From Stuck to Empowered: Rediscovering Joy, Overcoming Barriers, and Embracing Self-Care in Social Work

Lunch N Learn Webinar

Wednesday, June 4 - 12-1 p.m. CST via Zoom

Presenter: Melissa Conway, LICSW

1 CEU - may be counted as Ethics or Supervision

Join us for an empowering session designed for social workers at all levels, where we’ll explore how to overcome personal and professional challenges, rediscover joy in your practice, and cultivate long-term resilience. This training will draw on evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), while focusing on key concepts like learned helplessness, intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation, and the power of shifting from reactive to proactive behavior. Participants will examine the distinction between toxic positivity and genuine optimism, and how these perspectives impact our work and well-being. With an emphasis on influence versus control, this session will provide strategies to empower yourself and your clients, moving from a mindset of helplessness to one of growth and possibility.                                 

This training will explore practical, everyday self-care strategies and ways to integrate them into your routine to protect your energy and sustain your passion for the work. Whether you’re a student, pre-licensed, or seasoned practitioner, this session will equip you with concrete tools to enhance your emotional resilience, reignite your sense of purpose, and continue making a meaningful impact in the lives of those you serve. You’ll leave with actionable insights to move from burnout to empowerment, ensuring you remain engaged, fulfilled, and effective in your practice.

Learning Objectives:

1. Discover how Learned Helplessness shows up in the workplace and impacts social workers, both personally and professionally.

2. Identify the motivations that led you to the profession and compare/contrast how they align with your role in a way that contributes to keeping you healthy or stuck.

3. Examine current patterns in your individual work, as a supervisor/supervisee, and on your team, that are contributing to learned helplessness.

4. Learn how to lead yourself and/or your team/supervisees through practicing proactivity v. reactivity, and influence v. control.

5. Identify realistic and attainable methods for practicing self-care at work and at home.

You will receive the access link the day before the webinar.

About the Presenter:

Melissa Conway is an LICSW based out of Saint Paul, MN. Melissa earned her bachelor's degree in generalist social work practice at Minnesota State University, Mankato, and her master’s degree in clinical social work from the University of St. Thomas and St. Catherine's University. Melissa has provided mental health care to individuals, groups, and families, and has extensive experience treating patients across the lifespan in a variety of settings including residential care, day treatment, intensive outpatient programming, partial hospitalization programming, in-home therapy, emergency departments, primary care clinics, and outpatient clinics. Melissa currently serves as Senior Director of Clinical Education and Case Management at Minnesota Mental Health Clinics where she also provides individual and family therapy. Outside of her full-time role, Melissa is co-chair of the Minnesota Holistic Medicine Group, serves on the NASW-MN Ethics Committee, privately contracts as a Critical Incident Support/Mental Health First Aid specialist, and engages in public speaking and education surrounding mental health and wellness. 

Pricing and Registration

Free for Members - REGISTER HERE

$15 for Not-Yet-Members - REGISTER HERE