SOCIAL WORKERS WEEK MARCH 6-10, 2023
EXPERIENCE SOCIAL WORKERS DIFFERENTLY
Social Workers Week is March 6 to 10, 2023 and it raises awareness about social workers and their contributions to the health and wellbeing of patients across the province. We caught up with Deanne Arada to learn more about her and the different hats she wears in her roles in social work as an AHS social worker, a contract counsellor for a private agency, and an Art Therapy practicum student. Officially, Deanne is a Registered Social Worker for Alberta Health Services as part of the Integrated Home Care department for Banff Community Health Centre and the Canmore General Hospital. “Within my role in Home Care, I focus on addressing future planning with clients, their wishes for their healthcare and what they might want if their health declines.” Currently, Deanne sees adults and senior clients, primarily. Her work is not limited to just adults or seniors. She can support all ages. Outside her role in home care, Deanne also works as a counsellor. “In these spaces where I offer counselling support, I focus on creating a safe space, building a relationship, and validating their experiences, fears or worries.” “I have been practicing social work officially since 2017, however, I have worked in the social services sector in various capacities since 2011. I didn't realize how impactful and life changing being a social worker would be, says Deanne. “After my first semester in my Bachelor of Social Work program, I knew I had to continue down a path where I finally felt I could utilize my empathy and listening skills into a career that made people feel seen and heard.” Her passion for her work is taking her down many paths. Additionally, to her work in homecare and private counselling, Deanne is a Art Therapy student with the Vancouver Art Therapy Institute and here in the Bow Valley as a PCSBV Art Therapy student working with Bill Harder, PCSBV Palliative & Grief Support Navigator to create an adolescent art therapy grief group.
Deanne Arada
“Within social work, there are a lot of 'elephants in the room' whether there are previous traumas that people experience or talking about their life-limiting illness, says Deanne, “Every person's story might be different and so I utilize similar skills because based on my work with people, most people just want to be heard and understood. They also want a safe space to explore those emotions if they don't have any other spaces in their life to do that.” She believes her role as a social worker is to offer clients a “map” of directions to go towards in their therapy. One of the things she enjoys most about her job is letting people experience social workers differently and offer a different experience to her clients where they feel seen, heard, validated and safe. “I want to acknowledge the privilege of being able to hold space for people and experience their unsaid stories for the first time. It is a privilege to build trust with my clients that they share the unsaid stories that they have held onto for so long and be able to witness the unravelling of their journey being shared with another person. I think that part of my job is the biggest joy and privilege. I want to say thank you to all the people that have put their trust in social workers to share their journey or story with them, thank you for finding courage to trust and having faith that we will support you along the way.”
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