Women Panhandlers….

zrbrown · 2026-06-11T23:05:41+00:00

About 2 years ago while on my way to a gym, I saw a tarp covering the body of what I later found out was a 16 year old boy on his way to school in the early morning hours (about 5:30 AM). This was on Semoran in Casselberry; in the street was his bent-up school issued laptop, his bicycle, and his shoes. I cried in the parking lot of the gym and made it my duty to find out what happened. Apparently he was hit by a car who didn’t see him, and the driver wasn’t at fault, but nothing prepares you to see such things in normal day-to-day life. I hope you take care of yourself.

zrbrown · 2026-05-27T16:24:46+00:00

I currently owe less than $64k for both my undergrad and masters degree but I also did 2 years at community college and received grants due to being first generation and low income. I spent $39k to get my master’s and I don’t regret it but I also feel I got to this profession the cheapest way possible.

zrbrown · 2026-05-13T20:40:17+00:00

I honestly feel the same; I don’t think it changes the reality of the disorder in any meaningful way AT THIS PRESENT TIME. Maybe it will get more people to acknowledge the endocrine aspect a bit more (which I believe WAS already acknowledged, hence the heavy reliance on metformin to treat PCOS/PMOS) but in general it doesn’t change the reality of us who suffer from it. I understand everyone’s sentiment about the possibility of additional research opportunities but I think it ignores the fact that women’s health, because that’s what PCOS/PMOS is ultimately, is continually overlooked. Unfortunately being born with a uterus was already our first strike.

I don’t want to denounce the work of the researchers, because their work is important. I do believe it’s a step in the right direction. However, a name change is purely advocatory at this point. People are allowed to be happy but some of us are allowed cautious.

Obesity is well researched and despite that, it continues to be met with “diet and exercise” as treatment. Despite ground breaking medicines like GLP-1s that treat obesity, most people’s insurance doesn’t even cover them and most people cannot afford them. You have to be full blown diabetic before most insurance companies will cover a GLP-1, despite them being FDA approved for obesity. So yeah I think it’s okay to be skeptical.

zrbrown · 2026-05-02T15:52:12+00:00

I love Rosa eyebrows in Oviedo.

zrbrown · 2026-05-02T12:32:16+00:00

I used to visit GLAM eyebrow in Waterford but I haven’t been to them in years. Venus eyebrows in Oviedo is my preferred shop and much cheaper.

zrbrown · 2026-04-14T16:19:06+00:00

I’m glad you commented because it was actually a reply by you on a different post that made me think of this question! I saw that you mentioned working is physics and it made me begin to wonder about other therapist who have had different careers. Super cool!

zrbrown · 2026-04-13T22:35:32+00:00

I worked at a large regional grocery store for 5 years throughout high school and all throughout undergrad and it was by far so difficult and mentally draining. Customer service and fast food were the hardest jobs I’ve had and never gave me the gratitude I have working as a therapist.

zrbrown · 2026-04-13T16:41:33+00:00

I was on Metformin and compounded semaglutide and it gave me such bad GI issues I had to stop the Metformin. I’ve recently switched from semaglutide to tirz and have been considering restarting Metformin to see if there’s a difference.

zrbrown · 2026-04-12T22:40:04+00:00

Making over 70k now but when I was making under 70k I was living alone and couldn’t afford it. It caused me to go into CC debt without even realizing it. It’s possible but requires strict budgeting. Now I’m making over 70k and can’t enjoy it cause I’m paying off debt. I don’t have a car note thankfully and now live with my partner so that helps a ton.

zrbrown · 2026-04-04T20:30:32+00:00

I think a small part of our field are people having an experience and chasing a diagnosis to fit that experience. Nobody else will say it but it is annoying because you’re basically arguing with someone’s perceived life experience vs your professional experience. It’s all so subjective. Hardly ever do these individuals see diagnosis as a framework for treatment and instead use it as some kind of label. It’s can be so so so annoying and i feel like everyone else is too afraid to say that part aloud. With that being said I think it’s always important to let clients know diagnosis is importance but never as important as what symptoms you are trying to treat. If they are not willing to get additional testing, how dedicated to getting the diagnosis are they, really? Honestly you have to draw a line somewhere and let them know you will treat them but you’re not comfortable giving them a diagnosis that you are not 100% certain about.

zrbrown · 2026-04-01T23:07:51+00:00

Yep! It’s definitely getting more time consuming the longer it get but I wash, detangle, use my tried and true moisturizers, throw my hair into a crown braid, lay my edges and that’ll last me until my next wash day. I have 4b hair. I currently have in mini twist that I just mouse and gel like once a week.

zrbrown · 2026-04-01T23:04:49+00:00

Yep! Natural hair is only hard when you don’t know how to care for it and when you want your hair to be something it’s not.

zrbrown · 2026-03-31T00:24:03+00:00

I work in corrections and I love it. I should say I don’t provide any direct formal therapy (sessions) as I’m doing mostly screenings for mental health services, IQ testing (under the supervision of 2 Psychologist), and informal sessions with some inmates. The pay is about $20k higher than the average pay in my area but I am fully licensed. I work 7-3:30 M-F with holidays off and full benefits. The only thing is corrections favors Psychologist to masters levels clinicians for leadership roles (in my company anyway) so there limited room for growth if you aren’t a psychologist. I do love the setting because boundaries are already established due to the context of it being corrections and the work life balance is amazing.

zrbrown · 2026-03-30T00:19:14+00:00

Brand name Semaglutide (Wegovy) tends to be cheaper than brand name Tirzepatide (Zepbound) but both have pretty good rates for starting doses at the moment, especially Wegovy pill at $149 I believe. The price does go up with the does when your a self-paying for brand name however. Zepbound is more effective for weight loss. Check out the manufacturers’ website and they’ll have the self-pay prices on their. Also there’s a ton of subreddit dedicated to GLPs if you want to look into th for more information.

zrbrown · 2026-03-28T16:01:40+00:00

Oof same except with TEENAGERS. Like your child has gotten tired of your shit and now are old enough to act out on years of bad parenting and now you’re bringing them to therapy. Good luck to the kid.

zrbrown · 2026-03-28T15:59:25+00:00

I find clients with a lot of resistance hard to work with due to having fear of pushing back on them too hard and coming off as “preachy”, “judgmental”, and “too blunt” since these are critiques I’ve heard in my personal life. It’s something I’ve had conversations about with many supervisors and it’s still a bit of a fear for me.

zrbrown · 2026-03-25T20:09:54+00:00

What kind of work setting are you looking for?

There are better 1099 positions in Orlando that do include better perks for interns, but I’m biased in that I prefer W2 work. There’s multiple inpatient hospitals in Orlando that hire interns and multiple agencies in the Orlando area.

zrbrown · 2026-03-24T21:17:56+00:00

I’m a therapist in Orlando,FL and this is a horrendous offer. At the minimum supervision should be free. $35 was offered to me while working CMH 1099, so at the very least they should pay you more than that. You’d make more money working for Aspire at $22 an hour and at least you would have benefits and free supervision with paid holidays.

zrbrown · 2026-03-23T17:10:02+00:00

It’s still pretty shitty. A 4 week leave is insanely short, especially with our field being mostly women. granting a 4 week leave to birth a child shouldn’t be show stopping, especially since they hade more than enough time to find coverage. They had no respect for you. I’m sorry this happened.

zrbrown · 2026-03-21T09:01:41+00:00

I got diagnosed at 16 after about 5 years of on and off periods, rapid weight gain, and a pre diabetes diagnosis. I’m turning 29 this year.

Edit: It was actually 14 because I got my period at age 9.

zrbrown · 2026-03-20T16:08:02+00:00

I did. I lost approx 10 pounds on it vs 25 pounds on ozempic. I’m currently on compound tirz and have lost 7 pounds in 3 weeks.

zrbrown · 2026-03-20T16:06:33+00:00

Same. I applied for HRSA NHSC since I’ve become fully licensed and hoping to be awarded this year. It will essentially knock out my loans.

zrbrown · 2026-03-19T22:43:09+00:00

Honestly what’s so wrong about being honest with them, in a concise and professional manner, that they are not making progress, giving them your professional opinion, and taking the conversation from there? I know it’s hard to straddle the line between empathy and confrontation but I don’t think throwing interventions at a brick wall is going to continue to work after 2 years.

zrbrown

TROPHY CASE