Personal Statement For Social Work

Doctor of Social Work Program Application Personal Statement

Ashley Newberry LCSW, LISW

As I child, I was introduced to the human service field in a unique way. For as long as I can remember, my mother has had a human service profession and provided me with daily examples of how to help others. One of my earliest memories is riding out a hurricane while we stayed in the adult group home where my mother worked, assisting with safety measures for residents and providing comfort to her community. My mother worked in multiple residential programs throughout my life, specializing her work with individuals with developmental and physical disabilities. She continued her work throughout my childhood, allowing me to have firsthand interactions with

I completed my Bachelor and Master of Social Work program at Northern Kentucky University. I used this education to begin a clinical practice serving children and adolescents in the community. I specialized my work in trauma focused care throughout my years as a social worker. At this point in my career, I have received an independent clinical license in six states and have directed multiple types of programs. I have always had a passion towards expanding my understanding of clinical practice and evolving my own practice. I feel the next step to better myself as a clinician, enhance my work as a leader and improve my ability to teach other would be best evolved through the DSW program. I plan to continue my work towards educating clinicians and providers in my field with my education from the education I will receive from this program. I feel that this path and dream would be achieved through a DSW versus a PhD. I want to better my practice and want to continue to provide leadership and clinical care to my best ability. With this level of education, I feel a DSW will provide me with the skill to reach my

I have addressed and support individuals through all types of trauma, heard countless trauma narratives and provided crisis intervention on all levels of care. I hope to advance my education at the University of Kentucky due to the experience and esteem of the trauma care from this organization. I completed my TF-CBT training and countless other CEUs to better clinical practice from this organization. I have supported individual and family care through the UK CATS clinic throughout my career. My future focus in practice will be aimed towards better identifying and implementing nurturing environments to better serve the individuals that have been effected by trauma. I hope to use this education to better the individual, families and communities that are affected by trauma. I have learned through my experience that a nurturing environment can prevent trauma, while also being the best support for trauma processing. I have watched clients struggling to survive thrive from the nurturing environment from one person. I want to implement this practice in all levels of care to better help our community. By increasing my clinical experience and leadership skills at the University of Kentucky, I feel this DSW program will aid me in this