Counseling and social work now not considered a “professional degree”?!

So recently, the federal government announced some changes that were made from the Department of Education, where they reclassified certain jobs as unprofessional. And included in those jobs were counselors and social workers. And I have had lots of people call me, text me, send me messages on social media, asking me what my thoughts were about this, some of which are students concerned that they’ve made the wrong career choice. And I want to share with you what my thoughts are and why I hold these thoughts. 

Number one, I think it’s worth noting that this was something outlined in Project 25. And every single one of the careers that was chosen to form this reclassification is (A), female driven, and (B), are mandated reporters of child assault and abuse. And I think that’s relevant here because we have to stand in solidarity and understand what our role is.

Now, this is going to make it much harder for people to get, financial aid to achieve the degrees associated with these professions. It’s going to make it much harder for schools to get accredited for these programs and things associated with these careers. 

But let me tell you what it doesn’t affect. 

I did not get into this field because I want acknowledgement from the federal government. 

I did not get into this field because I need the federal government to recognize me as professional.

I got into this field because I wanted to help people and to make a difference. And that has not changed. 

I’m still dedicated to wanting to help people. I’m still dedicated to wanting to make a difference. I’m still dedicated to wanting to make this world a better place, regardless of what the government thinks of my job, whether they view me as a professional or unprofessional. 

And I want to remind people that politics has gotten really messy here in the United States, and I think it’s affecting the whole world, actually. But politics has gotten into a really dark and difficult place, and I don’t think any of us can escape it. I think all we can do, is do the very, very best we can to show up in this world and, and make the biggest difference we can for our clients, for our communities, and for the society with which we live in. 

So when I saw this, I was very much disappointed, just because I think this is that political kind of positioning and mandering that people do. But I also was undeterred. It really makes no difference to me that government can consider my job whatever they want to consider it. I don’t care. I don’t show up for that. I show up for the clients. I show up for the people that I serve, and I will continue to do so, and I encourage you to as well. 

In the world we live in now, it’s really easy to look around and find the things that are disheartening, frustrating, difficult, and making our job more challenging. It’s really easy to see those things. 

We have to work really, really hard to stay grounded in our truth, and represent what it is that motivates and drives us, and has always motivated and driven us. And I encourage you to stay completely focused and locked in on those things.