socio-economic status, ethnicity and incarceration rates with that of African American and Latino males being the highest. As such, it is advantageous to be proactive and invest in the future of our society and nation via the education system. I whole heartedly believe as we create opportunities for our children to succeed it will undoubtedly increase their sense of self efficacy and feelings of empowerment. When people feel empowered and have a high sense of efficacy, the sky is the limit. This will help to minimize feeling defeated and an increased ability to seek opportunities for advancement as the belief to effect change in one's current situation/status has been established and nurtured early on through positive education experiences. In short, we will than have provided the experiences that prepare one to pull oneself up by the bootstraps through these experiences.
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It’s wonderful seeing you recognized like this. The Air Force is fortunate having you on board. The Force be with you as you continue to empower!