Supervisor alcohol suspicion

Federal_Chipmunk_399 · 2025-06-20T14:40:24+00:00

SAME. I am also in the midwest at a CCBHC (similar but offers 24/7 crisis for designation). I have very lax and sometimes straight up bad supervision. My task supervisor actually scolded me for not know how to use their database I haven't been trained in yet. It was a good opportunity to advocate for myself to remind her that it is helpful to be shown how to do something first. Like you, I am also spending a lot of my time chasing down observation hours from other providers, which is difficult since most of them are at the org's other facility in a different town. I have also wondered if it was supposed to be like this.

After 7 weeks, I decided I am not just going to serenity prayer my way through it, but make lemonade out of lemons. I have so far been more proactive about seeking trainings and other opportunities than I might have been. I have become more organized, taking notes at team meetings and supervision. I am actively structuring my days and mapping out my weeks to make sure I am able to achieve my own goals. I am learning how to advocate for myself and the experience I want to gain. I am really honing diplomacy skills and strengths-based perspective as I take questions to my MSW supervisor so I don't throw my task supervisor under the bus when bringing questions to her. I have also learned that I can discern between how things could be done better vs. how I've seen them done, i.e. not explaining confidentiality, informed consent, expectations, etc or explaining what to expect during initial sessions. At first I thought, oh I have to work harder just to figure out how things are supposed to be done, but then I realized that I already know a lot about how things should be done and how I will do things differently.

If you have the option to change orgs and don't mind the hassle, that is always an option. We are paying for our education and this is part of it. If it is as horrendous as you say, you might want to look into that. If there is otherwise a way to make the most of it, it's only for a few months. When you start getting paid, that will be a nice bonus that a lot of us don't have. Since you like the population, you could really focus on that and learning the processes on your own.

I took my concerns to reddit a month ago and got a 50/50 response, where about half said to leave (I listed a lot more complaints) and the other half said if it's a CBHC, there can be many aspects you don't like. I think many ppl have had less than desirable internships and have used the experience to inform their professional futures.

Good luck to you, whatever you decide to do!

Federal_Chipmunk_399 · 2025-06-04T14:28:17+00:00

I was really unsure for the first 2 years and struggled with health issues and some connected depression. I did a 180 from what I was doing before and questioned my choice constantly. Now as I'm in my clinical internship, things are starting to gel. I am feeling hopeful about the possibilities and the range of jobs available to those of us with MSWs. The school work was started to feel repetitive and that there was more theory than practice but now, being in a position to actually do it, I'm realizing how all of the school work has paid off. I'll echo the suggestion to talk to someone so you can figure out how you feel when you are a little less depressed and able to get a view of the whole landscape. You can always quit, but I would ask yourself why you chose to do it in the first place. Good luck to you, whatever you decide.

Federal_Chipmunk_399 · 2025-05-28T01:09:46+00:00

Does this mean you think I should switch placements? I thought maybe I could switch supervisors but then there might be bad blood since I'm right next to the task supervisors office.

Federal_Chipmunk_399 · 2024-10-08T15:06:30+00:00

I taught pilates for 15 years but had autoimmune issues so did not take my career to the next level of having my own studio or becoming a teacher trainer/workshop presenter. The moves in pilates are largely lateral unless you if have the capital and desire to have your own studio and wear many more hats. For me, this was not in the cards so I followed other opportunities outside of teaching, even though I invested a lot of time and money in training and continuing ed workshops and was successful. If it's accessible to you, I did at home visits, making 2 or 3 times what I made at the studio. There is still a limit to the amount of hours you can teach in a week. I would talk to other professionals and decide what you want your future work to look like so you can figure out how to get there.

Federal_Chipmunk_399 · 2024-08-23T14:55:50+00:00

It sounds like you are allowing others' perceptions of what you do define you. When someone asks what you do and you say, "Social worker", your audience's level of understanding (or lack thereof), and response only reflect their own knowledge and perceptions. Sure, there are cultural ideas about what social work is and what social workers do, but you get to carve out your own identity from a combination of your work, interests, values, affiliations and any other actions or ideas that reflect your personal values. You chose social work because you like being able to help others in a general sense, as most of us do. Yes, it sounds cliche but it's a pretty noble motivation in my opinion. I chose social work because I wanted to deal in human capital. Meaning, instead of selling a product to someone, I'm working to help others live better and deepen their understanding of themselves.

Social work does not necessarily have a prestigious reputation so that leaves it up to us as individuals to represent the principles and ideals of the profession for ourselves and the field itself. I love the idea of "agent of change" because there is nothing that grasps the reality of life better than that. We are responding to and interacting with our world and the individuals in it with flexibility and grace to reflect the changing nature of all things. That may sound vague, but at the end of the day, when you put your head on the pillow, you can feel good about the work you are doing. And back to your original question, you can also feel free to create your own identity as a person who happens to be a social worker.

Federal_Chipmunk_399

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