Rebecca LaFleur, LCSW-C, APHSW-C

Bio

I’m Rebecca LaFleur, and I work as a Palliative Social Worker at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.  I provide psychosocial support, help with resource navigation, and offer brief interventions to patients and families dealing with life-limiting illnesses.  I work with different teams to make sure we’re taking care of everything—physical, emotional, and spiritual needs—all together.  I provide education to clinical partners on how to leverage palliative care services and I develop tools to help advance psychosocial palliative care practices.

Before this, I worked as a Clinical Social Worker at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. There, I was involved in conducting psychosocial assessments, creating treatment plans, and offering different therapeutic interventions like CBT and grief counseling.  I also focused on discharge planning and served on a few committees, like the Palliative Care Committee.

I have a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, where I focused on health, and I also earned a Master’s of Science in Palliative Care, specializing in the psychosocial and spiritual aspects of care.  I have certifications in Advanced Palliative and Hospice Social Work (APHSW-C), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Suicide Assessment, and Symptom Management from the Center to Advance Palliative Care.

Before diving into my social work career, I had over 20 years of leadership experience in retail management. I really honed my skills in operations, budgeting, team management, and getting involved with the community.  I transitioned to social work through internships at Paul’s Place and Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital, where I gained experience in resource navigation, street outreach, and care coordination.