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This episode of Lauren Honestly is for new social workers, graduates, and anyone wondering if they chose the wrong social work career. I’m taking you back to my first social work jobs after graduate school, including my experience as a foster care counselor, school social worker, and juvenile counselor. I talk honestly about social work burnout, career uncertainty, clinical social work, finding the right job, setting boundaries, and learning from difficult clients and difficult work environments. If you're a new social worker wondering what comes after your MSW, feeling burned out, searching for your dream social work job, or considering a career change, I hope this reminds you that your first job does not have to be your forever job. Every position can teach you something and sometimes the job you hated most becomes the experience that prepares you for exactly where you're supposed to go.

After stepping away, I'm finally back with a life update.In this episode, I'm sharing what life has looked like behind the scenes: transitioning into a new social work role, working alongside my husband, navigating stress, embracing personal growth, and learning how to redefine myself outside of school social work.This is a real conversation about career transitions, identity shifts and finding your way through uncertain seasons.If you've ever felt like you're reinventing yourself, questioning your next chapter, balancing work and family, or trying to find meaning during a stressful season, this episode is for you.In this episode:• Why I stepped away from YouTube• My transition from school social work to a new role• Working with my husband for the first time• Managing stress and major life changes• Rediscovering creativity and content creation• Weight loss, wellness, and mindset shifts• Disney trips, family life, and creating memoriesSubscribe for honest conversations about social work, personal growth, career transitions, motherhood, mindset, wellness, and building a life that feels aligned.______________________________________________________❀ 𝑺𝑶𝑪𝑰𝑨𝑳𝑺 Instagram: https://bit.ly/2F3vQVh☞ collaboration enquiries: [email protected]

If you’ve ever felt like you might be capable of more… but something is holding you back, this conversation is for you. In this episode we’re talking about something a lot of people don’t want to admit: Sometimes we hide behind humility when the truth is… we’re afraid to go after bigger opportunities. After getting a question about applying for higher-level social work roles, I started reflecting on something deeper — the fear that comes with leaving your comfort zone. This episode explores career seasons, fear of leveling up, and the quiet ways we keep ourselves small.

Perfectionism once felt like my safety blanket — until I realized it was quietly disconnecting me from my body, my intuition, and my humanity. In this episode, I unpack how perfectionism isn’t actually about high standards — it’s about fear, survival, and a deeply colonized belief system that teaches us mistakes are dangerous and approval lives outside of us. We talk about: 00:00 – You don’t have to be perfect to start 01:45 – When perfectionism felt like safety 03:00 – Perfectionism vs procrastination 03:55 – “Perfectionism removes our humanness” 05:10 – Why polished = disconnected 06:45 – Listening to your body vs overriding it 07:05 – Perfectionism as a colonized survival trait 08:30 – External validation, credentials, and approval 09:45 – Impostor syndrome and who systems are built for 10:55 – Shame as motivation 11:45 – Choosing visibility over perfection 13:00 – Relearning self-trust and intuition 14:00 – Letting go of perfection for good This is an invitation to show up messy, visible, and human 😌even when it feels uncomfortable. ❀ 𝑺𝑶𝑪𝑰𝑨𝑳𝑺 Instagram: https://bit.ly/2F3vQVh Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuGjPIQBXXZ4BTpFDGH6ZhA/ ☞ collaboration enquiries: [email protected].·:*¨ 𝑭𝑨𝑸 ¨*:·. ✧ name: Lauren✧ location: Texas ✧ credentials: LCSW-Ssub count: 34,562 (2/26)THANKYOU SM WOW ♡

his wasn’t supposed to be a work vlog… but here we are. In today’s video, I’m sharing a real-life “come to work with me” as I step into a new six-figure social work role, talk honestly about career growth in your 40s, manifestation, and what it looks like to live as if the life you want is already yours.We talk about: Starting a new job in your 40s (and the mindset shift it requires) plus Working in military mental health as a civilian social worker &Manifestation, visibility, and learning to be seenThis episode is imperfect, chatty, a little vulnerable — and very real. If you’re navigating career changes, body changes, or that quiet pull to finally step into the next version of yourself… you’re not alone.

2025 was a tough year for me. Between career transitions, workplace challenges, and personal growth, I hit some hard lows—but I learned some life-changing lessons along the way. In this episode, I share my journey through doubt, persistence, therapy, and finally realizing my worth.If you’ve ever felt stuck, out of place, or unsure of your path, this episode is for you. Let’s reflect together, process the gray areas, and step into the next level of growth. 💛 Key moments: My disappearing act on social media and why it happenedThe therapy session that changed everythingHow to tell the difference between a learning curve and a misalignmentSubscribe for more honest reflections and lessons from my social work and life experiences.______________________________________________________❀ Instagram☞ collaboration enquiries: [email protected].·:*¨ 𝑭𝑨𝑸 ¨*:·. ✧ name: Lauren✧ location: Texas ✧ credentials: LCSW-Ssub count: 34,515 (02/2026) on youtubeTHANKYOU SM WOW ♡___________________________#CareerPivot#CareerChange#BurnoutRecovery#SocialWork#LCSW#WomenInTransition#CareerReflection#TherapyWorks#PersonalGrowth#LifeLessons#TrustYourself#PodcastEpisode#HealingJourney#ProfessionalWomen

Social work notes can feel endless—whether you’re in school social work, clinical practice, or private settings. But what if your notes were more than paperwork? In this video, I’ll show you how to reframe documentation as a tool for advocacy, growth, and even job security.I’ll share how numbers tell your story, how to make them work for you (not against you), and why your internship documentation is more transferable than you think. Whether you’re a new social work intern or a seasoned LCSW, this perspective shift will help you build confidence and clarity in your practice.What you’ll learn in this video:Why documentation is your secret advocacy toolHow to use your notes to show your impactTips for easing documentation stressHow school-based experience translates into clinical roles🔗 Grab my documentation tracker here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Digital-Case-Load-Tracker-school-social-workers-counselor-google-sheets-4749133🔔 Subscribe for more tools, real talk, and support for your social work journey!______________________________________________________❀ 𝑺𝑶𝑪𝑰𝑨𝑳𝑺 Instagram: https://bit.ly/2F3vQVh Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-work-scrapbook/id1786359210Shop | https://www.amazon.com/shop/socialworkscrapbook?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsfshop_aipsfsocialworkscrapbook_2WPW0GN9CE9XRFBDVZCQWebsite | https://socialworkscrapbook.wordpress.com/☞ collaboration enquiries: [email protected].·:*¨ 𝑭𝑨𝑸 ¨*:·. ✧ name: Lauren✧ location: Texas ✧ credentials: LCSW-S

🚨 Starting your social work internship or practicum placement? Whether you’re in a BSW program or MSW program, these are the 3 things I wish I knew before starting my field placement. This video covers how to handle internship nerves, why shadowing social workers is essential, and how to learn from clients in your social work practice. If you’re preparing for your first day as a social work intern, you’ll learn:✅ Why being nervous is a GOOD sign and how to use it to your advantage✅ How to get on the calendars of multiple social workers to find your own style✅ Why your clients will be your biggest teachers (even the challenging ones) Whether you’re looking for field education tips, internship advice for social work students, or just want to reduce stress before your placement, this video will give you practical, real-world strategies from a practicum coordinator.

In this cozy, honest kickoff to the new school year, I’m getting real about burnout, perfectionism, energy leaks, and why we have to stop expecting smooth sailing—especially as empaths, parents, and social workers. I'm talking straight from my older sister heart, sharing advice I wish I had before the back-to-school chaos, plus breaking down the “Marigold Effect” and avoiding emotional walnut trees 🥴🌳 If you're a therapist, counselor, teacher, or deeply feeling human—this one's for you. We’re not just showing up for others—we’re reclaiming our energy, protecting our hope, and letting go of the Pinterest-perfect pressure 💛 Timestamps below & links in the comments! 00:00 – Why I had to speak up (burnout + back-to-school pressure) 02:20 – Social media fatigue + merging my profiles 03:50 – Advice I’d give if I weren’t afraid to hurt your feelings 04:55 – Cut the Pinterest pressure! No one cares about bento boxes 06:00 – It’s okay if the first week is rocky—expect transition 08:25 – Stop skipping meals! Empath hormones need fuel 09:45 – Your energy is sacred: protect it 10:35 – The Marigold Effect vs Walnut Trees 12:30 – Traits of energy-draining people 14:35 – Don’t be your kid’s walnut tree 16:10 – Hope matters: the spark kids feel at the start of the year 18:50 – Delegate! Being needed isn’t your whole personality 20:30 – Say no to protect your yes 21:00 – Final love note + new beginnings // watch MORE full videos for school social workers → | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMFUT-L_TEk&list=PLtzpeRNiPkZdwppi1z6ui-GXuYXTJl5z3&pp=gAQB ______________________________________________________ ❀ 𝑺𝑶𝑪𝑰𝑨𝑳𝑺 Instagram: https://bit.ly/2F3vQVh

my big breakthrough-- When Saying Sorry Feels Like a Death—You’re Probably Healing! In this deeply personal episode, I open up about my struggle with apologizing, what I’ve learned and how apology is more than guilt—it’s acknowledgment, healing, and connection.This is for the empaths, the gentle parents, the cycle breakers—the ones working through ancestral patterns and learning to lead with heart. I also reflect on recent headlines, including the Bryan Kohberger sentencing in the Idaho student murders and the emotional weight of victim impact statements.Whether you’re navigating marriage, motherhood, or your own emotional growth, this episode is a reminder: Sorry is a full sentence. 💛🪞Timestamps, resources, and carousel below! ❀ 𝑺𝑶𝑪𝑰𝑨𝑳𝑺 ⁠Instagram⁠______________________________________________________0:00 – Sorry is a full sentence1:06 – Getting called out by my husband and mom2:55 – Why I struggle with apologizing4:58 – What my husband taught me about guilt 6:30 – How society fumbles apologies7:58 – Public example: Hill Country flood response9:16 – Teenagers as mirrors for emotional accountability10:00 – Bryan Kohberger sentencing & refusal to apologize11:45 – The power and purpose of victim impact statements13:32 – Casual apologies in professional life 15:12 – Learning to say sorry without justifying16:18 – Who needs your apology? 16:52 – Final takeaway 🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this if it resonated. ________________________________________________ Users of this Podcast may save and use information contained in the Podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this Podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Lauren Gutierrez, which may be requested by contacting [email protected] This podcast is for educational purposes only. The host claims no responsibility to any person or entity for any liability or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly as a result of the use or interpretation of the information presented herein.

Have you ever outgrown a place that once felt like home? In this heartfelt goodbye, I share my emotional and professional journey as I close the chapter on over a decade in school social work. Whether you’re a social worker, empath, or creative soul navigating change, this video offers insight, encouragement, and transparency. 💛 In this episode, I reflect on: My beginnings in middle school social work The full-circle moments with teen parents and high school students Becoming a field instructor, speaker, and adjunct professor My decision to leave and the emotional weight of closing a chapter What’s next in higher ed and creative work 🎓 If you’re a BSW, MSW, empath, or educator looking for inspiration, this one’s for you. 🔗 Watch on youtube: https://youtu.be/92qFOnXiTqk?si=vWRUxwC6jz-vmKVS📩 Connect: instagram.com/socialworkscrapbook🎧 Listen to the podcast: Social Work Scrapbook (YouTube Podcasts)

Burnout isn’t about doing too much—it’s about doing things that aren’t aligned. In this heartfelt episode, I open up about the real roots of burnout, especially for empaths, social workers, and those in healing professions. We’re diving deep into compassion fatigue, misaligned ambition, and that all-too-familiar guilt—as both a professional and a parent. Whether you’re new to the field or years in, this video is a reminder that burnout is not your fault, and realignment is your path forward. If you're craving meaningful work, soulful rest, and emotional clarity—this space is for you. 🌿 💬 Let’s talk about: The silent danger of misaligned ambition Why "shoulds" are stealing your peace Summer mom guilt and working through it Building a career that feels like home (not just looks like one) How to honor your energy and rewrite burnout stories 🎯 This is the pep talk every empath needs.

✨ You’re not alone if you feel heavy, overextended, or caught in codependent loops—especially if you're a social worker or empath. This episode is your monthly moment to realign. 📓 Grab your favorite pen, journal, and let’s do this ritual together.🎧 In this reflective journaling ritual, we’re setting intentions, planting seeds for emotional safety, and creating space to dream again. Whether you're healing from burnout, craving softness, or navigating tough family dynamics, this is your safe space to exhale and begin again.💫 What you’ll do in this video:Reset your nervous system through breath work and groundingVisualize and manifest emotional safety at home and in relationshipsPlant seeds for your future self using present-tense affirmationsReconnect with your inner child through journalingSet energetic boundaries for softness and growthLearn to combat overthinking and people-pleasing as blocks🎥 Let’s reimagine softness as strength. This is your permission to feel, dream, and begin again. ⏱️ Timestamps: 0:00 – Intro: Needing an Energetic Exhale 1:00 – Why This Ritual Is For You (Empaths + Social Workers) 2:00 – What It Means to Plant Seeds for Ourselves 2:45 – Emotional Safety + Healing Family Dynamics 4:00 – Breathwork & Journal Prompts Begin 5:00 – Manifestation Prompts (Present-Tense Seeds) 6:15 – Inner Child Healing Reflection 7:40 – Visualizing Your Softest Home 8:30 – Spiritual Anchors: Water, Salt, Crystals 9:00 – The Shadow Side: Overthinking + People Pleasing 10:15 – Takeaway & Reminder: You Deserve Peace

I Left My Dream Job as a School Social Worker... Here's Why (+ Real Talk on Impostor Syndrome) Are you a social worker, helping professional, or big-hearted empath questioning your next step? 😔 This video is for you. I’m opening up about leaving my role as a school social worker after 12 years, the transition to higher education, and how I’ve battled imposter syndrome every step of the way. 💥 Whether you're a student social worker, considering a career pivot, or simply feeling not “good enough” in your current role—this episode is packed with truth, encouragement, and practical tips you can use right now. ✨ In This Episode You'll Learn: Why I left school social work after 12 years What it’s really like to pivot to higher education Raw answers to your Instagram Qs about career change, pay, and readiness The truth about self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and confidence How to stop waiting for confidence and build it instead 4 practical confidence-building strategies (including my FAVORITE one!) The role music and micro-bravery play in mindset shifts 💪🏽 The legacy of connection with students & what one said that shook me 🧡 ⏱ Timestamps: 0:00 – Intro & Heart of the Case welcome 1:40 – Why I left school social work 5:12 – Career Q&A from Instagram: pay, burnout, summers off 10:45 – Impostor syndrome hits different in new roles 13:30 – Practical strategy #1: Name it, then frame it 15:45 – Strategy #2: Borrow confidence (and music recs!) 18:20 – Strategy #3: Micro-bravery explained 21:30 – Strategy #4: Build your confidence archive 24:00 – A final pep talk for social workers feeling scared to grow 26:15 – Listener emoji challenge + feedback invite 👻 🎯 This video is for: Current or future social workers thinking about career changes Helpers and empaths feeling stuck or burnt out Anyone exploring higher education or academic roles First-gen professionals seeking purpose and confidence You, if you need a real pep talk from someone who gets it 🛠️ Helpful Resources Mentioned: 🎧 Kendrick Lamar’s Man at the Garden – total affirmations anthem 🎙️ Podcast Ep 14 – "How to Start Fresh and Attract Positivity" 💬 Comment below: Have you ever felt called to change direction but doubted yourself? What did your ghost emoji moment look like? 👻 🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this with your social work bestie or colleague who needs encouragement today

This week, we’re not just talking about a prison break — we’re talking about the emotional escapes we all try to make when our needs go unmet. In this episode of Heart of the Case, I’m breaking down the wild (and weirdly relatable?) 2015 escape from Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York — where two inmates charmed their way into a prison worker's heart and out of a maximum-security prison. But here’s the twist: this isn’t just about hacksaws in hamburger meat and a “Shawskank” love triangle. It’s about codependency, self-sabotage, and the quiet prisons we build in our minds — the ones built from loneliness, low self-worth, and emotional hunger. ✨ Come for the true crime. Stay for the therapy session you didn’t know you needed. We’re unpacking: The psychological profile of Joyce “Tilly” Mitchell How childhood trauma shaped the escapees Why smart women sometimes make wild emotional choices How unmet emotional needs can cloud judgment episode mentioned: Trauma Bonding + Breaking Free- https://youtu.be/CtRTtVte7bg?si=9Nl9hBjrh9NaGpGR