25 Super-Thoughtful Gift Ideas for Social Workers

I’m sure I don’t have to tell you this, but social workers are so essential. They provide services in hospitals, community organizations, schools, shelters, therapy offices (yep, your therapist might be a social worker), and in so many other places. If you’re someone who regularly sees a social worker for services, you might be wondering if it’s appropriate to say thanks by giving them a gift.

“It's definitely not expected,” explains Karen Balumbu-Bennett, a licensed clinical social worker in Los Angeles. “Social workers are really taught not to accept gifts.” Basically, gifts put social workers in kind of an awkward situation because they don't want to hurt your feelings, but they also generally don't accept gifts from people they're serving. She notes that as a client, you’re (in some cases) already paying them. Also, giving them a gift can also complicate the working relationship. “This is not a tip-based service. We don't want our clients to feel like they have to give us something extra,” she says.

If you want to redirect that gift-giving impulse, something like a card or small thing that you made yourself could be a nice way to say thank you to your social worker. And if you do ultimately decide to get a gift for them, keep it small and inexpensive.

However, if you’re shopping for a social worker who isn’t working for you (like a friend or relative), ofc you can spoil them. Balumbu-Bennett says “I would say anything self-care. Because helping professionals hardly care for themselves.” We’ve rounded up some of the best self-care goodies plus other fun, useful things that you can give as a gift to your BFF or loved one who’s out there doing good as a social worker.