"Making this much money is against the code of ethics." "If you care about money, you should have been a psychologist or counselor, not a social worker.

In this episode, we're addressing comments regarding our episode with Liz Rhea, a therapist in Georgia who made $224,000 in 2025. A few comments suggested that earning that kind of income is antithetical to social work ethics, that wanting financial stability makes you selfish, and that if money matters to you, maybe you shouldn't be a social worker at all.

We have thoughts. 😅

We chat about:

• The comments that sparked this conversation
• What the NASW Code of Ethics actually says about income
• How the savior complex shows up financially in our profession
• Why struggling financially is not solidarity with our clients
• Why social workers policing each other's salaries is a form of self-oppression
• Why financial stability is important for us and the people we serve

Resources mentioned:

• "The Obligation of White Women: Dismantling White Supremacy Culture in Social Work Education"
• Doin' the Work Podcast: White Supremacy Culture in Social Work

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