In this powerful episode, LaShanna Alfred sits down with forensic social worker, author, and speaker Tricia Reese to discuss how she transformed personal trauma into purpose and professional impact. Tricia shares how her lived experiences shaped her career, the important role forensic social workers play within the legal system, and how social workers can use their education and experiences beyond traditional clinical settings.

This conversation will inspire social workers to recognize the value of their stories, explore nontraditional career opportunities, and expand their influence through advocacy, authorship, speaking, and service.

If you have ever felt limited by your past—or boxed in by your profession—this episode will remind you that your experiences can become part of the expertise that helps you change lives.

More information on our guest: Tricia A. Reese

LaShanna Alfred's books and resources: SHOP | LaShanna Alfred

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Speaker LaShanna Alfred

What if earning six figures in social work didn’t require a master’s degree?

In this episode of the Six-Figure Social Worker Podcast, I conversed with Katisha King who has built a six-figure career with a Bachelor’s in Social Work.

She shares how listening to the podcast helped expand her thinking about what was possible, how her faith in God played a major role in her journey, and how she began to believe, prepare, and position herself for greater opportunities.

One reason she wanted to share her story was because she noticed that many of the social workers featured on the podcast were master’s-level clinicians and professionals. She wanted other BSWs to know that their degree does not have to determine their income ceiling.

We talk about faith, mindset, manifestation, career growth, and what happens when you stop allowing traditional expectations to define what success should look like for you.

If you’re a social worker who has ever thought, “I need another degree before I can earn more,” this conversation may challenge the way you think.

🎙️ In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Building a six-figure career with a BSW

• The mindset shifts that helped her believe bigger

• How faith influenced her career and financial goals

• The impact of seeing and hearing what is possible

• Breaking traditional income expectations in social work

• Why your current credentials don’t have to be the end of your story

Your degree may be where you started. It does not have to determine where you finish.

Listen in and allow her story to expand your vision of what is possible.

You can follow her journey on Facebook: Katisha King

If this episode finds you discouraged and you are ready to identify what may be impacting your own growth?
Take the Build Your Team Assessment to discover your current position, strengths, blind spots, and what may be keeping you from moving forward.

Build Your Team Assessment | LaShanna Alfred

And if you’re ready to go deeper, join me for the Winning Mindset Training Camp, (August 17th-21st) where we work on shifting the way you think so you can change the way you execute, lead, and live.

Training Camp is every month. If you miss August check back for next month's date.

What does it take to become a leader who inspires trust, builds resilient teams, and creates lasting impact?

In this episode of the Six Figure Social Worker Podcast, we explore how trauma-informed leadership helps social workers, leaders, entrepreneurs, and helping professionals strengthen communication, improve team performance, and lead with confidence.

Whether you supervise a team, run an organization, or serve clients every day, you'll discover practical leadership strategies that promote emotional resilience, reduce burnout, and create healthier workplace cultures.

• Leadership Mindset for lasting impact
• Social Work Leadership strategies
• Team Building Assessment techniques
• Trauma-Informed Leadership principles
• Emotional Resilience for Leaders
• Burnout Prevention for Helping Professionals
• Building trust through effective communication
• Leading teams with confidence and empathy
• Creating stronger organizations through intentional leadership

• Social Workers
• Leaders
• Entrepreneurs
• Helping Professionals
• Nonprofit Organizations
• Healthcare Professionals
• Team Managers
• Clinical Supervisors
• Coaches and Consultants

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with colleagues who are passionate about leadership, social work, and professional growth.

#Leadership Mindset, #Social Work Leadership, #Team #Building Assessment, #Trauma-Informed Leadership, #Emotional Resilience for Leaders, #Burnout Prevention for #Helping Professionals, #Leadership Development, #Team Leadership, #Professional Development, #Organizational Leadership.

CE/Evaluation/Quiz: Training Checkpoint — Training PortalBuild Your Team Assessment: Build Your Team Assessment | LaShanna Alfred

Episode 2: The Communication Mistake That's Costing You ClientsEffective Communication for Retaining Youth and Families – Part 2 (1-Hour Ethics CE)

This episode qualifies for 1 Hour of Ethics Continuing Education (Ohio).

1. Listen to the entire episode.
2. Complete the course evaluation.
3. Pass the post-training quiz.
4. Submit payment to receive your certificate.

Why do some youth and families return to services while others disengage—even when you know you're providing quality care?

In Episode 2 of the 6-Figure Social Worker Podcast, LaShanna Alfred, LISW-S, continues the Effective Communication for Retaining Youth and Families series by exploring the communication habits that unintentionally damage trust, increase resistance, and contribute to client disengagement.

This 1-hour Ethics CE episode goes beyond theory and provides practical, trauma-informed strategies you can immediately implement in your practice.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to recognize the communication mistakes that quietly cost agencies client retention.
• The Four Structural Pillars of trauma-informed communication: Clarity, Empathy, Cultural Responsiveness, and Transparency.
• Practical communication scripts you can begin using with youth and families immediately.
• How to navigate difficult conversations while maintaining ethical boundaries.
• Strategies for de-escalation, restorative conversations, and rebuilding trust after a crisis.
• How ethical communication strengthens therapeutic relationships while reducing conflict and resistance.
• Why mastering trauma-informed communication makes you a more valuable clinician and leader.

CE Evaluation/Quizhttps://uchangeeducate.comWhether you're a social worker, counselor, case manager, therapist, supervisor, or behavioral health professional, this episode will equip you with practical tools to improve client engagement, strengthen therapeutic alliances, and increase long-term retention.

Communication isn't just a clinical skill—it's one of the most powerful interventions we have. When clients feel safe, understood, and respected, they're far more likely to engage, heal, and return.

Hosted by: LaShanna Alfred, LISW-S
Trauma Therapist • Speaker • Educator • Host of the 6-Figure Social Worker Podcast

To receive CE credit:https://uchangeeducate.com

Take The Build Your Team AssessmentBuild Your Team Assessment | LaShanna Alfred

Effective Communication for Retaining Youth and Families | Ethics CE Training

6-Figure Social Worker Podcast

Host: LaShanna Alfred, LISW-S

1-Hour Ethics Continuing Education (CE) - $25

EPISODE OVERVIEW:

Communication is one of the most powerful clinical tools you possess. In this 1-hour Ethics Continuing Education (CE) episode, LaShanna Alfred explores how ethical, trauma-informed communication can strengthen therapeutic relationships, increase client engagement, and improve retention among youth and families.

You'll learn three practical communication strategies you can begin implementing immediately to build trust, foster collaboration, and reduce barriers that often lead to disengagement from treatment.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL LEARN:

✓ Build trust through trauma-informed communication

✓ Increase client engagement using active listening and empathy

✓ Strengthen therapeutic relationships through ethical communication practices

✓ Improve client retention by communicating with intention and consistency

✓ Apply practical techniques that can be used immediately in clinical practice

✓ Ethical frameworks for effective youth and family engagement

✓ Strategies to reduce treatment disengagement

✓ Communication tools for building therapeutic alliance

✓ Real-world applications for clinical practice

THIS TRAINING IS IDEAL FOR:

• Social Workers

• Counselors and Therapists

• Case Managers

• Behavioral Health Professionals

• Clinical Supervisors

• Nonprofit Leaders

• Anyone working with youth and families

• Mental health professionals seeking CE credits

• Organizational leaders focused on client retention

CE CERTIFICATION DETAILS:

✅ Approved for: 1 Hour of Ethics Continuing Education (CE)

✅ Cost: $25

✅ Certificate Issued: Upon completion of all requirements

TO RECEIVE YOUR CE CERTIFICATE:

1. Listen to the entire podcast episode

2. Complete the Course Evaluation

3. Successfully complete the Post-Training Quiz

4. Pay the $25 fee

Your CE certificate will be issued after payment and completion of evaluation and quiz.

Get Your CE: https://uchangeeducate.com

Ethical, trauma-informed communication is not just a clinical best practice—it's the foundation of client retention, therapeutic alliance, and lasting impact in your work with youth and families.

🔔 Subscribe to the Six Figure Social Worker Podcast for weekly training on leadership, clinical skills, and professional growth.

Leave a Review - Your feedback helps us create better content for social workers and helping professionals.

Share This Episode with colleagues who are passionate about ethical practice and client retention.

💡 Get Your CE Certificate - Invest in your professional development: https://uchangeeducate.com

YOUR FEEDBACK IS IMPORTANT:

Thank you for investing in your professional growth and your commitment to providing ethical, effective care for the youth and families you serve. Your feedback is very important. Please let me know how I can make this better.

#EffectiveCommunication #EthicsCE #TraumaInformedCare #SocialWorker #Therapist #ContinuingEducation #ClientRetention #TherapeuticRelationship #EthicalPractice #YouthServices #FamilyServices #MentalHealthTraining #ProfessionalDevelopment #ClinicalSkills #LeadershipTraining

In this episode of Dear Future Social Worker, LaShanna Alfred sits down with Paul Bashea (Bah-Shay) Williams, LCSW-C, LICSW — Licensed Clinical Social Worker, psychotherapist, keynote speaker, and business owner — for a conversation on trauma-informed communication, healthy relationships, and what it really takes to build a thriving private practice

We dig into how to validate a client's pain without reinforcing the belief behind it, how to recognize when someone is in survival mode, and how clinicians can apply trauma-informed principles both with clients and in their own professional growth.

This episode is part of our ongoing series supporting Ohio social workers, family therapists, and marriage counselors with practical, CE-eligible insight.About our guest:

Paul Bashea Williams, LCSW-C, LICSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Psychotherapist, Keynote Speaker, Relationship Advisor, Business Owner, Entrepreneur, and Corporate Consultant with over 20 years of professional experience. He authored The Father's Journal, Dear Future Wife: A Man's Guide and A Woman's Reference To Healthy Relationships, and The Found Journal:

A Black Man's Guide to Self-Discovery.Paul owns and operates Hearts In Mind Counseling, a mental health private practice specializing in marriage, family, couples, and individual therapy, and the nonprofit Hearts In Mind Alignment Foundation, serving underserved and minority populations globally. He also provides corporate coaching and consulting to help companies address mental health and improve workplace culture.

His work has been featured on CNN, HBO, A&E, Men's Health Magazine, Essence Magazine, BET, Bustle, the Roland Martin Show, Huffington Post, TV One, Radio One, ABC, NBC, FOX, and CBS. Paul earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Social Work from East Tennessee State University, where he was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Alumnus.Connect with Paul: BasheaWilliams.com | @BasheaWilliams on Instagram,

Facebook, and YouTube

His counseling practice

Earn your Ohio CE hours with LaShanna AlfredTake the Build Your Team Assessment

Learn more

Dr. Quadasha Mcilwaine is a 33 year old dually licensed mental health therapist, business owner, college professor, exam prep coach, and children’s author from Charlotte, NC. She has over 8 years of private practice experience providing mental health services to individuals, groups, and families. Dr. Q founded Licensed 2 Heal Project, a nonprofit organization that promotes mental health awareness, advocacy, and empowerment to youth and adolescents. At  31 years old, she completed her Doctor of Social Work (DSW) degree from Walden University.

Dr. Q is also the owner of Licensed 2 Heal Counseling Center, LLC where she provides therapeutic services to those in need. She also serves as a motivational speaker in the community. Dr. Q's passion for the field comes from her upbringing where she witnessed first hand experiences of foster youth. Dr. Q is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc and is excited about continuing to promote positive social change in the field of social work.

If you are seeking help with test prep, reach out to Dr. Q.

Nakia Watson is a multi-state licensed clinical social worker, experienced travel social worker, and founder of My Healed Mind. With a background in hospital social work, foster care, and work assignments across multiple states, she offers a national perspective on healthcare systems, workforce mobility, and career strategy for social workers. Nakia is passionate about helping social workers expand their options, overcome fear around change, and confidently step into opportunities that align with both their values and financial goals.

Tireeka Watson, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker, forensic clinician, and educator specializing in ethical, scope-aligned court-involved mental health work. She is the founder of Anchored in Essence Therapy & Consulting, where she provides clinical services, forensic evaluations, and professional education for clinicians navigating forensic and legal systems. Tireeka is known for helping clinicians understand licensure scope, professional boundaries, and ethical decision-making in high-stakes environments. Through workshops, webinars, and mentorship, she supports clinicians in building clarity and confidence without compromising their license or integrity.

Email: [email protected]Website: https://www.anchoredinessence.com/

Shirria shares her journey and success in the field of Social Work and she's positioned to help others as well.

"I enjoy working with individuals experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety that result from life responsibilities, such as the overworked and overwhelmed mother. I also enjoy helping younger millennials and Gen Zers that are anxious or depressed due to internal conflicts surrounding adulthood, unrealistic or unfulfilled expectations, social media comparisons, and money instability."