![Whitney Coleman, mental health, women's history month, National Social Workers Month, health and wellness](https://www.blackenterprise.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2024/03/Whitney-Coleman.png)
by Daron Pressley
March 25, 2024
Breaking Boundaries Therapist Academy founder, Bradford Coleman, leads the cost in recognizing, supporting, and elevating Black girls social staff.
March is Nationwide Social Staff Month, a time to acknowledge social staff’ tireless efforts and invaluable contributions nationwide. This yr’s theme, “Empowering Social Staff,” resonates deeply with professionals like Whitney Coleman, LICSW, LCSW-C, who tirelessly advocate for higher recognition, compensation, and assist. Because the proprietor of Jade Scientific Providers and the Breaking Boundaries Therapist Academy, based mostly in Washington, DC, Coleman stands on the forefront of empowering, sufferers, social staff, and, specifically, Black girls.
In 2020, the Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded over 715,000 social staff within the US. By 2030, the sphere is predicted to develop by 12% to 782,00 social staff, making social work one of many fastest-growing professions within the nation.
After receiving her undergraduate diploma in Sociology from the College of Pittsburgh, Bradford, with Minors in Psychology and Worldwide Research, Coleman accomplished her Grasp of Social Work diploma from the College of South Carolina. Acquiring licenses in 4 states plus the District of Columbia. Coleman has efficiently navigated the complexities many social staff face concerning compensation, elevated skilled regard, and recognition.
Coleman shared her experiences as a social employee and entrepreneur with BLACK ENTERPRISE, offering perception into the challenges, alternatives, and rewards of being a social employee.
The Invisible Spine Of Society
Social staff are pervasive all through society, however their work typically goes unnoticed and unappreciated. Educated to assist people, households, communities, and even the bigger society, social staff work in colleges, hospitals, and on the federal, state, and native ranges in authorities, firms, social service companies, and veterans facilities.
“There are a lot of various kinds of social staff, however nobody is aware of what we do,” Coleman says.
Social staff are sometimes referred to as in throughout crises, but obtain little respect or recognition for his or her important position. The opioid habit disaster has hit america laborious, impacting all races, areas, and financial ranges, and homelessness is on the rise. In keeping with the Facilities for Illness Management, suicide, too, has risen, and social staff are uniquely certified to deal with these societal troubles.
Coleman emphasizes, “We’re those you name in an emergency, but as soon as the disaster ends, we return to being ignored, and requested to heal others whereas silently combating to heal our private {and professional} battles. I need to change that!”
Navigating Life Transitions, Nervousness, And Trauma
In her observe, Coleman makes a speciality of supporting girls, significantly girls of shade, by means of life transitions, nervousness, and trauma. She explains, “Life transitions, nervousness, and trauma go hand in hand. When issues in life change, it could trigger nervousness, and typically these transitions are traumatic.”
Coleman highlights the significance of understanding trauma past conventional definitions, stating, “Trauma is completely different for each individual. What is perhaps traumatic for one might not be for an additional.”
Shedding gentle on a phenomenon deeply ingrained inside the black neighborhood, often known as the “Black Superwoman Syndrome”, Coleman describes this idea as “encapsulating the expectation for black girls to epitomize energy, resilience, and independence, typically on the expense of their well-being.”
The stress to care for others whereas neglecting private wants is a central side of this syndrome, resulting in exhaustion and emotional pressure.
Coleman elaborates, “This syndrome dictates that black girls ought to have the whole lot collectively, showing sturdy and composed even when going through inner struggles or challenges. As social staff and therapists, we all know how damaging this may be.”
Each day life’s relentless calls for and societal expectations typically go away people feeling overwhelmed and unsupported. By acknowledging these experiences, Coleman says, “Black girls can navigate private {and professional} challenges and reclaim their narratives.”
Empowering By Training And Help
Regardless of the challenges, Coleman stays devoted to empowering social staff, psychological well being clinicians, and sufferers. By her Breaking Boundaries Therapist Academy, she supplies BIPOC psychological well being professionals with the information, instruments, and assist to construct affluent personal practices.
She urges, “Constantly educate your self and community.” Recognizing the important position of social staff, significantly black girls, in our communities, Coleman embodies the spirit of empowerment, striving to uplift her purchasers and fellow professionals.
Coleman states, “Empowerment begins with acknowledging our price and advocating for change. Collectively, we will create a brighter future for social staff and the communities we (social staff) serve. After we do that, it positively impacts everybody.”
By addressing systemic challenges and offering assist and training, Coleman is paving the way in which for a extra equitable and empowered future inside the social work area.
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