About Us

• PSCSW was instrumental in creating licensure for clinical social workers in Pennsylvania.
• PSCSW lobbies actively to continue to protect licensure, as well as providing leadership, clarification and support on legislative and insurance issues that affect your practice in clinical social work.
• PSCSW Code of Ethics: These ethical guidelines are applicable to all Social Workers.
• PSCSW has developed standards for the profession and has produced enriching educational programs, a psychotherapy referral list, a mentorship program, an informative newsletter, and much more. Members share rewarding collegiality.
• PSCSW is a tax-exempt 501(c) 6 organization with a Board of Directors composed of committee chairpersons and member elected officers.
• PSCSW is affiliated with the Clinical Social Work Association (CSWA), a network of clinical social workers across the country. The Association represents and supports the interests of clinical social workers at the national level.

PSCSW’s primary focus is advancing the professional concerns of clinical social workers through:

• Setting standards of practice
• Supporting adherence to a professional code of ethics
• Promoting professional development
• Advocacy on all levels
• Promoting public awareness of clinical social work
• Initiating programs of action for the purpose of achieving and maintaining practice licensure and vendorship
• Providing opportunities for continuing education
• Providing support to new professionals and students

Implementation of these objectives is achieved through:

• Continuing education courses on a variety of clinical topics
• Informal educational discussions in members’ homes
• Yearly dinner meetings, with clinical presentations
• Informative newsletter, The Clinical Voice, and web site
• Membership e-list for the latest information on legislative, insurance, patient privacy, and other clinical, professional, and legislative information
• Membership Directory for professional networking
• Psychotherapy Referral List
• Study groups, peer supervision groups, and mentoring opportunities
• Lobbyists advocating in state assembly hearings on matters of interest to clinical social workers, and keeping members informed where grassroots support is needed
• Awards programs at local graduate schools

PSCSW members have access to consultation in professional ethics and standards of practice. PSCSW offers a reduced-rate subscription for the highly respected Clinical Social Work Journal and offers information about malpractice insurance. If you share our commitment to protecting and promoting the ethical and professional recognition of clinical social workers, we encourage you to join us!

Clinical social work practice is the provision of services for the assessment, treatment, and prevention of mental, behavioral, and emotional disorders in individuals, families, groups and communities.

Clinical social workers have either a master’s or doctorate in social work with a concentration in clinical course work, and a supervised graduate field internship. We share with all social work practitioners a goal of enhancement and maintenance of the physical, psychological and social functioning of individuals, families, and groups. We practice within:

• Mental Health Clinics
• Medical Facilities
• Child Welfare Agencies
• Schools
• Geriatric Settings
• Private Practice
• Industry

Clinical social workers qualify as approved providers in most managed care and insured plans.