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On Episode 29 Matt is joined by 2nd Year Psychology Student Quinn Bisson to interview King’s University Social Work Professor Dr. Rick Csiernik. 

Quinn has been working with the homeless population and his interests in mental health and addiction have led him to develop a focus on Social Work. Coupled with the experience of taking a class from Dr. Rick, his focus is now on transitioning into the BSW program. With that in mind, Quinn and Matt decided to do an episode on the different degrees in Social Work and what type of opportunities lie within the field. Dr. Rick shares his insight and his experience in academia, addictions, mental health, workplace wellness and how to stay healthy in the Social Work field. 

On this episode we cover: 

• The variety of career options in the social work field
• Overview and differences between BSW vs. MSW vs. PhD programs in Social Work
• 3 basic reasons why people become social workers
• Advice for those who want to gain more social work experience before the BSW, MSW application
• What to do after you get your BSW or MSW 
• Why the MSW is now seen as the standard education in the field
• Working within the addiction field from a social work lens
• Why he sends his students to AA meetings
• How accessibility impacts social and psychological change
• 4 factors that lead to client success in therapy
• Tips for managing, mitigating and treating burnout and vicarious trauma
• EAP programs- the good, the bad and the ugly
• The importance of an ‘ego file’
• Words of wisdom for anyone interested in becoming a social worker

Rick Csiernik is a Professor at King’s College, University of Western Ontario. He is an author and international speaker and has authored and edited several popular CSPI titles: Wellness and Work (2005); Responding to the Oppression of Addiction (co-edited with William S. Rowe, 2010); Substance Use and Abuse (2011); and Homelessness, Housing, and Mental Health (co-edited with Cheryl Forchuk and Elsabeth Jensen, 2011). More recently he has authored books on Substance Use and Misuse (2021) Teaching Social Work (2020) and A Counsellor’s Guide to Psychoactive Drugs (2014). 

The author of more than 75 journal articles, his research interests include employee assistance programming and workplace wellness, addiction, social work and spirituality, and program evaluation. Included on the King’s University College Honour Roll of teaching fourteen consecutive times, he is a past recipient of the McMaster University Instructor Appreciation Award. 

To connect with Dr. Rick you can reach him at rcsierni@uwo.ca or on LinkedIn and you can see a full list of his books Here.

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