TRUST YOUR HEART by Kate Usaj, LISW

TRUST YOUR HEART by Kate Usaj, LISW I teach Social Workers exactly how to INTENTIONALLY create a six figure Career by Design on their own terms! Let's redefine success together!

Welcome to Intentional Career by Design for Social Workers! In March 2020, I stood in my office, gazing beyond my manager as her words faded away, my attention drawn to the breathtaking view of the grounds I had called my workplace for eight years. This was the job I'd retire from, surrounded brilliant colleagues with the grand sendoff party for which our department was known. On that fateful day, as I was asked about a personal laptop and instructed to go home, I knew I could never return to the conventional 9-to-5 grind. Driving home, the realization struck me like a lightning bolt—it was time to transition from the role of a 'good and faithful' employee, but to who/what? Fast forward two years, and I've emerged as the CEO of my own six-figure business, making a profound impact as a social worker. Working just two days a week, I've discovered a newfound freedom that goes beyond the boundaries of a traditional career. Now, my mission is clear—to empower fellow social workers who are teetering on the brink of burnout. Like many social workers, I hadn't fully explored how my education and career experiences positioned me to reimagine my skills and talents. Since March 2020, I meticulously planned and developed three pillars for the career I had always envisioned:

1) Self-pay clients ~
https://www.kateusaj.com/Psychotherapy%20services%20for%20women

2) LSW Supervision ~ providing services to 75+ social workers to become independently
licensed
https://www.kateusaj.com/Ohio-LSW-Supervision

3) Coaching for Social Workers ~launched a step-by-step program with online lessons
for experienced social workers to intentionally design a social work career making more
impact, work less hours and drastically increase their income as well as emotional and
financial freedom. https://www.kateusaj.com/IntentionalCareerByDesign

I have the unique skill set, specializing in supporting social work colleagues who yearn to break free from the agency grind—a place where burnout is inevitable, and compensation is often insufficient. My boutique, supportive mentorship offers a step-by-step guide tailored to meet your individual goals. My programs aren't for every social worker; they're crafted for those seeking a shift—from indentured employee to a CEO mindset. If you're a social worker ready to intentionally design your career, reach out! Join a community of like-minded professionals and gain the support of an experienced mentor, guiding you toward building a six-figure business on your terms.

03/05/2026

A school in Baltimore has come up with a brilliant idea to avoid the typical detention routine that many schools rely on. Instead of punishing kids by locking them in a room, they replaced detention with mediation. You read that right—mediation, which has resulted in ZERO suspensions for a whole decade.

This isn’t just about kids sitting down and talking things out. It’s a philosophy that teaches emotional intelligence, resolution skills, and empathy—things that the typical school system doesn’t often teach. It’s easy to criticize, but the success of this system shows that maybe it’s time to rethink how we deal with behavior.

It’s a bold, innovative approach that could change the way schools handle discipline across the country. If one school can do it, why can’t all of them? 🧘🏾‍♂️✌🏽

03/05/2026

This is not a judgement, just a reality check.

Life is challenging and parenting isn’t easy.

What’s difficult as a parent is intentionally slowing life down so that we aren’t always exhausted, overwhelmed and stressed. When we slow ourselves down and slow life down for our children, parenting becomes more intentional, calmer, and in many ways kinder.

I wrote an article today - Creating an Unhurried Childhood” and it’s about slowing life down with children. You can read it in my Substack. Link in Bio

Are you looking for encouragement in your parenting journey?

Get your copy of my Award Winning book - The Little Book of Parenting - comment “Nurture” and I’ll send you the link to get your very own copy!

Quote:

For more, follow

03/05/2026

Life can change in an instant.

One phone call. One piece of news. One moment you never saw coming.

And when you really let that sink in, it doesn’t make you fearful… it makes you present.
It makes you softer.
It makes you more patient.
It makes you pick up the phone.
It makes you say “I love you” out loud.
It makes you stop sweating the small stuff.
None of us are guaranteed anything.

So stay humble and grateful. And don’t wait for a wake-up call to start living like today matters.
It already does.

03/05/2026

In a world where four-year universities are often seen as the only route to success, the growing recognition of trade schools is a powerful statement. The image features a group of men proudly holding up a sign that calls attention to the fact that plumbing, electrical work, carpentry, and culinary arts deserve the same level of respect and recognition as any traditional four-year university degree.

Trade schools offer an important alternative that not only provides students with valuable skills but also prepares them for high-demand careers. These professionals build the very infrastructure and services that society depends on every day. It's time to recognize that the world needs both traditional academics and skilled trades.

The demand for skilled workers is ever-growing, and trade schools are the backbone of a thriving economy. It’s a vital reminder that success doesn’t always have to come from a college degree. Sometimes, the true road to success is through hands-on learning and mastering a craft. 🔧🏗️

Licensure was supposed to mean freedom.Instead, for many social workers, it means:More responsibility.Same pay ceiling.A...
03/04/2026

Licensure was supposed to mean freedom.
Instead, for many social workers, it means:

More responsibility.
Same pay ceiling.
And no strategy.

Here’s what I see repeatedly:

👉No business literacy.
You were never taught how money flows in this profession.

👉Money shame.
You care deeply — so you undercharge.

👉Supervision that focused only on cases, not career trajectory.

Being clinically competent is essential.

But being strategically positioned?
That’s what changes your income and impact.

This is exactly what I teach social workers how to correct, while they’re still working their current job.

Save this if you’re licensed but know you’re meant for more.

03/03/2026

We have normalized martyr culture in this field.

Somewhere along the way, exhaustion became proof of commitment.

But impact and income are not opposites.

You can serve deeply.
You can lead powerfully.
And you can earn well.

In my supervision groups, we build both competence and compensation because your leadership expands when your nervous system isn’t constantly in survival mode.

Tag a social worker who needs permission to earn more.

03/01/2026

If you couldn’t rewind today, how differently would you move through it?

Slower?
More intentional?
Less distracted?

Life doesn’t have a back button.
That’s what makes it valuable.

Keep going.

I’m not crying, you’re crying… see beauty all around
03/01/2026

I’m not crying, you’re crying… see beauty all around

03/01/2026

Happy Sunday 🥰

02/28/2026

Integrity is attractive. Emotional maturity is rare💕💯

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