Why Perel Grossman, LMSW Chose Social Work

What inspired you to pursue social work?

Social work had been in the back of my mind for years after I finished seminary, but it took me some time to pursue my goals and enroll in the program. I was happy to find a college that was compatible with my values and convictions. I feel as though helping people is in my DNA. My father a"h spent a lot of time supporting and encouraging friends, family members, and couples who were facing personal challenges. My mother was a “people person” who loved doing chesed. I grew up with such wonderful role models and I consider it a sacred mission to perpetuate their legacy by helping Klal Yisrael through my work as a psychotherapist.

How prepared did you feel when you first started? What surprised you most about your classes?

There was a large gap of time between finishing seminary and beginning my BSW/MSW degree, so I had neither studied nor written anything scholarly for many years. While it was definitely an adjustment to get back into the mindset of being a student, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that I am actually pretty good at studying, doing assignments, and taking tests!

What has been your favorite part of your experience so far? Most challenging?

I truly loved being among such a wonderful group of kind, caring, like-minded individuals. It was fantastic to bond with my classmates during this shared experience. I treasured being able to learn from so many knowledgeable professors about fascinating and important social work topics such as addiction and trauma. The teachers had an incredible way of involving us in lively debate about relevant issues which made the lessons interactive and memorable. The most challenging part for me was balancing schoolwork with family life, but everyone at Sara Schenirer was incredibly supportive and encouraging.

What are your goals after earning your degree?

My original aim was to complete the program and earn my degree! My next goal was to become a psychotherapist, and I am now living my dream working as a staff psychotherapist at ODA Primary Healthcare in Williamsburg as well as at DAAS Wellness in Monsey. I also teach an Introduction to Social Work course at Sara Schenirer, which is a great opportunity for me to both give back to the organization that helped launch my career and educate future social workers who will hopefully help countless others.

Is this a field you would recommend to other frum women? 

I would recommend this profession because it is very fulfilling and a beautiful way to help individuals, couples, and families while making a living. There is room in this field for many different roles, and each clinician is able to make use of his or her personal G-d-given strengths and talents as well as express their own individuality. I do think this is a field best suited to those who have had some life experience, and may not be as ideal for very young people or those who have not yet encountered various life experiences. 

How did you find your current position?

After earning my degree, I interviewed at four different clinics in the Greater Monsey area where I live. I received three offers and was close to accepting one, but then a former classmate from Sara Schenirer, who had recently accepted a position at ODA Wellness Center in Williamsburg, mentioned that it might be a good fit for me, too. At first, I thought it was too inconvenient to commute, but I learned that Dr. Akiva Perlman, who had been one of my amazing professors at Sara Schenirer/Wurzweiler School of Social Work, was the Clinical Director of the social work department at ODA. Although I was told that there weren’t any jobs open at the time, I was invited to interview and ultimately, Boruch Hashem, I was hired . 

ODA does an amazing job of training new clinicians and also offers a lot of valuable benefits. On top of that, I was privileged to be supervised personally by Dr. Perlman during my first year at ODA. There’s such a tremendous warmth and camaraderie at ODA and within the Satmar community in general, which makes this job very rewarding. Everyone is so generous and humble and it is a wonderful place to work, which makes it worth the travel time. I now practice there twice a week and spend one day at DAAS in Monsey, where the clinicians are very knowledgeable and caring, and I continue to learn and grow in this position as well – a pursuit I hope to continue for all of my years in this profession  

As a psychotherapist, I attempt to accompany my clients on their journey toward healing and fulfillment. I enjoy my job tremendously, but it is undeniably a challenging and sometimes draining profession. Although a great deal of social work is learned from hands-on career experience, Sara Schenirer did an excellent and thorough job of providing me with a solid foundation through coursework and clinical practice during my internship. When I began working after graduating, I felt fairly well-prepared to fulfill my role.

In addition to your position, what are some other ways to use your degree?

Many social workers are employed as case managers in hospitals, nursing homes, or clinics. Some work for politicians helping to craft policy. Others teach or become supervisors. There are many options and a lot depends on the individual and their preferences.

What is the job market like? Are jobs easy to obtain, flexible, and growth-oriented?

From what I can tell, there are many jobs available. Many clinics have long waitlists due to a dearth of clinicians. Jobs can be full- or part-time with flexibility, and there is plenty of room to grow and advance in this field. Clinics require you to obtain a license, which is acquired through testing.  In order to earn a clinical license, there is an additional test to take after completing  a certain number of clinical hours and supervision. 

Can you give an idea of starting salaries in the industry and how one moves up?

Clinics in my area typically provide new clinicians with a fee per service, but some do offer hourly wages or even salaries. This fee could range from approximately $40 to $65 per session. With more experience, working for a private practitioner or opening your own practice can give you a larger salary. An important thing to know about the profession is that in addition to working with patients, therapists must record notes. Depending on a clinic’s specific requirements, note-taking can be very time-consuming. Those in private practice can also end up spending a significant amount of time dealing with insurance companies, which is one of the reasons many prefer not to accept insurance. Others enlist outside services to take care of their private practice paperwork.