u/made_in_bklyn_

Hello all!

I'm in a unique position and looking for guidance. I got my MSW and LMSW 20 years ago. I never had a supervisor with an LCSW until 3 years ago. (My job never had social work supervisors and I'll spare details to keep this brief.)

All that is to say that it's been 20 years since I've been in grad school, done homework assignments and taken tests.

I submitted my paperwork to the state to prepare to take the LCSW exam.

What course of action would you recommend for someone in my position? I'm looking for practice tests (paid is fine). I'm also looking for YouTube recommendations. The ones I see say "lmsw + LCSW test" but those - I imagine - must be very different exams so how can one video cover both? I really only want it hyper tailored to the ASWB Clinical Exam for the LCSW license.

I'll take all the recs! Books, videos, podcasts, practice exams and anything else I'm not thinking of.

I imagine most people take the test within 3 - 6 years of graduation from the MSW, whereas two decades have passed for me.

I appreciate any guidance you have. Thanks!

If you're a school social worker in NYC, and a member of the UFT this message is for you. Our contract is up at the end of this year and we'll be fighting for more money, more respect, and increasing options for remote WFH. Please fill out the survey in November so we can include your input too!

I'm seeing bathhouses, hotels, and spas. Anyone here actually visited one of these places and can recommend? I'm flying solo, between $100 - $150 is my ideal price range. I want clean and not too crowded. Literally just want to lay out and read, dip in a nice pool, and tan. Relative quiet is nice but Im also not looking for a library by the water either.

Figured I'd ask here in case any of ya'll have something to recommend. Looking for today or tomorrow, but also super flexible.

ETA: not looking for public pool recommendations or beach recs. Just private pools that offer day passes either via hotel or spa.

I'm a seasoned social work practitioner looking to get some professional development/training in SE or SP. I'm not looking for 10K worth of certifications, but more continuing education credits or post-grad cert programs. I'm also interested in undergoing this type of therapy myself, so any recs on a good SE or sensorimotor therapist (LCSW highly preferred but a solid rec is the most important) would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

I'm a seasoned social work practitioner looking to get some professional development/training in SE or SP. I'm not looking for 10K worth of certifications, but more continuing education credits or post-grad cert programs. I'm also interested in undergoing this type of therapy myself, so any recs on a good SE or sensorimotor therapist (LCSW highly preferred but a solid rec is the most important) would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

This drug has been wonderful for me. It lifted me through major depression, anxiety, and helped lower my symptoms of PTSD. I also struggled with an eating disorder, and I'm pretty sure it helped me with that too.

I'm in a fantastic place in my life right now: happily married, beautiful family, love my job, healthy social life, and a lifestyle that keeps me active, healthy & fit. Truly couldn't wish for anything else and feeling successful by every measure.

I'm sharing all this because after 7 years (steady at 100mg, then 150mg, and now 200mg) I feel like I want to taper back down to 100mg (where I was in the beginning for 18 months) where it felt good. And then, possibly, come off of it completely because I feel I have done enough therapy (10 years) and practice enough self-care (and honestly, have a life I'm grateful for) that I really think I can be OK being off of it.

Anyone else in this boat that can share your experience. I'm reading horror stories about how bad getting off of it was, and I realize that people are more likely to share negative experiences rather than positive ones.

We started on Saturday, where I went from 200mg to 175mg and I dont feel any different. Today is Monday, so its only day 3 of the change. I guess I have some anticipatory anxiety over it but I really do want to try this and feel like it might work out. I would love to hear from others about how this went.

I'm on 200mg of lamictal for the last 4 years. Prior to that I was on 150 mg for a year, and before that I was on 100 mg for about 2 years.

​

My psychiatrist put me on the 100 mg to help address some depressive symptoms, and moodiness. I thought it worked pretty well back then.

​

I had an extremely stressful life event, all while getting off of an anti-depressant, so my doctor increase me to 150mg. And that felt fine too

​

Then I got pregnant, and it was explained to me that your body metabolizes the drug differently when you're pregnant, and that in order for it to be effective we'd have to go up to 200 mg. So up we went, and we never went back down.

​

I just had a session with my psychiatrist and said I would like to slowly taper down to a lower dose. She's a new psych I've been with for a year. She's very sweet and supportive of my decision.

​

I guess I'm writing because I'm nervous and scared of symptoms returning. I think I'm more nervous that I'm going to experience withdrawal, and that will be confused with actual mental health symptoms, rather than just regular medication withdrawal. I tried getting off of this about 3 and 1/2 years ago, and it was in the middle of a stressful life event so my doctor just had me go right back up.

​

The past 18 months have been the most stable in my life I have ever been. I'm generally happy, positive and in a good mood. I'm grateful for the amazing life I live. I love my job, my family, my daughter. I have friends and a healthy social life. Things just feel really good right now. I don't want to fuck it up because of my meds but at the same time, I can't shake this feeling that it might be time to get off it (or at least, go lower).

​

I've been thinking about this for the last 6 months, so this is not a rash decision. I'm just scared of what the side effects will be like.

​

If anyone has gone from 200 mg to 150 mg could you please share your experience with me?

I'm on 200mg of lamictal for the last 4 years. Prior to that I was on 150 mg for a year, and before that I was on 100 mg for about 2 years.

​

My psychiatrist put me on the 100 mg to help address some depressive symptoms, and moodiness. I thought it worked pretty well back then.

​

I had an extremely stressful life event, all while getting off of an anti-depressant, so my doctor increase me to 150mg. And that felt fine too

​

Then I got pregnant, and it was explained to me that your body metabolizes the drug differently when you're pregnant, and that in order for it to be effective we'd have to go up to 200 mg. So up we went, and we never went back down.

​

I just had a session with my psychiatrist and said I would like to slowly taper down to a lower dose. She's a new psych I've been with for a year. She's very sweet and supportive of my decision.

​

I guess I'm writing because I'm nervous and scared of symptoms returning. I think I'm more nervous that I'm going to experience withdrawal, and that will be confused with actual mental health symptoms, rather than just regular medication withdrawal. I tried getting off of this about 3 and 1/2 years ago, and it was in the middle of a stressful life event so my doctor just had me go right back up.

​

The past 18 months have been the most stable in my life I have ever been. I'm generally happy, positive and in a good mood. I'm grateful for the amazing life I live. I love my job, my family, my daughter. I have friends and a healthy social life. Things just feel really good right now. I don't want to fuck it up because of my meds but at the same time, I can't shake this feeling that it might be time to get off it (or at least, go lower).

​

I've been thinking about this for the last 6 months, so this is not a rash decision. I'm just scared of what the side effects will be like.

​

If anyone has gone from 200 mg to 150 mg could you please share your experience with me?

On the UFT website, the first bank listed is Presidential, with some benefits that are apparently exclusive to UFT/NYSUT members.

Never heard of the bank before and although I read some good things, reviews are mixed. I'm leaning toward using them because the customer service rep was great & I left the consult feeling knowledgeable

I guess I just want to know if *at least* 1 other teacher/UFT member used them recently and had a positive experience, specific for securing a 30 year mortgage

DCC was an incredible ride. It was every bit as good as you guys said it would be. The series definitely lives up to the hype.

I don't know when, exactly, book 8 gets released, but I want something to read while I wait.

I am not chasing the highs of DCC. I know this is an extraordinarily unique series with one of (if not thee) best narrators of any audiobook, ever. I just want a good read.

Anything but non-fiction.

I'm actually fairly new to reading books. I've always read the paper daily, and read magazine articles - to stay informed - but reading for escapism and for a good story is relatively new to me (started in January) and I'd like to keep the momentum going.

Would love a recommendation for a good book with a great narrator (though I know no one will ever be as a good as Jeff Hays).

Thanks!