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Profile: Richard B. Joelson, DSW, LCSW
Private Practice New York City
Introduction:
There is a new book entitled, "101 Careers in Social Work" that is designed to inform readers about the profession and assist aspiring social workers assess which field(s) of social work practice might be a good fit for them. Jessica Ritter, Ph.D and her co-authors included profiles of social workers in various fields of practice. I was asked to contribute my 'story' in the section of the book, "Careers Beyond Social Work - Self-Employment/Consulting." I hope that it will help you get to know me better. RBJ
Book Article
My decision to enter the field of social work was, I suppose, somewhat unusual. I became a Peace Corps Volunteer in Liberia, West Africa immediately after graduation from college in 1965. In addition to my job as an elementary and high school teacher, I worked in a tribal mental hospital alongside a Canadian psychiatrist and several native healers (better known to us as “witch doctors”). The experience dazzled me and I decided to get trained as a social worker when I returned to the States. The profession seemed just right for me. Fortunately, Columbia University School of Social Work agreed and accepted me with a full-tuition scholarship for the first year of the two-year master’s program.
I have enjoyed a diversified professional life throughout my career, both before and after entering private practice. My first job was the proverbial trial by fire. I was a youth parole social worker with a caseload of 100 troubled adolescent boys living in a Brooklyn ghetto. After that, I worked as a psychiatric social worker and group therapist at a child and family guidance center. Subsequent employment: Director of Social Work and then Executive Director at a mental health clinic in Greenwich Village and lastly, Director of Admissions and Student Affairs at New York University School of Social Work.
My entrance into private practice occurred sooner than I had planned. While at my second job - the child and family guidance center – many families who were on the clinic waiting list requested opportunities to see a staff member privately, rather than wait for weeks and months for service. Senior staff and administrators encouraged me (it didn't take much) to open my own practice so that I could accept referrals from the waiting list. And so my private practice was born!
The private practice of social work and I were a good fit from the start. As someone who always valued autonomy and was comfortable operating independently, I liked the freedom of being what has been called “an agency of one.” With good training and clinical and administrative background, and, I believe, many of the qualities associated with successful autonomous functioning, I enjoyed an active part-time practice for many years prior to making the leap into full-time practice after five years as an NYU administrator.
I have been in full-time practice since leaving that job in 1984 and have thoroughly enjoyed my experience and the many opportunities it has afforded me. I have taken pride in making full use of the social work principles and values I hold dear. After being in full-time practice for seven years, and feeling the need to a new challenge, I entered the doctoral program at Hunter College School of Social Work in New York and graduated with my DSW (Doctor of Social Welfare) degree five years later. I remain pleased that my particular degree indicates that my doctorate is in social work, as opposed to a Ph.D which is silent on the matter of what subject area was studied.
Beginning in 1991, I taught a course entitled, “How to Develop A Private Practice: Essential Steps,” which drew many new and seasoned social work practitioners who wanted to begin a private practice or strengthen an already existing one. The course gave me a wonderful opportunity to “preach what I practiced” to others, as well as an additional opportunity to be professionally active out of my office and not just inside; something I have always encouraged other private practitioners to do, as well.
Currently, in addition to a still full schedule of clients in my practice, I have developed a web site. It is designed as a resource for people interested in understanding issues and topics in the field of mental health, as well as identifying services available if necessary. I am often contacted by people who read my articles or my monthly newsletter, asking for help in knowing more about what existing services and how to access them. This provision gives me a great deal of satisfaction. I have always believed that mental health professionals have an obligation to educate and enlighten the public on matters about which there is still too much mystery, distorted thinking, and negative beliefs. My web site is one way that I try to help those unfamiliar with the field of mental health to become open to seeking the help they need.
Audio
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Biography
Richard B. Joelson, DSW, has been a clinical social work psychotherapist, educator, and administrator since 1970. He received his master's degree from Columbia University School of Social Work and his Doctor of Social Welfare degree from Hunter College School of Social Work at the City University of New York.
In addition, Dr. Joelson’s private practice in New York City provides counseling and psychotherapy services to individuals and couples. He has been the executive director of a mental health clinic and the Director of Admissions and Student Affairs at New York University School of Social Work. He was an assistant professor of social work at New York University and taught in both the doctoral program and the post-master’s program in social work administration at Hunter College School of Social Work.
His clinical practice includes work with a wide variety of individuals whose presenting problems are quite diverse. Many of his clients seek counseling or psychotherapy services on their own or are referred by others for specific help with the following:
- psychological disturbances rooted in trauma or traumatic memories utilizing eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
- self-defeating behaviors: people who habitually undermine themselves or find themselves drawn to situations or relationships where they will be disappointed, fail, or be mistreated
- work-related stress reactions
- competence and resilience deficits: people who need help acquiring or strengthening coping, problem-solving, and communication skills
- "micro-counseling" for the "hard-to-reach," chronically resistant, or functionally "stuck" client
Dr. Joelson recently participated in a Phoenix-based radio series entitled, "Sexual Harassment in the Workplace" and presented a paper at the National Association of Social Workers Annual Conference. Along with his counseling and psychotherapy services he is a voiceover artist and narrated an internationally distributed audio and videotape designed to encourage fathers to participate in family planning programs. His paper entitled, “Bereavement Work After 9/11” was published in the Met Chapter Forum, the newsletter for the New York State Society for Clinical Social Work. This article is available in the Published Articles section of this website.
Dr. Joelson has been a Disaster Mental Health Volunteer with the American Red Cross of Greater New York since September 12, 2001. His activities included direct services to families affected by the attacks on the World Trade Center and, more recently, those affected by the Hurricane Katrina disaster. He is scheduled to teach a course for the Red Cross entitled, “Psychological First Aid;” a program intended to help non-mental health Red Cross volunteers and non-mental health employees effectively assist disaster victims served by the American Red Cross.
His background also includes a tour of duty with the United States Peace Corps in Liberia, West Africa (1965-67) where he was a teacher, as well as a clinical social work psychotherapist in a tribal mental hospital and outpatient clinic where he introduced Western mental health services to Liberian citizens.
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