Support 2025

“Everyone needs a support system, be it family, friends, coworkers, therapists, or religious leaders. We cannot do life alone and expect to keep mentally, emotionally, and spiritually healthy. Everyone needs some sort of support system on which to rely.”  Richelle E. Goodrich

This week’s conversation is around support, and this quote nicely sums up what a support system may look like.

I have a range of support systems, both personally and professionally.  Everyone has a special reason for being in my life.  My friends, family and the greater community in which I live and work.  These are my networks, that I can call on when needed – the relationships are reciprocal, in which they can also call on me.  This also includes my health professionals; my General Practitioner, my dentist, my massage therapists and any others that I engage with about my health and well-being.  It also includes my self-care plan, which also assists me in keeping myself well on a number of levels.

In my professional life, I also have a range of people that I call on when needed.  My mentors with specific knowledge of social media, private practice owners, my peers, other service providers and those who are in the business of social work.  I also work with my accountant, superannuation advisers to assist with business questions.

As a social worker who is affiliated with the governing body – Australian Association of Social Workers, I am mandated to have a minimum of ten hours of supervision each year.  This involves me speaking with another social worker about my work, any impact that this is having on me, my professional development and/or any other issues that are resonating with me.  Working with people and their life events and/or experiences can often leave a little piece on us all and supervision is a way of managing this.

I have always had external supervision, even when working with organisations which had their own.  As sometimes the “systems” are part of the problems and may need a safe space to talk through.  Having new eyes and ears looking at this can assist me, see through a new perspective and provide clarification.  It can also assist in preventing vicarious trauma and/or burn out. 

This is a small snapshot of my support system, and I know that I have probably left someone out and I apologise for this.  It has me thinking though, who is in your support system?  Is there an element missing?  Does the support system still serve you, or does it need a revamp?