Master of Social Work

Terry's Career Journey

Terry Ramsey (she/her) graduated with her MSW from West Chester University in 2018 and is currently the owner of a private psychotherapy practice in Wilmington, Delaware, where she works as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) providing individual therapy to adults navigating anxiety, depression, life transitions, and challenges related to connection and loneliness. In her clinical work, she helps clients better understand themselves, strengthen relationships, and feel more connected in their lives, drawing on attachment-based and insight-oriented approaches such as CBT, EFT, AEDP, and IFS, with a particular focus on how early relational patterns shape current experiences. Alongside her private practice, she manages the full scope of running a business and continues to engage in advanced professional development, including doctoral training at the University of Pennsylvania to further strengthen her clinical skills and leadership. A typical day in her work is centered around client sessions, with additional time dedicated to preparation, documentation, and ongoing learning, and a consistent focus on helping clients slow down and reflect on patterns in relationships, identity, and emotional experience. Her MSW program provided a strong foundation in clinical thinking, ethics, and systems-based understanding of individuals, with a lasting emphasis on the “use of self” in therapeutic work, which continues to shape her practice and doctoral training. She highlights several impactful educational experiences, including her Human Behavior course with Dr. Stacie Metz, which helped her develop a foundational framework for understanding development and family systems, and courses with Dr. Julie Tennille, particularly an experiential training program involving simulated client sessions with actors, recordings, and feedback, as well as a Motivational Interviewing course that continues to influence her clinical approach. She manages stress through movement and connection, prioritizing regular physical activity, outdoor time, tennis, dance classes, and meaningful relationships, while also incorporating playfulness and enjoyment into her self-care routine. She advises students pursuing clinical work to prioritize strong supervision during the licensure process, encouraging them to seek external supervision or professional organizations if workplace support is limited, and reminds them that the early post-graduate years, though challenging, are a valuable period of growth when supported appropriately. Reflecting on her own experience, she wishes she had known that early career uncertainty is normal and that confidence develops gradually over time, emphasizing that staying engaged in the learning process ultimately builds a strong foundation for clinical growth and professional identity.