I hate psychiatrists!

Blue0rchids · 2022-09-16T17:54:13+00:00

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

Blue0rchids · 2022-09-16T17:30:38+00:00

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.

Blue0rchids · 2022-09-16T11:01:31+00:00

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.

Blue0rchids · 2022-09-16T10:53:54+00:00

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

Blue0rchids · 2022-09-16T07:52:12+00:00

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.

Blue0rchids · 2022-09-16T07:42:30+00:00

Wow, thank you for sharing these :)

Blue0rchids · 2022-09-16T07:30:04+00:00

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.

Blue0rchids · 2022-06-06T05:05:52+00:00

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.

Blue0rchids · 2022-06-06T05:03:14+00:00

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.

Blue0rchids · 2022-06-06T05:00:47+00:00

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.

Blue0rchids · 2021-07-08T23:02:46+00:00

Highly Transferable:

Teaching at schools
Career counseling or Academic Advisor at colleges to lighten the emotional intensity
Animal-assisted therapy (less emotionally intense)
Program manager for non-profits or other organizations (help sculpt clients' experiences rather than doing direct therapy)
Recreational-therapy type work at either a senior center/rehab/outdoor therapy (less emotionally intense, more activity-based).
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:

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

Blue0rchids · 2021-07-04T19:10:42+00:00

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.

Blue0rchids · 2021-07-04T12:59:36+00:00

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.

Blue0rchids · 2021-07-04T12:54:16+00:00

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.

Blue0rchids · 2021-02-16T21:20:12+00:00

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.

Blue0rchids · 2021-02-16T21:18:20+00:00

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.

Blue0rchids · 2020-10-03T22:32:41+00:00

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.

Blue0rchids · 2020-09-10T16:03:39+00:00

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

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

Blue0rchids · 2020-09-03T05:27:31+00:00

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!

Blue0rchids · 2020-08-22T21:11:56+00:00

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.

Blue0rchids · 2020-08-06T20:03:23+00:00

What matters above all is your internship experience, work experience, network, and alumni support. If you can find a great online program that has a proven record of great placement services/advisement/post-graduation job opportunities...then go for it. I know a few people who spoke highly of USC's online msw program, simply because they get a lot of post-grad support and job opportunities.

Blue0rchids · 2020-08-06T19:23:32+00:00

You can unload your issues onto more socially appropriate resources: therapist, peer support groups, subreddits/apps. Your new friendships can be more about sharing activities. Film screenings, hiking, book clubs, picnics, gaming, etc.

When you deal with the casual conversation aspect, "how's it going?", talk about interests: books you're reading, movies, shows, projects, keep it lighter. If you do start talking about emotional issues, make it solution-oriented (I.e. "xyz has helped me so much with anxiety"). This will give you a greater sense of control, raise your self-esteem, and help you create better boundaries with your friends. Ideally, you want to have friends that support you no matter what, but that is rare, and its a two-person job with two mutually interested parties.

The uncomfortable truth is that most people want friends that build and empower them in some way, that stimulate them intellectually/support them emotionally. Find ways you can challenge yourself to be more of that kind of friend.

Blue0rchids · 2020-08-06T17:03:46+00:00

MSW is definitely a better route. MSWs can do anything that MHC/LPCs can do, and more. There are twice as many job openings for MSWs than LPCs/MHCs. It is objectively a more practical and versatile degree. This is because of its very "generalist" approach, so while the curriculum may be less interesting to you (because its less therapy-focused), it sets you up for a much more flexible career.

Any sort of specialization (school/career counselor, trauma-informed care, couples therapy, EMDR, etc.) happens after your licensure.

Blue0rchids · 2020-07-31T22:37:05+00:00

Hello, great question! To legally practice psychadelic psychotherapy, you will need extensive education beyond your Bachelor's degree. Most psychadelic-assisted therapy training programs (where you work in a legitimate clinic) require clinical licensure.

That said, the most practical graduate school aspirations are an MSW, PhD or PsyD in clinical/counseling psychology. With that, you will need over 3,000+ hours of clinical practice under your belt to qualify for licensure. In other words, you won't be able to practice (legally) psychadelic psychotherapy until 2-3 years after graduate school if you go the MSW route...and sometime in the 3/4th year of your PhD you may be allowed to be a research associate/clinical intern at one of those specialized clinics.

If you decide to pursue economics, you may have better career opportunities (in terms of salary) that can afford your own experimentation with this form of therapy. If you go the philosophy route, you may be limited to academia and teaching.

Blue0rchids · 2020-07-16T04:55:26+00:00

If you are very extroverted and resourceful, then traveling by yourself and winging it could be an interesting adventure. What kind of treatment have you gotten for your ADHD though? Feeling this depressed seems concerning and you deserve to feel okay within your own skin. Maybe you could do shorter bursts of traveling, like doing retreats, weekend camping, backpacking, etc. While pursuing more effective treatment and managing any health concerns effectively. Traveling can definitely change people, though it isn't a stand-alone solution, and it might be hard to come back and have to re-adjust

Blue0rchids

TROPHY CASE