This is the eleventh instalment in Sophie Baker’s ‘What I wish I had known…’ series, where she reflects on her approach to practice when she started out – and what she would tell her younger self now.

I have over 30 years experience as a licensed social worker specializing in the areas of grief, chronic illness, parenting, raising children with special needs, military/veterans and palliative care.

The literature on successful practice with vulnerable families reports social workers' efforts in forging therapeutic bonds with clients, their ability to both recognize clients' strengths and pain ...