inSocialWork® is the University at Buffalo School of Social Work’s monthly podcast series. Our purpose is to engage practitioners and researchers in lifelong learning and to promote research to practice and practice to research.
Listen and subscribe!
Our Latest Episode
What happens when the most widely used diagnostic tool in mental health clashes with the foundational values of social work?
In this episode, St. Catherine University professors Dr. Sharyn DeZelar and Dr. Lisa Borneman take a critical look at how the DSM-5 shapes assessment, treatment and reimbursement, as well as what happens when it doesn’t align with the realities or values of the profession.
DeZelar and Borneman discuss how the DSM’s medical model can unintentionally perpetuate bias and colonized ways of thinking, pathologizing normal responses to trauma and systemic oppression. Together, they invite listeners to explore decolonizing approaches to assessment that center on collaboration, context and human story, including the Power Threat Meaning Framework. This model reframes “what’s wrong” as “what happened” and “how we’ve survived.”
Lisa Borneman, DSW, MSW, LICSW, is an assistant professor in the Master of Social Work Program at St. Catherine University. Her practice and teaching focus on youth mental health, trauma and clinical supervision, blending person-centered, narrative and creative therapeutic approaches.
Sharyn DeZelar, PhD, MSW, LICSW, is associate professor and MSW program director at St. Catherine University. Her research and teaching explore disability, family systems, and the decolonization of mental health and social work education.
Technology in Social Work
It is an exciting time to be a social worker! Innovative technology has opened up new possibilities to better serve our clients.
On inSocialWork®, you can discover how social workers are leveraging technology in creative ways to build upon client strengths and increase the impact of their agencies. Our episodes cover a wide range of technologies—from telehealth and apps to text messaging, social media and even video games.
Trauma-Informed and Human Rights Perspective
Here at the UB School of Social Work, we integrate a trauma-informed and human rights perspective into all of our programs. inSocialWork® offers a variety of podcasts on trauma, trauma-informed care, human rights and social justice.
Global Social Work
Social workers need a variety of skills and a strong knowledge base to successfully navigate the diverse landscape of our increasingly global world. The UB School of Social Work provides many opportunities to acquire the skills and knowledge needed for professional practice and global citizenship.
Self-Care
Self-care is an essential part of sustaining good social work practice.
At inSocialWork®, we encourage social workers to explore, develop and engage in good self-care to enrich both their lives and their profession.
Top Downloads
From mental health to substance abuse, from ethics to cultural competence, you can explore a variety of topics with inSocialWork®.
The topics with the most downloads are:
- Macro Social Work and Community Issues
- Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care
- Social Work Practice and Interventions
Contact us
Are you a social work practitioner, researcher or educator doing innovative work? Do you have questions or an idea for a future podcast? We would love to hear from you. Write to us at insocialwork@buffalo.edu.