A professional role is a behavior associated with a designated function. Clients and society in general hold a variety of expectations regarding the behavior of social workers and the functions they perform—for example, social workers may be seen as counselors or "do-gooders."

The Generalist Intervention Model incorporates many different roles to create the overall establishment of a plan for each client. Though you will perform many of these roles during your social work career, certain roles may emerge more naturally from your strengths. With education and experience, you have the potential to develop all of them well. You explore the roles adopted by social workers.

Response to the following:

• Describe two professional roles that you predict will be most comfortable for you in your social work practice. Explain why.
• Describe one role that you predict will be uncomfortable for you in your social work practice. Explain why.