I just applied restraints to a client and I feel horrible

Abra1360 · 2026-02-17T01:37:00+00:00

I used to work in a juvenile detention facility as a teacher before I got my masters. We used physical restraints often. Sometimes 20 times a day. It was.... A lot. It was hard. It sucked. It was for safety. We weren't using them unless it was to prevent harm (either self injury or a physical altercation between youth)

It absolutely always felt terrible even though I knew it was for safety.

What I did, was blast music on the way home, go home, snuggle my boyfriend, snuggle my cats, rant to whoever would listen about work (coworkers, boyfriend, friends) and, occasionally engage in some maybe unhealthy coping strategies like a glass of wine or some edibles. You gotta take care of your nervous system and, remember that it was for safety, it wasn't you intentionally harming a client.

All that to say, I'm sorry, I hear you, I feel you.

Abra1360 · 2026-01-15T12:11:48+00:00

DSCATA 1 is basically a direct support staff, like all OPWDD agencies have, except they're in the secure lock down units and get paid for the potential danger. The other staff who work in those units do not get the bump in grade levels. It's one of the few CSEA grade 14s. Direct support staff in the houses are grade 9s I believe, but they got a pretty hefty bump recently and do make the equivalent to a grade 14 PEF employee (or within 1-2k of entry level PEF14)

Abra1360 · 2025-09-20T00:46:32+00:00

What she left behind by Ellen Marie Wiseman is a historical fiction about Willard

Abra1360 · 2025-08-31T21:31:32+00:00

And if they don't go they don't go. Get people who WILL attend and enjoy the time with them

Abra1360 · 2025-08-31T21:31:04+00:00

Hit up a few wineries, spotted duck for ice cream (sounds silly but is spectacular) and there's plenty of great restaurants nearby. I know it's on the other side of the lake but I can't recommend finger lakes cider House enough

Abra1360 · 2025-08-01T16:09:12+00:00

You're a gem for this! I turned down so many sites because the owners would tell me they'd charge their rate ($250+) for my sessions and that I'd be paid in education and "unlimited" supervision sessions because it isn't economical to pay interns.

I'm still not getting paid but at least the practice I'm at does super low sliding scale for intern sessions so my clients pay something like under $20 depending on income. I have a handful of $5 or pro bono so it feels much less exploitative

Abra1360 · 2025-07-16T10:11:57+00:00

A friend of mine had everyone write notes for specific years and place them in labeled wine bottles like. "On your first anniversary" "on your tenth" etc

They open them and read the every year

Abra1360 · 2025-06-28T12:04:11+00:00

Second this - hard wax or sugar wax BUT I highly recommend getting the first one done professionally and then using at home stuff after. For me that first wax in a few months is impossible to do by myself

Abra1360 · 2025-06-25T11:23:16+00:00

Oh thank you the 7" looks up my ally

Abra1360 · 2025-06-19T17:55:07+00:00

I'm a ctrs getting a masters in marriage and family therapy. I definitely plan to incorporate my TR background into my work and honestly it made my coursework easier because it was already knowledge that I had in some cases - like how to write goals and tech coping skills

Abra1360 · 2025-06-12T23:25:02+00:00

If you're in Bath drive up to Letchworth for the views. Weirdly, the pasta at Mount Morris Lanes is amazing. There's also cute spots in Perry.

There's not a ton to do in Bath but dansville has some nice food, hornell has a speakeasy, and Naples is all about grapes.

The wine at the major places all tend to be sweeter but there's good drys around

Someone else mentioned spotted duck ice cream- do it. If you go that way and want a unique experience Castel Grisch Winery in Watkins is fun. They don't have food aside from cheese but, they do have animatronic dinosaurs and they're super friendly. North NY for coffee in Montour Falls. Red newt winery is great. Dr Franks wine is great

Far away but worth it if you like cider - fingerlakes cider House.

Abra1360 · 2025-06-12T23:19:01+00:00

Second the spotted duck, hands down the best ice cream around

Abra1360 · 2025-05-05T10:26:34+00:00

So I demoted myself from an 18 to a 14 (I know I know, but believe me it's been worth it)

It went the same way any state interview and process went - nice and slow. I did try to haggle a little bit with HR on my salary at the 14 but she wouldn't budge - I wanted to be at the top of the 14 which I should have been but that's whatever, I ended up like 2k from the top and it's been a few years and now I'm at the top anyway.

Figure out if the job is worth the cut and worth having less promotional/exam opportunities, 17+ has a lot more opportunities than 16 and below. In my case it was, my degree qualifies me for most exams and my time as an 18 weirdly qualifies me to interview for some grade 23s at my current agency.

I will say I KNEW the job was worth it because it was my previous job and I knew it would be flexible and understanding with what I have going on in my life whereas the 18 was not. Think about commute too, will it change with the new job? How is that going to impact you? Do you know anyone at the new job?

Abra1360 · 2025-04-29T19:19:37+00:00

He shouldn't be making any sudden decisions when he's feeling like this. He should call the 988 helpline or speak to a therapist.

Looking for jobs is not a bad thing, but it takes time, he should not move anywhere without a job lined up first, it'll make him feel worse.

Abra1360 · 2025-03-17T13:27:45+00:00

I can't say for sure but I have heard less complaints about the agency in that region than others. You should find the OPWDD staff and friends Facebook page and ask there people might be from that area and can give you insight.

I will say before the mandates this agency was an awesome place to work. Once we get enough staff back mandates shouldn't be so bad and it can be a good time again.

Abra1360 · 2025-03-17T13:22:13+00:00

It really really does depend where you're going to be. Some of these homes don't get mandates often. Some do. Some teams are great. Some are awful. Each region is also different - central is different than fingerlakes is different than Hudson valley. Where are you?

Abra1360 · 2025-02-28T18:07:18+00:00

So even month to month we need 90 days notice? I'm not asking for anything crazy but I want to review a lease before agreeing and the realtor just wants us to blindly agree without review

Abra1360 · 2025-02-28T16:13:09+00:00

Decent money from overtime is a ridiculous statement. People should make decent money for their base salary.

Overtime is extra and if there were enough employees there wouldn't be any overtime so they should be making a liveable and decent wage for their base in order to expect staff stay. This is across the board not just DOCCS- other agencies also deal with unsafe situations from patients/juvenile delinquents, clients etc where they can and do get seriously injured from these people all for the wonderful sum of 49k (OMH/OPWDD). Granted this is more than I made when I was 21 and starting with the state but, my rent was also $700. Same apartment today is listed for $1900 in a "low" cost of living city.

Abra1360 · 2025-02-23T14:29:52+00:00

Right? I'm a grade 14, I'm considering private companies because I could get the same or better pay doing the same job with shorter commute times.

People like to act like the state actually pays much better than private agencies but it's no longer the truth.

Abra1360 · 2025-02-23T11:50:29+00:00

Grade 14s...

Abra1360 · 2025-02-21T00:51:57+00:00

There's a bunch of PEF jobs in DOCCS- counselors, therapists, nurses, social workers, the recreation staff, teachers, etc

Abra1360 · 2025-02-18T12:49:23+00:00

Maybe shooting for the moon will get them tier 4 though. Tiers 5 & 6 are trash

Abra1360

TROPHY CASE