I consider myself a feelings-led social worker, and an example of this is in my work with a young person. I’ve been using a program on safer relationships recommended by Swift, tailored for teenagers, and it’s been transformative. Each session with her has opened up space for vulnerability, reflection, and genuine connection. I feel truly moved watching her open up in ways she never has before.

In our most recent session, she shared experiences of witnessing domestic abuse, detailing how she felt as her mother was involved with a high-risk abuser. This 15-year-old girl had, at one point, even sat her mother down to say, “This isn’t okay.” I was taken aback by her courage and maturity. She’s beginning to process and voice these complex feelings, finding her own strength.

Our conversations have also touched on her identity. She was able to share reflections on her dual heritage identity and experiences with racism and microaggressions. Her dad being Ghanaian heritage and her mum being white, she’s grown up surrounded by her white family and feels she has missed out on parts of her Ghanaian heritage. Through a genogram activity, I have never seen a young person put some much time into this, she created a beautiful intricate version of her family tree. 

I’ve told her that I’m open to feedback—acknowledging my own identity as a white social worker and encouraging her to challenge me if I say or do something that feels off. These moments have strengthened our connection, making our sessions flow naturally beyond the structured booklet, giving her space to share her story openly. It reminds me why I do this job—these genuine moments of connection that rekindle my passion for social work.