The ability to reflect on your own growth and awareness is necessary for effective practice with diverse populations. As a social work professional, even after you graduate, you will learn many lessons from your clients. You will consistently be challenged to obtain new skills and knowledge to provide the most effective evidence-informed practice that demonstrates cultural competence. And you will consistently analyze your own reactions to clients as a means to explore potential biases or threats to the therapeutic alliance.
In your Practice Toolbox summary, you identified your preferred client population. Knowing your preferences and strengths in this area can help you steer your career to specialize in a particular demographic or age group. However, social workers don’t always get to choose with whom they work. In this final Discussion, you reflect not only on how you have progressed in knowledge and skills but also on a population with which you are less familiar. You then consider ways in which you might increase your comfort and familiarity with this population in order to further develop.
Reflect on what you have learned throughout the course and how you envision your future practice. What population are you less familiar and/or less comfortable with? Explain why. Then, identify at least one opportunity for personal or professional development that would enhance your comfort with that population. Finally, explain how elevating your understanding and comfort with a range of populations supports the NASW Code of Ethics.