You may think of March 17th as a day to wear green (or else be pinched), but this year it’s actually a very important day in the world of mental health, too.
Every third Tuesday in March is World Social Work Day (#WSWD2020), and as a New Orleans counseling service with Licensed Clinical Social Works (LCSW) on staff, it’s a day we happily celebrate!
The 2020 Theme for World Social Work Day is “Promoting the Importance of Human Relationships”
Did you know that social workers can help to counsel you through a variety of life events and obstacles?
This year, for World Social Work Day, the International Federation of Social Workers is focusing on the importance of the human relationships we have with one another.
When you think about it, we have interpersonal relationships with a variety of groups and individuals. These include:
- Your spouse or romantic partner
- Your children, if you have any
- Your extended family including your in-laws and nieces and nephews
- Your family of origin, including your parents and any siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins you may have
- Your friends and acquaintances
- Your coworkers, if you work outside the home
- Your neighbors
- Your classmates or parents of your children’s classmates
- Your teachers
- And the list goes on!
Your relationships with each of these groups of people are going to vary greatly. And, from person to person, relationships within individual groups of human relationships will differ too, especially if you experience:
- Marital or romantic relationship challenges
- Different parent-child dynamics, such as having a special needs child or adult children who have strayed from what you taught them growing up
- Complications with the in-laws
- Childhood trauma or abuse, which may make your relationships with your family of origin difficult
- Long-distance moves away from friends or experiencing different stages of life with your friends
- Working together as a team with coworkers, or dealing with a challenging or toxic coworker or manager
- Living life together with your neighbors for years and even decades
Think of Human Relationships as More Face-to-Face Time, and Less Screen Time
The relationships we have with others are so different in 2020 than they were just ten or twenty years ago. Today, we keep in touch with people we went to high school with (and maybe weren’t even a part of the same social group with) via social media, “make friends with” – or at least follow – people with similar interests through social media and forums, and text rather than pick up the phone and have a conversation.
We also spend so much time in front of screens, we may be communicating with people more virtually rather than seeing them face-to-face and interacting with them in real life. This March 17th, try to think of ways you can improve your human relationships. A great start is some extra face-to-face time with those who matter most to you.
Our Social Workers and Counselors Can Help You Navigate Trials and Tribulations with Your Human Relationships
All relationships of every type have their ebbs and flows. Sometimes, the best way you can move forward with a relationship – or let one go – is to seek help from a social worker or counselor.
We have a team of New Orleans-based mental health professionals who can help you do just that!
Contact Us to Learn More About Our Social Workers and Counselors
If you need help navigating a tricky situation with a human relationship, our team of counselors is here to help. To explain your unique situation and be matched with the best counselor for you, contact us at (504) 302-7771 or fill out our online contact form.
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We work with a wide range of emotional and behavioral issues providing counseling services to individuals, couples, and families. We treat adults and children for depression, anxiety, marriage and relationship issues, and more. Serving the New Orleans, Metairie, and Kenner areas.
