Embracing Empathy: A Social Worker’s Training Experience at Menninger

As Rachel Robertson, LMSW, nears the end of her year as a Social Work Fellow at Menninger, she wants to be that person who provides hope. “I’m passionate about helping people and enjoy thinking deeply about what’s going on with their internal experience. I want to know the best way for them to acknowledge their feelings, help them communicate and offer ways to improve their lives.”

 

Rachel is working towards becoming the type of person she wants to be for patients, thanks to the Bruno and Margaret Jonikas Social Work Fellowship. The fellowship, honoring Bruno and Margaret's nearly 30 years of support to The Menninger Clinic, was established through their charitable bequest of more than $10 million in 2020, creating an endowed fellowship in their name.

 

Fellows work directly with patients and families in interdisciplinary teams, conducting therapy sessions and case management. They receive around 10 hours of supervision and seminars weekly, covering topics such as family therapy, group facilitation and psychodynamic psychotherapy.

 

Rachel saw the fellowship as a perfect opportunity due to her keen interest in mental health. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Child Learning and Development from the University of Texas at Dallas and later earned a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Houston. Internships at the Houston Area Parkinson’s Society and Menninger's Comprehensive Psychiatric Assessment Service provided valuable preparation for her fellowship.

 

At the beginning of her fellowship, Rachel spent much of her time just watching and learning from the seasoned professionals at Menninger. But as the year went on, she became actively involved in therapy sessions with patients. This hands-on approach, coupled with observational learning, is a fundamental part of Menninger’s training, and it helped increase Rachel’s confidence in her role.

 

In her work, Rachel focuses on improving family relationships, setting healthy limits and discussing tough topics such as suicide and self-harm with young adults. People often feel pressured to be perfect, and Rachel emphasizes the importance of being oneself. As a social worker, she is grateful for the training that equips her to support young adults and their families in finding solutions and building a stronger support system.

 

In early August, Rachael had the opportunity to thoroughly explore an area of mental health that interested her. She presented to more than 100 staff members and professionals at Menninger on functional neurological symptom disorder (FND). FND is a psychiatric disorder that affects the brain's communication with the body, leading to neurological symptoms such as fainting and tremors.

 

Diagnosing this disorder can be challenging. Rachel emphasized that treatment should help individuals manage their symptoms effectively rather than trying to eliminate them completely. She chose this topic to address the widespread misunderstanding and stigma associated with this mental health condition.

 

After completing the fellowship, Rachel intends to use her expertise to assist young people in Dallas deal with crises, particularly those at risk of self-harm or contemplating suicide. Her experience at Menninger has equipped her well for this, both in terms of practical skills and knowledge.