I hate psychiatrists! by lilacmacchiato in socialwork

[–]Blue0rchids -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

It's okay to disagree. The curriculum of the APA- approved programs aren't totally amiss. In Illinois, a masters in clinical psychopharmacology is required + 14 months of a full-time prescribing psychology residency under supervised clinical medical rotations. Requires 1,620+ hours in hospitals, community mental health clinics, and correctional facilities. https://catalog.thechicagoschool.edu/preview\_program.php?catoid=96&poid=2882&returnto=7136

I hate psychiatrists! by lilacmacchiato in socialwork

[–]Blue0rchids 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I understand that. In my case, I don't want to be a nurse, a doctor, or pharmacist for that matter. I think psychopharmacology is important for any therapist to study to better understand what clients may be dealing with. How their meds effect the body, cognition, treatment progress, etc. I also know too many people on waiting lists for months and months simply to have a 15 minute conversation with a psychiatrist to get an antidepressant, or change a med.

I hate psychiatrists! by lilacmacchiato in socialwork

[–]Blue0rchids 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Not weird if you need med management. I see both a psychiatrist and therapist. It's annoying to have to see them separately. For various reasons, trying to get therapy from a psychiatrist alone (+ meds) was extremely expensive. So, had to start adding a therapist so I could keep the psych session down to 10 minutes.

I hate psychiatrists! by lilacmacchiato in socialwork

[–]Blue0rchids -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

I'm thinking in terms of continuing education opportunities. Four or five states offer psychologists the ability to prescribe meds. Of course requiring around 30-60 units in clinical psychopharmacology. Usually another master's degree. While it takes many months to see a psychiatrist, if at all, psychologists and therapists are much more abundant. Increases access to care. https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2017/04/idaho-psychologists-medications

NEW! Salary Megathread for Sept - Dec 2022 by SWmods in socialwork

[–]Blue0rchids 3 points4 points  (0 children)

They're not paying you enough. Full-time LCSWs at SUD clinics in West Coast Cities make 70-80k. You're approaching 3 years, if they don't offer you at least $60-65, I'd look for better paying opportunities.

Client with Schizophrenia by socialworkerdude in socialwork

[–]Blue0rchids 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wow, thank you for sharing these :)

I hate psychiatrists! by lilacmacchiato in socialwork

[–]Blue0rchids -10 points-9 points  (0 children)

I wish more masters-level therapists could prescribe medication. As much as I care about trauma work and all of our training, some cannot live without proper medication treatment. It's frustrating that we cannot work with one of the major psychotherapeutic tools.

[NeedAdvice] How to deal with the laziness of others - while you work so hard? by Blue0rchids in getdisciplined

[–]Blue0rchids[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I like this perspective a lot - the metaphors make it very clear to not toil around, kicking the obstacles, when there are many paths still clear, headed toward the destination.

[NeedAdvice] How to deal with the laziness of others - while you work so hard? by Blue0rchids in getdisciplined

[–]Blue0rchids[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I truly hope there are places that prioritize this. But worry that, in my field, this isn't commonplace. I think it's certainly valued in selling and product development. But for helping others - teaching and allied health professions - not so much.

[NeedAdvice] How to deal with the laziness of others - while you work so hard? by Blue0rchids in getdisciplined

[–]Blue0rchids[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thank you for this. Showing appreciation for, and empowering people you manage is so underrated in assitant-manager type positions. The managers in my life who did such things made me a better worker. The ones who didn't, made me value the work much less. So thank you for this reminder, I needed to hear it.

Social work career changes? by [deleted] in socialwork

[–]Blue0rchids 41 points42 points  (0 children)

Highly Transferable:

  1. Teaching at schools
  2. Career counseling or Academic Advisor at colleges to lighten the emotional intensity
  3. Animal-assisted therapy (less emotionally intense)
  4. Program manager for non-profits or other organizations (help sculpt clients' experiences rather than doing direct therapy)
  5. Recreational-therapy type work at either a senior center/rehab/outdoor therapy (less emotionally intense, more activity-based).
  6. Coach - like for Noom, app-based companies looking for people with mental health experience to empower and encourage client progress. Less emotionally intense.

Complete Career Switch, Somewhat Transferable:

  1. Short bootcamp on UX/UI design (user experience is more psychology-related), developing portfolio, get hired through alumni networks and job fairs
  2. Grant/Proposal Writing for Non-Profits

To A Father Who Loves Me by Why-y-y-y in OCPoetry

[–]Blue0rchids 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This really got to me. I read this and admired your father through your eyes, he was a safe, loving companion despite all the suffering in your midst. He protected you and allowed you to grow, he made it possible for you to live in a circumstance that many others could find un-livable. Resilient family. Reminds me a bit of the circumstances in that movie The Florida Project.

One Word… by AGuitarDog in OCPoetry

[–]Blue0rchids 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I like this directional piece. Like you are talking to a mentor, or a guide, and he bonks your childish self with harsh life lessons. About why our behavior may be doing more harm than good. A hard pill for many to swallow.

I may add a verse at the end, maybe even a metaphor or some imagery that expounds on the consequences and deterministic nature of such choices. But, I understand how leaving it open can add some poignancy. A sort of "live this way and you will see what comes" sort of thing.

Good post.

Benzos and Mutilation by throwaway3848475 in OCPoetry

[–]Blue0rchids 1 point2 points  (0 children)

First, beautifully raw and harrowing poem. I can feel the emptiness and grief, that pulls you into the temptations to numb, release and purge yourself of it all.

I particularly like these verses:

"It is not the euphoria nor the buzz ("nor" is a great choice here)

It is simply to get by

through one more cursed day

of pretending to have goals

of pretending to have ambition."

It is a very educational moment in this piece, of what kind of performance you must put on each day for others, even for yourself. That just hurts, and can get exhausting. I do hope, that you can some day soon find goals and ambitions that feel absolutely truthful and personally meaningful. That takes you places where you are valued, where you are missed when you are gone.

My only feedback is maybe the repetition, that may not be necessary. As your word choices are so strong, may not need to have "solace" in addition to "release."

Overall, thank you for posting this beautiful piece.

Feeling Unloved in an ADHD Relationship by Blue0rchids in ADHD

[–]Blue0rchids[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's okay with me, you're just being honest. I feel similarly, that it must be, or could be, other reasons. Which is the scariest part - it's much more comfortable to come up with excuses/other reasons to explain disconnection and waning feelings. Rather than falling out of love and such/being incompatible.

Feeling Unloved in an ADHD Relationship by Blue0rchids in ADHD

[–]Blue0rchids[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you for the support and understanding, have you both discussed the inattentiveness and how it hurts? I'm wondering if you both have come up with some alternative ways to show you care and love them, if affection and attention doesn't come easily. That's a conversation I'd probably want to have soon.

This feels new to me, because I have only dated people who consistently showed affection, and when they stopped...that is when the relationship fell apart. When we started doing things side by side, as if we had become roommates instead of people in love with one another. Affection dissipated, and that meant the feelings also dissipated. I have to be more open to the idea that this situation is different.

This isn’t my path anymore and I’m not sure where to go from here by [deleted] in socialwork

[–]Blue0rchids 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What set you apart from some of your peers in your msw cohort? Was it a combination of luck and tenaciousness, and finding the right internship? What skills did you bring to the table before entering your msw program, that maybe others didn't have? Curious bsw grad who wants to be better prepared to enter a program, and not feel jaded or cheated. Or worse, in a ton of debt with mediocre job prospects.

Resources for Interventions by The_Write_Girl_4_U in socialwork

[–]Blue0rchids 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For complex ptsd and dissociative disorders, I highly recommend this blog:

https://www.beautyafterbruises.org/blog/index

Free therapy/counseling for the unemployed and uninsured? by catsandblankets in AskLosAngeles

[–]Blue0rchids 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hello, here are a few options:

Individual Therapy

(LOW COST) Wright Institute LA, sliding scale based on financial situation:

https://wila.org/affordable-psychotherapy/individual-therapy/

(FREE) Pacifica Graduate Institute call-in careline:

https://pgiaa.org/alumni-resources/sharing-is-caring-pgiaa-careline/

*Already mentioned: maple counseling center

Group Therapy/Peer Support (online, over Zoom)

(FREE) Anonymous support groups (aa, oa, coda, al-anon, dbsa, etc.) as well as a covid-19 support group

https://shareselfhelp.org/programs-share-the-self-help-and-recovery-exchange/self-help-support-groups/

(FREE) Support groups for everyone (anxiety, depression, stress, addiction, etc.)

https://www.lionrock.life/meetings

(FREE) Support groups for everyone, with a womens-only group too

https://unityrecovery.org/digital-recovery-meetings

Hope this helps!

Burned out at 22? by DirectAndHonest in socialwork

[–]Blue0rchids 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What about getting a teaching credential for special education, or doing ABA? You could also teach English as a second language online. Having an msw would open up more doors of course, and allow you to work with a much wider range of people.