[acb-hsp] Workaholism, burn out, etc.Re: Career Testing Information

[Carmella D Broome]

Karen and Jessie make valid points.  I think my point is that  we all need to know why we're making the choices we make about how to work, when to work, etc.  Sometimes,  choices are limitted by what we're told we have to do by others.  In other situations, when  people are their own boss, they can decide, but  various factors come in to those decisions, such as  living expenses,  how much time one wants to spend working,  etc.  My point is self awareness and making sure we're  not operating under the tyrany of the "should."  Kind of like how each person defines independence in relation to  blindness.   I don't like  for one person to prescribe to another  person what independence has to look like.    

I was looking at the Live Career website earlier, and there is an assessment for  job satisfaction. I  haven't taken it, but   the intro page said, in part 
" 
The sources of workplace contentment varies from person to person, but there are common factors that impact your level of enjoyment. They include positive co-worker relationships, how you handle opportunities for advancement, appropriate work-life balance and, not least of all, whether you receive fair compensation."



I know that, for me, the  positive co-worker relationships thing is huge. I am very blessed to work alongside a great group of counselors. There is respect and caring  between us even though we're all different. We're kind of like a family and  I feel supported, accepted, and respected as a counselor and as a person. I  know that's not something to take for granted.  We go to workshops together,  know when something important is going on with each other's families,  hang out socially sometimes, etc.  I genuinely like all the people I work with.  How often does that happen?  



I also like that I'm doing a type of work where I'm not micro managed. I like the freedom to  do my job without   someone looking over my shoulder all the time. I have my own office and my own phone and  don't have to be  under a microscope or trying to work while there's all kinds of stuff going on in cubicles around me. I don't have to account for how I spend every second of my time and my boss is mostly hands off my work, other than seeing if schedules are full.  I am trusted to take care of my caseload, though she is available if there is a need for suggestions or   just for a heads up about  a particular case that is  atypical in some way.  



My boss seems to operate from the   idea that supporting each of us in our individual work and interests  benefits everyone else in the practice. Its sort of like,  as eachof us grow and  develop clinically, we share the learning and perspective with  each other. My boss will ask different ones of us to present at staff meetings if we attended certain trainings or   have a particular interest in certain topics so we can all learn from  the knowledge and experiences each of us brings to the table.  



Between all of us, there is a lot of knowledge, perspective, and experience.  My boss is available for consultation, and  my colleagues are, as well.  We meet regularly in small groups to talk about tough cases or clinical issues, but we also  catch  each other for impromptu consults, as well. We all know we have colleagues to run things by and   we all do at times and that's  an important part of  what's good about a group practice.  Having a boss and co workers who  want to help and support each other is  a big deal.   



Lest this sound a bit too eutopian,  I will hasten to add that it is a business.   There are expectations, and there is a hierarchy. Sometimes, there are personnel changes that   I don't know much about or decisions I don't understand.  We are like a family while things are running smoothly, but   none of us forgets who is  in charge and  how to maintain a certain degree of professionalism.  There is a clear standard held that way and   I have to remember not to get too comfortable.  The caring is genuine, but there are boundaries there, too.  That's fine and necessary and   I think we do a good job with the both... and... of being colleagues and friends.  

  

I also like that I have to continue learning.    I enjoy  continuing education and  being able to pursue  additional training and CEUs about things that matter to me. I like learning. My brain always needs to be challenged and I love the  thinking that has to go into what I do in  session and out of it in terms of gaining new information. 



I agree with Jessie that diversity is nice. There are some things I don't  do because I think they require specializations I don't have and don't want, but I like  working with  different types of people in various situations.  The  mix of ages,  concerns, and backgrounds  keeps this interesting.  I know what I'm not good at and    where my limitations are.  That's what I mean. I  don't feel the need to be good at everything.    



Counselors getting paid what they're worth is  always going to be an issue.  The issue being,  none of us will make what we should make given education and experience.   Anyone who goes into this work  out of a financial motivation is going to be sadly disappointed.   We all need to be able to pay our bills, but   if you want a career that is all about  money, power, and respect,  this is not it.   To do this work, I think there is a need for a strong sense of self, not a strong need for ego gratification.  I hope this means that those of us who choose to work as counselors, or in similar fields,  do so because we truly care about  helping people,  because we believe in what appropriate counseling  cand  be and do, and because we  take  pride in who we are as clinicians and the relationships we build with colleagues and with  clients.    



Insurance and what they  pay and  the benefits and challenges of working with insurance companies  is looking to become more complicated, not less, from what I can tell.  They're becoming more specific on what qualifies someone's counseling as "medically necessary."  Also, here in SC,  anyone who got licensed as a Professional Counselor by taking the  general NCE exam is going to have to  take and pass the  national MHC exam to qualify  to stay on certain pannels. I don't think this is entirely a bad thing, as there are LPCs doing all kinds of things and the  MHC credential will  clarify what  it is a lot of us are doing vs school guidance, career, or other types of counselors who aren't having to  assess, diagnose, and treat   the "medically necessary" stuff because we're filing insurance and all that.  



Counseling is  a career with   challenges and rewards and each of us  has to  decide how best to  go about this work so we can be effective and balanced.  One size does not fit all.  That's all I'm saying.  How one of us does it may  not be right for the next person and so on.  Knowing our strengths, limitations, and growing edges requires self awareness, integrity, and a strong sense of ethics.  Our needs have to be met, but not at the expense of our clients.  We have to know where we're effective and where we're not,  how much  we can do  and still do  it well, and what it means to have a personal sense of "balance."   Its not about judging or shoulds. Its about each of us    being as clear as possible within ourselves and  making decisions as much as possible based on that  knowing.  



Carmella Broome EdS LPC LMFT
Crossroads Counseling Center, Lexington SC
http://CounselorCarmella.WordPress.com
Author of Carmella's Quest:  Taking On College Sight Unseen (Red Letter Press 2009)
http://CarmellasQuest.LiveJournal.com
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