I Accidentally Created a Model for Social Work Practice

BY ERIN MANSFIELD

For a little while now I’ve been working away at two online courses for social workers, and in the process, something much bigger than I anticipated has come out of it. I have unintentionally but happily created The Circles of Translation and Integration: A Model for Practice Framework Development, Defining Therapeutic Orientation, and Reflective Practice in Social Work.

I’ll take you on a little journey as to how it came to be, but before I do, here’s the info some of you may want at a glance:

You can get a copy of the first release description of The Circles of Translation and Integration here
The model is designed to be dynamic and practical in nature. This is exactly what will be explored in my online course Dust Off, Translate, Integrate: Mapping Your Therapeutic Framework for Practice (affectionately known as DOTI). Anticipated release: July / August 2026
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Now that the model is sitting in front of me, I can see it’s what I was hungry for in my early post-grad years. For context, this was the point in my career where I was transitioning into counselling and therapy. Even though I brought 10 years+ of relevant prior experience, I felt like something important was missing (and maybe that’s because uni felt like drinking water from a fire hose - let alone the fact I was also an undiagnosed ADHDer, working full time, and either pregnant or parenting during those final years).

I was asking all the questions, consuming all the knowledge, and immersed in clinical and therapeutic work. I’ve been fortunate to work alongside and meet some incredible clinicians, not to mention being supported by some exceptional supervisors (hey, Pat and Kate!). Equally, I’ve taken learnings from the overt and covert dysfunction and crises in some of the professionals, services and systems around me.

My brain is always seeking ways to organise my formal and experiential learnings into a more coherent framework that makes sense to me. I’m also very aware of the challenges unique to social workers wanting to pursue the path to providing counselling and therapy. I know I’m not alone in these experiences. I’ve heard it from others, observed it in workplaces, and can see it in the hundreds of comments in online groups and forums. I’ve felt incredibly motivated for a long time to do something about this.

Long story short, I eventually moved into solo private practice. To my relief, I finally found the freedom and conditions to really settle into myself and get creating. I developed The Circles of Translation and Integration with DOTI in mind, but it wasn’t until the model was sitting clearly in front of me that I realised I’ve created what I’d always needed. I cannot wait to share this more fully with other social workers!

Erin Mansfield

Erin Mansfield is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker in her solo private practice Interbloom on the NSW Central Coast. Erin provides therapy with a special interest in complex trauma, dissociation and neurodivergence. She also provides clinical supervision to social workers and is particularly passionate about the profession's unique path into counselling and therapy.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country across Australia and their continuing connection to land, water, sky and community. I pay my deepest respect to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all First Nations peoples. Always was, always will be Aboriginal land.

Diversity is valued and celebrated here. Everyone will be treated with dignity and respect. You and your lived experience are important.

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