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jaymoq
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Default Sep 30, 2019 at 08:35 PM
  #1
I am working full time as a youth focused disability counselor. The hours count toward my clinical counseling license. I’ve got about a year left of logging hours if I stay full time. I want to eventually do equine therapy, specializing in autism. But that’s a ways off. Like a long term retirement goal.

My job now pays pretty low. I’ve been eligible for a promotion and get glowing performance reviews, but keep getting passed up for other staff. When I try to ask my boss what I can do to make myself more eligible for consideration, she just says be patient and things take time. But staff less senior than me are getting promoted and I’ve been in my job for 4 years now without a raise or promotion and it gets tiring. I’m always given special projects and asked to mentor new staff. But- I can’t get the monetary compensation. And let’s face it- that helps.

I got exasperated the other day and applied for a job in the same company but in the training division. Basically I’d be training staff in the field. It would mean a lot of travel. Sometimes overnight. I’d be responsible for a pretty big region. A 5th of the state. But, I wouldn’t be doing client primary work. Right now, I’ll admit, it can be challenging for my mental health to maintain a caseload or 80+ clients. I am getting my counseling hours doing it but the pressure is high. This training job would be a different kind of stress. I taught for a few years in public schools and loved it but never got certified. This job would hypothetically mean more $$. So— more travel, but also more $$. I’d keep the same benefits. I’d stay in the same company. But I’d be in a new department.

I just am so torn. These jobs only open up whenever someone retires basically. And that’s rare. So, if I don’t pursue it now, it could mean waiting a long time for the opportunity. I’m still relatively young. I don’t have children. And I could use the extra money.

Downside- I would lose the counseling hours which means I’d have to start volunteering somewhere else to get them and that’ll take a bit longer to be licensed. Also, I’d be gone up to two weeks a month overnight (not consecutive but 2-3 days at a time). And my actual office would be about 70 miles from my house. For reference, right now I travel about 20-45 miles depending on which school I’m visiting. Either way- I’m traveling. Question is how far and how long.

I’m so anxious. My interview is in a few days. I know I’m prematurely worrying. I don’t have an offer. But I feel wrong accepting an interview with such mixed feelings. And even wronger if I interview and then turn it down.

I do want to interview to learn more. Like- what’s the schedule. How often will I be gone. What will my duties be. Etc. But I’m terrified at the thought of change. And yet discouraged at stagnation where I am.

I need some unbiased outsider opinions.

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Default Oct 01, 2019 at 01:17 AM
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Hi. I am no counselor, but I have had equine therapy through the VA at an outside facility that had also treated youth with equine therapy for autism spectrum. That sounds like a great retirement plan, but as a full-time job, they may not pay as well. Your new interview sounds like a great opportunity to advance, and to not remain stagnant in what seems like a job that keeps passing you up. Four years and no promotion, with possible ageism undertones - I would say moving on would be best. I am 45, so I have felt the ageism thing, and I have moved on and am better off for it. I am disabled and looking into grad school, which I know is different, but I studied psych as an undergrad and heard about different options. Getting licensed, from what I have read, may require a certain amount of hours, which vary by state. Even if you were to prolong your license, a new job may be more rewarding and worth the change and extra effort, depending on your energy level. I would also check out multiple openings and interview for them, too, just so you do not have all your eggs in one basket when something better might be there for you. Also, I have worked with different mentors, including one professional development mentor from the APA, when I was a student affiliate. If you reach out to them or another organization for early career mentorship, they may be able to give you more options and prospects. Depending on what your modalities are, there are also opportunities with juvenile justice, child welfare, crossover youth, children's hospitals and more. They may pay better, offer more flexibility, and offer more advancements. Just a thought. Hope this helps.
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Default Oct 01, 2019 at 02:06 AM
  #3
Hey @jaymoq: I read your post a couple of times and some thoughts popped into my head. Who is your boss's boss? What kind of input do they have over employees and compensation. You seem to be getting good reviews, given extra work, are used as an example for other employees so I wonder if your boss either has a personality issue with you or- is maybe taking advantage of you? Not that you can change anything but companies are all in it for either money, compensation or if its a non-profit- donations. Bottom lines matter. I wonder if your boss thinks you dont mind the extra work and feels like not compensating you or giving you a raise is sort of like getting away with something.
What if you looked up some stats in your field tied to compensation and general info about raises? My husband works for a famous ivy-league school granted but every year they have performance reviews and as long as they are good you get a 2-3.5 percent raise. On a salary its not huge but 3% every year adds up. In an hourly rate situation I have heard of raises in the 1.50$-3.00$ ballpark for jobs similar to yours.

Putting this interview aside I wonder if you have a meeting with your boss armed with info and instead of asking what would make you eligible- tell her why you are eligible and deserve a raise. What would she do? Fire you? Are you friendly with her boss or is her boss a bigwig who doesnt deal with peons? If you are friendly or at least cordial with her boss I wonder if figuring out a way to draft an email about a raise would work?
This interview is good practice no matter what you choose to do. All of our difficulties in life are meant to teach us lessons. These are just some of my thoughts.

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Default Oct 01, 2019 at 08:32 AM
  #4
@lillib thank you! Yes, the equine therapy is definitely not a replacement job idea. And you are right- I have 6 years to get my hours. So I can technically take a bit longer, find a volunteer site, etc. The more I think about all that’s asked of me without any compensation, the more frustrated I get. I’m young, I’ve already got my grad degree and a federal license. I don’t want to do talk therapy to be honest. It’s just not my style. So the license is just to be more marketable as an equine assisted therapist. I see your point though. Why stay in a job for a license I’m not going to be using any time soon!

@sarahsweets thank you too! I actually had that conversation with my boss yesterday. I work for a government entity so raises or promotions ebb and flow with the performance of the state, the agency, and the budget. However, there are benchmarks to be eligible for promotions. So many years, so many trainings. Which I’ve met. I think it is my boss’s boss holding it up. My boss actually is very supportive. But her boss is not. He has made it clear that he doesn’t like my approach to working with my clients. Which is just bizarre since a)he’s never seen me while working and b) the only reference he has was a client who was transferred to another site, so the issues that arose happened after I wasn’t even in the picture. But unfortunately, my name was still linked to the origin of the case. Le sigh.

I am so anxious to even think of something new. A longer commute. New rules. New duties. And maybe being away from home more. That would be a strain on me just because I also train horses so I’d have to size that back and also ask my live-in beau to care for my own horses while I’m gone.

But— I’ll never know if I never try. I am looking at other jobs. I’d even considered taking a job at a school district, even as a secretary, so I could get out of the job I’m in. I just have to remember the reasons why I looked for another job. And how difficult it is to not see any raise, even a cost of living increase, in 4 years.

Thanks for the replies. I do truly appreciate it.

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Default Oct 01, 2019 at 07:37 PM
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@jaymoq -- I'm the same way concerning therapy! I initially studied psychology and volunteered in a clinical psychology research lab to get some research experience and publish my undergrad honors thesis into a peer-reviewed journal. After spending some time there, and considering my unresolved trauma issues, I've decided that clinical psychology, social work, or an LPC isn't what I can do (I don't want to get vicarious or secondary trauma on top of the traumas I already have). However, I found that I loved working on trauma research, and it didn't trigger me to do so. I suppose being in support groups in real life and hearing others' stories while I shared my own helped me to desensitize that way before I completed my undergrad degree in psych. I'm now looking at victimology studies in the criminal justice side of things, or interdisciplinary research. My goal is to eventually get a PhD, but I have to get my physical and mental health manageable. My chronic fatigue is really bad, as is my worsening thyroid.

That said, if you don't feel like therapy is something you plan to do primarily, you could consider getting your clinical hours in at a slow pace while pursing work in areas you might love, such as maybe working as a paid research assistant or lab manager in a lab, at a hospital, in a correctional (criminal justice/juvenile justice) facility, etc. If you love to write and do statistics, then you could always apply for PhD programs in clinical psychology, school psychology, developmental psychology, cognitive psychology, experimental psychology, family and community based PhD programs (Clemson has a four-year PhD program for family and community studies that you could do online), or interdisciplinary studies that combines two or more fields (such as psychology and peace studies - there's a school in Maine, or psychology and environment/geology that looks at how green space affects people's moods, behaviors, etc.). You could also explore government work, work through a local Veterans Administration, etc.

Hope these options help! Good luck on your interview!
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Default Oct 03, 2019 at 07:33 PM
  #6
I just wanted to post an update. My interview was today. Yay!! I had to work all morning so I was kind of dreading driving over an hour to my interview. But- I did. The interview was 2 hours. For just me. I think it went well. I felt prepared for all of the questions. I think I did well on the fly.

I had to prepare a presentation which was kind of nerve wracking. But I did it and I then finished with only a second to spare for alloted time. If that didn’t demonstrate my (lucky) time management skills I don’t know what will.

I did find out Id be gone a lot if I got it. At least out of town overnight a few nights a month. I talked it over with my live in beau and he said he thinks that would be okay and he would take care of my animals while I’m gone. That’s my biggest hesitation. Not being home with my animals. But- only a few days at a time isn’t horrible. I just miss them. And my beau too.

I worry if he were to ever leave, what that would mean for my home life. I talked it over with some distant family that lives nearby and they assured me that they can come out to help if that were to happen while I figured out something more permanent. So that made me feel better. Of course I don’t have an offer. I might not even get the job. But- it felt liberating to be confident in myself and my worth. And the panel interviewing me seemed to genuinely engage in the process.

We shall see. They said I’ll hear something either way in a week. I have mixed feelings. I want the job but I also don’t want to be gone. Then again- if ever there was a time in my new life I could travel and really do this, it’s now. I’m young, I don’t had kiddos at home, and a career change like this can open up more doors for my future.

Thanks y’all for the kind words and support. Really helped!!.

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Default Oct 05, 2019 at 03:45 AM
  #7
Wishing you luck and sending positive energy your way. Keep us posted!
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