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What Does a Therapeutic Social Worker Do?
Therapeutic social work is a specialised, person-centred practice that blends clinical understanding with practical, real-world support. It is grounded in trauma-responsive, evidence-informed approaches that consider the whole person, not just their challenges, but also their strengths, relationships, environment, and future goals.
Rather than relying solely on traditional talk therapy, therapeutic social work is dynamic and relational. It combines emotional support with practical interventions to help individuals process their experiences and build the skills and confidence needed to thrive.
What Can a Therapeutic Social Worker Support With?
For young people—especially those navigating trauma, disability, neurodivergence, or mental health challenges—therapeutic social workers can play a crucial role in helping them build capacity, regulate behaviour, and make positive, empowered choices.
Key areas of support include:
- Emotional Regulation:
Helping young people understand their emotions, respond to triggers with greater awareness, and build strategies to self-soothe and manage overwhelm in safe, supportive ways.
- Managing Behaviour through Connection, Not Control:
Rather than focusing on compliance, therapeutic social workers explore the why behind behaviours and recognise that behaviour is communication, especially for those who have experienced trauma. By working to understand the needs underneath the behaviour, they help young people develop safer, more adaptive ways to express themselves.
Skills Development:
Supporting growth in practical life skills such as time management, communication, self-advocacy, conflict resolution, and daily routines, all of which enhance confidence and independence. This also includes developing personalised strategies to support positive behaviour choices, helping young people respond to challenges with greater awareness, flexibility, and self-control.
Promoting Positive Choices:
Young people are supported to build insight into their own values, goals, and decision-making processes. With guidance, they learn to assess risk, consider consequences, and make choices that reflect their needs, aspirations and well-being all within a compassionate, non-judgmental space.
- Relational and Social Connection:
Assisting young people in strengthening their relationships with themselves and others. Whether that’s improving family dynamics, learning to navigate peer relationships, or building a sense of community belonging.
- System Navigation and Advocacy:
Helping clients and families access supports such as education, NDIS services, mental health care, housing, and community programs. Therapeutic social workers also advocate with young people to ensure their voices are heard and their rights upheld.
Why This Matters?
Young people face complex and often overwhelming challenges, including developmental changes, identity formation, social expectations, and systemic barriers can all impact their wellbeing. For those with lived experience of trauma, disability, or marginalisation, these pressures are often compounded.
Therapeutic social work offers an integrated, trauma-informed approach that builds safety, trust, and empowerment. By focusing on relationships, strengths, and collaboration, therapeutic social workers support young people to:
- Heal in safe and validating environments
- Develop coping tools to manage life's stressors
- Build a strong sense of self and identity
- Make informed choices that align with their goals
- Grow at their own pace, in their own way
A Holistic, Strengths-Based Partnership
At its core, therapeutic social work is about connection. It’s about meeting young people where they’re at, walking alongside them, and helping them move toward a future where they feel safe, capable, and seen. Every plan is individualised, shaped by the young person's voice, culture, and aspirations.
Because every young person deserves the chance to thrive, not despite their story, but as part of it.
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*Our supports are billed in line with the NDIS Price Guidelines of $193.99 per hour, which includes:*Therapeutic Social Worker Rate: $193.99/hour + Travel (mobile service delivery)*Private Clients: Fees are negotiable based on the type and frequency of support required. Please contact us directly to discuss a personalised quote.