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How are you feeling about starting your first days at your internship? Along with the excitement, nervousness and anxiety are common at this stage and a natural part of becoming a social worker.

To translate anxiety into motivation, I believe we have to recognize the anxiety and the triggers to it. Once we are clear of the source contributing to the anxiety we can look at anxiety differently.  Tunesia Bellamy, Social Work Class of 2020

In today’s society, anxiety is often defined as a clinical term which indicates a disorder. However, feelings of anxiety are as old as the human species, as it’s your body’s natural response to stress. Increased stress can come at a time when you are practicing the knowledge, skills and abilities that you’ve learned in your courses at your internship. While your senior internship has a heightened role in determining your social work degree, it’s important to remember that it is a learning experience.

Various things about the internship tend to create anxiety. You will likely be given more responsibilities in working with clients and facilitate assessments and interventions. You may feel inadequate and unprepared, and that you’re not ready to be a social worker. This is commonly called imposter syndrome and was first described in the 1970s by Drs. Suzanne Imes and Pauline Rose Clance.

Anxiety in the internship can also be created by growth and change. The semesters in the social work courses tend to be the time of greatest change for students. Think about what you’ve learned about yourself, including your motivation for social work, your values and how they align (or not) with our professional ethics, and your vision of future clients. Have you grown since your first day as a social work student? You should have! The internship is the opportunity to see that growth in a professional setting.

Acknowledging that anxiety is present and accepting that it is ok is a step in overcoming it. Doing so can enhance your learning and provide you with the space to grow as a social worker.  Developing and using a self-care plan is important, as is connecting with supportive people.

As you begin your internship, remember to focus on each day.  Identify your strengths and what you are achieving, while recognizing that challenges and mistakes provide opportunities to learn.  Ask for feedback from your supervisor and approach criticism as a way to grow. Use your learning contract as a map, reviewing it regularly to determine which competencies you have achieved and which ones need attention.

If you find yourself experiencing anxiety and feel alone, remember to reach out to your internship supervisor and social work faculty. We are here to support you and help you strategize!