Behavioral Health

Social work practice in behavioral health promotes well-being through by assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental illness, substance use, and other addictions. Social work practice in behavioral health incorporates knowledge of human behavior, sociology, psychiatry, psychology, and many other social science disciplines. Individual, group and family therapy are common treatment modalities. 

Social workers who provide behavioral health services may be required to be licensed or certified in their jurisdiction of practice. Behavioral health clinicians perform services in a variety of settings including private practice, hospitals, community mental health, primary care, treatment centers, and other agencies.

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NASW Practice Standards & Guidelines

Our standards provide benchmarks for the services that social workers should provide, that employers should support, and that consumers should expect.

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Specialty Practice Sections

Join a Specialty Practice Section for practice-specific professional development opportunities, newsletters, continuing education credits and more.


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COVID-19 Resources

Social workers can help curb the spread of the disease and reduce people's anxiety.

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Therapy Notes

TherapyNotes

TherapyNotes is online practice management software for behavioral health. NASW members who sign up for TherapyNotes for the first time enjoy a 3-month free trial. Learn more.


NASW Research Library

NASW Research Library

Find resources that support your social work practice.

Visit the Research Library


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MyNASW Community

Connect with your peers, share expertise and turn knowledge into action.

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