Clients and Students: Reflections on the Parallels Found Between Direct Social Work Practice and Social Work Education

This article discusses the reflections of a social work educator turned doctoral student during her first semester of doing both concurrently. Interesting parallels found between the social worker/client and social work educator/student relationships are examined. Foundational social work concepts such as the right to self-determination, dual relationships, and resilience are each discussed from the perspective of a social worker balancing multiple roles and some conclusions drawn about the usefulness of basic social work skills in a variety of settings