With her background in psychology and a clear calling toward the mental health field, Kiana Mitchell knew she wanted a path that offered both ethical grounding and flexibility. LSU’s CSWE-accredited online Master of Social Work program allowed her to pursue clinical social work while working full time and living out of state, all without losing her connection to home.
Meet Kiana Mitchell
What program and school did you graduate from, and what initially made you apply to your program?
I graduated from LSU's School of Social Work with a Master of Social Work. Prior to that, I received my undergraduate degree in psychology. During my last few semesters of my undergraduate program, I knew that the mental health field was where I wanted to land. After researching the different paths to clinical licensure, social work was the obvious choice for me based on the vast variety of career options as well as the strong ethical standards that I felt aligned with my own. As a Louisiana native who's been living out of state for the past 8 years, maintaining my ties to my home state is very important to me. When I found out that LSU had an online MSW program that was accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CWSE), it was the last piece to the puzzle. I knew that my next step would be as a Tiger!
What were your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?
I maintained full-time employment throughout my time in the MSW program. It was no easy feat, being a full-time student and juggling my then job as a director for a housing program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This got amplified when I added in my student practicum that required 16–18 hours of interning at a local agency. This had me working around 55–60 hours each week as well as dedicating time to my coursework. Self-care and avoiding burnout is a huge topic within the world of social work. I had to really look at my life and apply all of those suggestions many of my classes had taught! I prioritized, reorganized, and talked to my advisor. We figured out a plan that worked better for my life while still keeping me on track to finish in less than 3 years. I also leaned on the support and advice of the clinicians at my practicum site; it was incredibly helpful to learn from people who'd recently gone through similar situations!
What was your favorite course or topic? Why?
I loved the Entrepreneurship in Social Work course! This course is outside of what I expect to do in the future, but it gave me a whole new perspective of the field and insight into the help that can be provided to others through social entrepreneurship. It challenged me to think outside of the box and led me to learn about so many amazing non-profits in my own community.
What did you appreciate most about the faculty and support services?
I really enjoyed each of my professors' support and guidance! I always felt comfortable asking questions and getting clarification when I needed to. My student liaison was also a huge help. She checked in regularly, reminding me of important deadlines for registration and administrative tasks. With so much on my plate, it was nice to have this extra reminder!
How has the program impacted your personal and professional life?
I am now a clinical social work intern at the agency I completed my student practicum at, Red Rock Psychological Health. I've made lifelong connections here. I have learned so much about different populations, and found my own niche, working with individuals to help them develop healthy relationships with sex. If I wouldn't have gone through the MSW program, I don't think I would have been exposed to so many diverse communities. I feel much more confident in my ability to effectively sort through research; I have seen my critical thinking skills transform, growing leaps and bounds after each class.
What was the most exciting or interesting part of the program for you?
I really enjoyed learning about the different areas of social work. While I am still on track to work in the clinical mental health field, I really fell in love with research and the knowledge that comes from the work researchers do. It’s motivated me to work toward gaining some research experience in the, hopefully near, future.
What advice would you give to prospective students considering the program?
Consider your needs! Think about your life, how much extra time you have, and how much time you're willing to give to yourself. That's what this program was for me, a gift to myself. I firmly believe it was well worth the time and effort it took!
Do you have any special stories related to your journey?
While all of my courses were online, many of them had group assignments and projects. Through these projects, I was able to meet and socialize with others within the program. While many of us are thousands of miles apart, we were able to connect and support each other throughout our journeys. I keep in touch with some of the people I connected with during my time as a student and hope to do so for many years to come.
Is there anything else you want us to know?
At Red Rock Psychological Health, we take MSW students and are set up to take LSU students. This is a helpful note, as it can be tricky to find placements for out-of-state students. Since graduating, I have had other professionals commend me on my degree from a well-known school. This has been especially reassuring to me that I made the right choice in school, and is a huge reason to consider going with LSU! Geaux Tigers!
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