Simmons College, School of Social Work
300 The Fenway, Boston, MA 02115
Office: Room: P-412H
Phone: 617/521-3951; FAX: 617/521-3986
Email: ellen.goodman@simmons.edu
B.A.: University of New Hampshire
M.S.W.: Simmons College, Graduate School of Social Work
400: Field Instructor Seminar
446: Field Education
447: Field Education
569: Advanced Standing Seminar
My decision to pursue a graduate degree in social work was in part due to the variety of career opportunities afforded by an MSW. Graduating from Simmons School of Social Work, I have worked with children and adults in community mental health, clinical research, outpatient psychiatry and medical settings. My clinical practice areas of specialization include bereavement and chronic medical illness in children. My research has accordingly included family bereavement and coping after the death of a child, and psychosocial factors affecting medical compliance in children with high risk asthma. As a medical social worker, I enjoyed the many organizational roles and challenges, including program development and evaluation, in addition to my clinical work with children and families.
My relationship with Simmons was initially renewed through the Alumni Association, followed by field supervision, and then as an adjunct field and academic advisor and lecturer in Social Work Practice and Organizational Context courses.
I am presently full time in the Field Education Department and Coordinator of the Advanced Standing Program. I advise students, provide consultation to supervisors and serve as a liaison for agencies. I am very involved with the field placement process, primarily working with students who will be entering their Year II placement. Helping students articulate their learning goals and find a good fit between their learning needs and the many internship opportunities is quite gratifying. I have also been very involved with the training of new supervisors. Remembering my first year as a field supervisor, it has been extremely rewarding to teach the seminar in supervision.
A current area of interest and research has been cross cultural supervision and addressing differences within the supervisory dyad. I am also involved in research on the development and implementation of student standards in social work education.
While I maintain a small private practice seeing adults and adolescents, my position at Simmons allows me to contribute to the field of social work at a more macro level by training the next generation of social workers. I have found Simmons to be a very stimulating, supportive, and friendly community, and am impressed by our faculty's dedication to helping students learn and grow as thinkers and social workers. I appreciate the challenges and breadth of my job, and feel fortunate to have the opportunity to mentor, educate and witness the professional development of the students.
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