What it really takes to build a sustainable social work career

The Behind the Scenes: Mental Health Social Work series is finally complete, and I’m so proud of what Ashton Hayes and I created together.

Over ten short episodes, we shared honest, unfiltered conversations about what it’s really like to be a mental health social worker. We talked about imposter feelings, money stories, private practice, burnout, and the messy middle that no one prepares you for.

It’s not a how-to guide or a polished version of success. It’s real, human, and sometimes a bit raw,  because that’s what social work really looks like behind the scenes.

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering whether you’re good enough for this work, or questioning how to build a career that feels both meaningful and sustainable, this series is for you.

You can listen to the full collaboration on the Inside Social Work Podcast or over on Becoming an AMHSW with Ashton Hayes.

Listen to the full series

• Why we became social workers (and why we stayed)
• How our social work practice has grown
• The careers we built that our younger selves wouldn’t believe
• The moments self-doubt almost stopped us
• The hardest parts of social work and what we love about it
• Why do social workers feel guilty charging our worth?
• Saving money starting out and the mistakes we made
• We don’t have to work for free
• Untangling money blocks in social work
• Reflections on money stories

Why I wanted to create this series

So much of our work as social workers happens quietly,  in supervision rooms, therapy spaces, and late at night when we’re still finishing notes or doubting ourselves.

I wanted to bring some of those behind-the-scenes conversations into the open. Ashton and I wanted to show that there’s no single path to becoming an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, and no one has it all figured out.

These episodes are about reflection, honesty, and community. They’re reminders that we’re not alone in the uncertainty,  and that there’s real strength in talking about the parts of our work we often keep hidden.