Social Work, Death, and Compassion

LCC Advisor Island Ewart is currently completing a graduate degree in clinical social work in preparation to provide clinical mental health counseling. She completed an undergraduate degree in psychology at Michigan State University, and will graduate with a Master of Clinical Social Work from MSU’s college of Social Work.

Island talks about the challenges of attending a large university, and how important it is to create social connections by joining clubs and organizations. She decided on a major that connected her two passions: understanding how people work, and helping people work better.

They clarify the different types of mental health providers and licenses, understanding that consumers may not understand the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist, for example. They discuss the necessity of seeing people not exclusively as individuals but as part of influential systems such as family and friends, and the importance of connecting with others in working through the challenges in life.