Chantal Gray

Chantal Gray

Job Description

In the field of Social Work, there is so many things you can do. As a social worker, you’d be the person a child, peer, parent or your family could talk to. You’d listen to their feelings and help them figure out what they can do to feel better or to solve their problems.

Social workers work with all kinds of people, from kids like you to adults, families, and even whole communities. They might help families find food or a safe place to live, or they might work at schools to help students with their emotions or to stop bullying. They also work in hospitals, helping patients and their families cope with illnesses or tough situations. Also, they can work in the justice system or provide therapy.

So, being a social worker is like being a caring friend who wants to make the world a better place by supporting people who need it most.

Relevant School Subjects

Business

Areas Of Expertise

Education & Social Services

Career Story

My career path started by volunteering within the community at various local community services in Hamilton which I enjoyed. Also, my mother started attending school to switch career paths to become a social worker, which I admired. In my last year of high school, I completed a Co-op opportunity at a young women’s shelter for young women who were pregnant or needed support with their babies. This opportunity gave me a better understanding of the field and what it entailed, which I liked and as a result, I chose to go full force ahead in Social Work. So I applied to university and attended York University, which was a 4-year program. Once I finished, I worked part-time or casually at various jobs such as a daycare, group home, and crisis centre, these organizations gave me great skills that I could use but realized that they were not my passion. I then went to Toronto Metropolitan University to complete my Master of Social Worker which was a year program. I then started working in a program called SNAP full-time for 2 years, and I was introduced to by a peer about private practice and started working in various private practices. I left the SNAP program and then started a new job as an Individual and Family Services Worker at Family Services York Region for a year then the pandemic hit. My mother and I decided to start our private practice, Winrose Oasis Counselling Services, as the pandemic provided us more time to work. We started Winrose Oasis Counselling Services and within a year, I went from part-time to working full-time and left the job at Family Services York Region. We are now 4 years in and continuing to grow and we have added new contractors. There has still be ups and downs but I am enjoying learning and growing and supporting the community to improve their mental health and wellness.