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Social worker (LCSW) resume example

A resume for a licensed clinical social worker with seven years of experience, four in child welfare and three in outpatient therapy. Clinical directors look for the license first, then the population and methods you know and evidence that clients improve, so the license, approaches and outcome measures are all easy to find.

Social worker (LCSW) resume example, page 1 of 1Corinne Adebayo-WalshLicensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)corinne.adebayo-walsh@example.com · (773) 555-0142 · Chicago, IL · linkedin.com/in/corinneadebayowalshSummaryLicensed clinical social worker in Illinois with seven years in community mental health and child welfare, the last threeproviding outpatient therapy to children, teens and families affected by trauma. Nationally certified in TF-CBT. I carry afull caseload, document to Medicaid standards and keep families in treatment long enough for it to work.ExperienceClinical TherapistApr 2023 – PresentLakeside Family Counseling Center · Chicago, IL•Provide individual and family therapy to a caseload of about 32 children and teens (ages 6 to 17) with trauma, anxietyand depression, using TF-CBT, CBT and DBT skills.•81% of clients who completed TF-CBT in 2025 showed a clinically significant drop in symptoms on the CATS traumascreen.•Complete IM+CANS assessments and treatment plans for Medicaid clients, with 98% of progress notes signed within48 hours.•Run a weekly DBT skills group for 8 to 10 teens; attendance averaged 85% across 4 cycles.•Supervise 2 MSW interns a year and present at the agency’s monthly case consultation.Child Welfare SpecialistJul 2019 – Mar 2023Westside Child & Family Services · Chicago, IL•Managed a caseload of 15 to 18 foster care cases, coordinating with parents, foster families, schools and the courts.•Helped 22 children reach permanency through reunification, guardianship or adoption over 3 years.•Wrote court reports and testified at 40+ juvenile court hearings; reports were filed on time for every hearing.EducationMaster of Social Work2017 – 2019Jane Addams College of Social Work, University of Illinois Chicago · Chicago, IL•Field placements in a school-based mental health program and a child advocacy center.B.A. in Psychology2013 – 2017Loyola University Chicago · Chicago, ILCertificationsLicensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)2023Illinois Department of Financial and Professional RegulationTF-CBT National Therapist Certification2024TF-CBT National Therapist Certification ProgramLicensed Social Worker (LSW)2019Illinois Department of Financial and Professional RegulationSkillsTrauma-Focused CBT · Cognitive behavioral therapy · DBT skills · Family therapy · Motivational interviewing ·Risk and safety assessment · DSM-5-TR diagnosis · IM+CANS · Treatment planning · Medicaid documentation ·Crisis intervention · Court testimony
Social worker (LCSW)Use this example

What recruiters look for

  • License and state: LCSW (or your state’s equivalent, such as LICSW or LISW), the board and the year. Many roles bill insurance and need an independent license.
  • Population and setting: ages, diagnoses, settings (outpatient, school, hospital, child welfare, hospice). Directors hire for their clients.
  • Evidence-based approaches: TF-CBT, CBT, DBT, EMDR, motivational interviewing. Name the ones you are trained or certified in.
  • Outcomes and measures: standardized scores, treatment completion, hospitalizations avoided, permanency.
  • Documentation and productivity: caseload, notes on time, billable hours. Agencies depend on them to stay funded.

Writing the summary

Open with your license, state and years, then the population and the methods you use. Add one line on outcomes or documentation. Keep personal reasons for choosing the field for the cover letter.

The summary in this example

Licensed clinical social worker in Illinois with seven years in community mental health and child welfare, the last three providing outpatient therapy to children, teens and families affected by trauma. Nationally certified in TF-CBT. I carry a full caseload, document to Medicaid standards and keep families in treatment long enough for it to work.

Medical or hospital social worker

Licensed clinical social worker with six years in hospital social work, most recently on a 32-bed medical-surgical unit. I lead discharge planning for complex patients, cut avoidable readmissions on my unit by 15%, and support families through end-of-life decisions.

LMSW working toward clinical licensure

Licensed master social worker with three years in community mental health, now completing supervised hours toward the LCSW (2,100 of 3,000 hours). I provide individual therapy to 25 adults using CBT and motivational interviewing, under weekly clinical supervision.

Bullet points that work

Strong lines for this role, beyond the ones in the example. Borrow the shape and put in your own numbers.

  • Carried 28 to 30 billable hours a week while maintaining a 90% client retention rate past the first 6 sessions.
  • Reduced psychiatric hospitalizations among 40 high-risk adults by 30% through weekly sessions and safety planning.
  • Led discharge planning for 15 to 20 patients a week, cutting average length of stay by 0.8 days.
  • Completed 150+ suicide risk assessments a year using the Columbia scale, with safety plans for every positive screen.
  • Started a parent support group that served 60 caregivers over 2 years.
  • Trained 30 school staff on recognizing trauma in students, leading to a 25% rise in appropriate referrals.
  • Supervised 6 MSW interns over 3 years; all passed their field placements and 4 were hired by the agency.
  • Built a referral partnership with 3 pediatric practices that brought in 120 new clients a year.
  • Passed every state and Medicaid chart audit over 4 years with no findings on my caseload.

Skills to list

Hard skills

  • Clinical assessment and DSM-5-TR diagnosis
  • Evidence-based therapies (CBT, TF-CBT, DBT, EMDR)
  • Treatment planning and progress notes
  • Suicide and safety risk assessment
  • Crisis intervention
  • Family and group therapy
  • Insurance and Medicaid documentation
  • Electronic health records

Soft skills

  • Warmth and steadiness
  • Cultural humility
  • Clear boundaries
  • Working with families, schools and courts

Certifications and licenses worth listing

  • LCSW or your state’s clinical license: the essential line; include the state, the board and the year. Requires an MSW, supervised hours and the ASWB Clinical exam.
  • LMSW or LSW: list it if you are still collecting hours, with how many you have done.
  • TF-CBT National Therapist Certification: valued by agencies that serve children with trauma.
  • EMDR training or certification (EMDRIA): useful for trauma-focused practices.
  • Certified Clinical Trauma Professional or other specialty certificates only if the job ad mentions them.

Length and format

One page for most social workers through about ten years; two is fine with supervision, program leadership or several specialties. Put the license near the top. Field placements belong under your MSW in Education, not in Experience, once you have licensed work to show.

Common mistakes

  • Burying the license or leaving out the state. A clinical director looks for it first.
  • Including identifying client details, even in passing.
  • Listing therapies without saying whether you are trained, certified or just familiar.
  • Writing only about compassion. Show caseloads, outcomes and documentation.
  • Forgetting productivity. Billable hours and notes on time matter to every agency.

Questions and answers

How do I list my LCSW on a resume?

After your name in the header (Corinne Adebayo-Walsh, LCSW) and in a licenses section with the issuing board and year. You can leave the license number off; employers verify it online.

Should I list supervised hours if I am not yet licensed?

Yes: “LMSW, 2,100 of 3,000 supervised clinical hours toward LCSW, expected exam June 2027”. It tells employers when you can bill independently.

Do I need to include field placements?

Early in your career, yes, in Education under your MSW. After a few years of licensed work, one line is enough.

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