The Therapist’s Toolkit: From Clinician to Leader: What No One Teaches Social Workers About Leading Others, Presented by Maureen Schuster, LCSW

Graduate education and clinical supervision prepare social workers to assess, diagnose, treat clients, and strengthen their clinical judgment. Yet even experienced clinicians may find themselves supervising interns, mentoring colleagues, leading teams, managing conflict, or influencing workplace culture without ever receiving intentional training in how to lead others. This interactive workshop bridges the gap between clinical expertise and effective leadership by providing practical tools that can be applied across practice settings and career stages.
Participants will explore strategies for leading peers, navigating leadership-related imposter syndrome, giving constructive feedback, managing difficult conversations, and building trust without relying on formal authority. Through real-world examples and practical leadership tools, attendees will examine how developing others—not simply solving problems—creates stronger teams, greater professional confidence, and healthier workplace cultures.
Whether participants are formal supervisors, seasoned clinicians, emerging leaders, or influential team members without a leadership title, this session will provide a practical toolkit for moving from clinical expertise to meaningful leadership.

Maureen Schuster, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker, therapist, speaker, and trainer with more than 20 years of experience in behavioral health, clinical supervision, leadership development, and adult education. She maintains a private psychotherapy practice while also serving as Director of Resident Services and Quality Assurance for a national affordable housing organization, where she develops and delivers professional training focused on communication, leadership, and workforce development. Maureen has presented for schools of social work, facilitated professional and community education programs, and trained Parkinson’s disease support group facilitators and leaders. Her passion is helping clinicians and helping professionals strengthen their leadership skills, build resilient teams, and create workplace cultures where people can thrive.