social worker (redirected from social work)

social worker,

a person with advanced education in dealing with social, emotional, and environmental problems associated with an illness or disability. A medical social worker usually has completed a master's degree program that includes experience in counseling patients and their families in a hospital setting. A psychiatric social worker may specialize in counseling individuals and families in dealing with social, emotional, or environmental problems pertaining to mental illness.

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social [so´shal]

pertaining to societies or other groups of people.

social anxiety disorder social phobia.

social breakdown syndrome deterioration of social and interpersonal skills, work habits, and behavior seen in chronically hospitalized psychiatric patients. Symptoms are due to the effects of long term hospitalization rather than the primary illness, and include excessive passivity, assumption of the chronic sick role, withdrawal, and apathy. Such effects are also seen in long term inmates of prisons or concentration camps. Called also institutionalism.

social worker a professional trained in the treatment of psychosocial problems of patients and their families. Family social workers practice social case work. Psychiatric social workers practice various forms of counseling and group or individual psychotherapy. Most social workers have a master's degree in social work (M.S.W.). There are also bachelor's (B.S.W.) and doctoral (D.S.W.) degrees in social work.

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worker [wer´ker]

an employed person.

social worker a professional trained in the treatment of psychosocial problems of patients and their families; see also social worker.

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social worker

A professional, usually with a bachelor's or master's degree in social work, who provides counsel, aid, and other services to persons with domestic issues