By Amy Colver, MSSA, MA, LISW
The word “connection” has been coming up quite a bit in my life lately. One of the most frequent ways is through my volunteer work with this newsletter. In crafting this article, I started thinking about where the title – AOSW Connections — came from. Then I remembered it was suggested by a member when we were preparing to relaunch the newsletter about four years ago. While I liked many of the title suggestions we received from members, I felt most excited about AOSW Connections. It resonated with me at the time, and fortunately, it still does. I continue to feel excited about the newsletter. It amazes me how each publication comes together into something I feel proud to share with all of you. I’m so grateful to the authors and the Association for continuing to support the newsletter, to KrisAnn Talarico for bringing me on board, and to my current team, Katherine Easton and Patricia Sullivan, who work incredibly hard to bring Connections to your inbox on a quarterly basis.
Not only does the newsletter have the word “connection” in the title, it gives my team and me the opportunity to connect with and support members. Some of them are writing for the first time, and often, they’re members we haven’t come into contact with before. Other times, we have the opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, some are members who have written articles in the past while others may be people that we know and haven’t talked to for a while, but we reconnect with them as they’re crafting their articles. We’re able to make and foster connections with people and bring something meaningful to the Association.
The newsletter also gives you similar opportunities. Maybe you’ll read an article that sparks an interest and you’ll want to reach out to the author to talk more about the topic. Maybe the author is someone you haven’t met before. Maybe it’s a colleague that you see every day or someone you haven’t talked to for a while. No matter the situation, take the next step beyond reading the article and send someone a note of encouragement or tell an author something you liked about their article. I know they’ll appreciate it. My hope continues to be that you find something in the newsletter that resonates with you and that you make a connection with another member. It’s important, especially during these times, that we stay connected to each other and to the Association. Not only can AOSW support our professional growth and development in many ways, and it can give us personal relationships that we cherish throughout our careers.
It’s the time of year when members are preparing to come together for the annual conference, which has the theme “Unite to Ignite: Cultivating Connections.” AOSW President, Linda Mathew, DSW, MSW, LCSW-R, starts off this issue with a message from the heart about the upcoming conference. Nicole Marcouiller, LICSW, OSW-C, a member of the Education Committee, writes about the many exciting things we can look forward to in Atlanta. Chelsea Kroll, LMSW, OSW-C, Director at Large for the Special Interest Groups (SIGs) shares an update on the SIGs, including which groups will be meeting at the conference. I hope it’s an inspiring time for all who will be in attendance!
Another way we have a connection to others is through our clinical work, which leads me to the theme of this issue – Therapeutic Techniques. I’m so excited to bring you seven unique articles on the following clinical topics.
AOSW Advocacy Director, Karen Costello, MSS, LSW, OSW-C, writes about aligning the work of oncology social workers and patient navigators. She highlights the standards of practice and shared values for both professions. Christina Austin-Valere, PhD, LCSW, writes about suicide and cancer, from risk to intervention, and gives us a call to action for our profession. Jennifer Dimond, LCSW, OSW-C, reflects on how her organization created a clinical social work practice that allows social workers to solely focus on mental health counseling. Megan Cannone, LCSW-C, OSW-C, OPN-CG, writes about experiences in her career and her decision to transfer from the non-profit setting to a private practice.
Three authors take deeper dives into specific therapeutic techniques that they use in their practice. Angela McCasland, LCSW, OSW-C, shares how she uses acceptance and commitment therapy with a focus on self-compassion. Kiersten Anderson, MSW, LICSW, OSW-C, writes about narrative therapy through the lens of cancer and identity. Carrie Gilman, LCSW, describes poetry therapy with individuals and groups. All of these authors also give us practical techniques that we can use in our own work.
On a personal note, it’s been meaningful to me to have connections to other people and the Association, especially while I navigate my own professional work and raising a little one who is starting to make his own connections between things. Navigating motherhood, watching him grow and seeing things through his eyes is one of my greatest joys.
Katherine and I hope you enjoy this issue just as much as we did putting it together. If you have any ideas or feedback about the newsletter, please feel free to reach out to one of us. We look forward to connecting with you again soon!
