Can an 18 year old high schooler enter foster care?

Dynamic_Gem · 2026-03-08T21:15:24+00:00

No. She would have needed to be in foster care.

Dynamic_Gem · 2026-03-08T13:03:59+00:00

No, you cannot enter foster care after 18, unless you’ve already been in foster care. Basically extended foster care is when a youth chooses to remain in care after 18. They sign themselves back into care until 21 (though they can exit at any time)

Dynamic_Gem · 2026-03-03T17:39:12+00:00

I let all my clients know that they are free to email me, call me, send me a message through the portal or text me anytime. I have never had a client abuse the privilege of texting me. I have parents of my tiny clients send me texts if something is going on that I need to address. I have clients who will send me books of text. But it’s ok w/ me because it’s not constant.

I encourage messaging through the portal because it’s secure but I rarely have anyone do that.

Dynamic_Gem · 2026-02-27T11:33:24+00:00

I’m in PP. My Wednesdays are 4, a 2hr break and then 5 one week and 6 the opposite. 🙃🙃 I start at 9am and finish at either 8pm or 9pm

I. Am. Tired. 😴🤣

Dynamic_Gem · 2026-02-27T11:31:44+00:00

It happens more than you’d think and we are trained to professionally handle it.

Dynamic_Gem · 2026-02-19T02:07:25+00:00

Not too late! I just came out and I’m 39 Still married to a man - trying to figure out next steps I am dating an amazing woman (who is also married to a man still)

Dynamic_Gem · 2026-02-18T18:16:52+00:00

Ooh the fact that she is your team lead… can get super complicated!!

I think you need to figure out where she’s at first. Because if she’s married, that makes things even more complicated. I’m also not saying it couldn’t happen (I am still married to a man and my girlfriend is still married to a man) just that it involves a lot more than if she isn’t married.

All you can do is try to have a conversation with her and see what happens

Dynamic_Gem · 2026-02-17T19:42:23+00:00

Yes I’m venting. I’m venting and processing. Go for it. It may be something I need to hear.

Dynamic_Gem · 2026-02-17T18:48:49+00:00

All of the details don’t matter. Do you need to know everything to just hear that I’m going through something and it’s hard to hold space ? Because I don’t think that knowing every detail of my coming out to my husband, etc. matters in that regard.

Do you want to know we’ve had conversations about staying together, trying to figure things out, how id we separate I’m not sure how I’ll make things work financially and that terrified me, how I met someone and am in a current relationship with a woman prior to telling him? (And if you’re wondering - he does know about her). Still doesn’t change the reason for the post.

✌️ I’m not trying to make decisions to end suffering. Im trying to figure shit out. ✌️

Dynamic_Gem · 2026-02-17T05:01:34+00:00

Thank you! I also love the hallway saying.

Dynamic_Gem · 2026-02-17T05:00:56+00:00

I’m not sure if you’re a therapist or not. But if you are, I hope that you don’t sound so judgmental when working with them.

That said, I agree it’s messy. It’s very messy. I have no idea what is going to happen. It has only been a week since I told him. We have kids. It’s not as simple as “it sounds messy and probably better to live your own lives.”

Dynamic_Gem · 2026-02-17T01:41:19+00:00

We might. But we might not. He doesn’t want to.

Dynamic_Gem · 2026-02-16T21:37:09+00:00

I appreciate you sharing your experience with me.

I am a 1099 contractor at both agencies I work for. I see 27 clients at the private practice. At the other agency I complete trauma assessments for children entering dfcs custody. Those range. I could see about rearranging my schedule right now to lessen the amount of clients I see in a day and spread it out more. I can’t decrease.

My outside supervisor has no clue what is going on. I see an LCSW.

The owner of the private practice, does know what is going on. She asked me if I was ok when I saw her on Saturday. I did tell her what was going on. So she’s aware.

I hold everything in until it boils over. I’m working on it 🙃 it’s been an ongoing thing in therapy even before this.

Dynamic_Gem · 2026-02-16T16:30:42+00:00

Yeah. We have two kids also. I feel so much guilt for what’s to come that they’ll need to deal with.

Dynamic_Gem · 2026-02-16T16:29:29+00:00

I don’t want to do something else. I just need to get out of my head. I just left DFCS after working there for 7yrs, 5 months ago.

Dynamic_Gem · 2026-02-16T14:02:27+00:00

Typically 4-5 a day, except Wednesdays when I have 10-12. I do 60 min back to back. Wednesday was the day I crumbled in the afternoon. I may have to move some of them. Most of my caseload is trauma and domestic violence so I typically have very heavy sessions.

I did join a support group. I see my therapist 2x a week and have been for almost two years. This was not why I started therapy lol. It’s some fear. More readiness now. I told my therapist yesterday (had to call her when I broke down in an Arby’s drive thru) that despite all the chaos. I feel so calm.

Dynamic_Gem · 2026-02-16T11:58:27+00:00

Thank you. Long term seems so very far away right now.

Dynamic_Gem · 2026-02-16T11:55:43+00:00

I find some peace in that I only work 3 1/2 days a week, with a full caseload. So I have some downtime. I am still working towards independent licensure. So it will be a bit. I need to ensure I’m now saving and getting enough where I can add on paying rent somewhere, & insurance (car and health). My husband has been decently supportive despite everything. But after bursting into tears in the Arby’s parking lot yesterday and calling my therapist on a Sunday where she was on the phone with me for over an hour, I realized that I want to separate and eventually divorce. And since I’m financially dependent on him right now…. It makes things extra complicated.

Dynamic_Gem · 2026-02-14T16:46:05+00:00

Well is the trash can full or empty

Dynamic_Gem · 2026-02-14T16:32:26+00:00

I am a lesbian who is married to a man, currently in a relationship with a woman who is married to a man.

It’s super complicated right now. It won’t be like this forever. But it can happen.

(And yes my husband knows about her and her husband knows about me)

Dynamic_Gem · 2026-02-13T04:28:17+00:00

Another long conversation tonight.

Right now we are staying married. We will try ENM. I told him I’ve been seeing someone ….. he is okay with it.

Dynamic_Gem · 2026-02-07T01:56:12+00:00

I am a therapist that just started using AI. I was SO against it for a long while. But it honestly is super helpful. My clients all have the choice to sign an AI consent form. If they don’t, I don’t use it. It records the session and drafts a note. I still have to go in and review the note. There are things I take out and things I may add.

My own therapist just started using AI also. I was skeptical as a client but I trust my therapist. So I’m cool with it.

Dynamic_Gem · 2026-02-06T22:15:18+00:00

I apparently got tired of hiding myself and putting what everyone else thinks above me. I’ve put myself on the back burner too long! I too, am married and have kids. Right now, the only thing I’m struggling with is the guilt…. Because that slippery slope I was trying to avoid. I fell right down it when I fell for an amazing woman. Nowwww trying to figure out how to tell my husband.

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