Mental Health doesn't pay squat!

So, I am a therapist. My position doesn't allow me to have counseling with families. What I do for a community agency here in South Florida is Intake Coordination. This means that I screen the referrals, offer the families services, and open the cases if they choose to participate. Our program focuses on in-home services, so I go to the families' homes and sign paperwork and complete a Psychosocial Assessment, then turn the case over to the assigned counselor. I tell my colleagues, "I get to hear everybody's dirty laundry, then hand it off to someone else to follow through." I'm nosey. I'll listen to people's garbage if they'll let me!

Some days are better than others, but what makes it rewarding are the days I meet with families who really need help, and are appreciative of our efforts. Last week, I was having trouble reaching a young mother who seemed to want services. I stopped by her house on Saturday after working to confirm our Monday appointment, and mom was distraught about her daughter being sick, she had no money to purchase medicine or Pedialyte as instructed by her doctor, and her "baby daddy" was nowhere to be found. My heart broke looking at this precious baby, whiny and sad, not feeling good, and mom with no resources to make her baby feel better. I went out and spent $12.00 on some Infant Tylenol and Pedialyte so mom could care for her baby. When I showed up at her home with the supplies, she all but cried in my arms. All I know is, if I couldn't have given my infant son simple medicine to make him feel better, I would have died inside. I had people to turn to when my son was an infant. She has no one who can help her. So our agency pays $12.00 and mom is relieved and baby is better. Thank God.

Then there are those days when my referral is about two feuding, divorcing parents who are emotionally scarring their children by putting them in the middle of their bitter, berating, insult-filled rants. But even after my most professional and "for the benefit of your children" speech, they use excuse after excuse to refuse to allow their children to receive FREE counseling from my agency. "I can't do anything without consulting my lawyer." Please!! You are your child's parent - if you want her to have counseling, YOU give the "okay," not your LAWYER. And these people think they are being good parents!

So I learn not to take it home, and get past it. I have to let it go, or my heart will break. All I can do is all I can do. I love what I do, even the hard days, because I feel like I make a difference, even if it is only for one moment, for one person, bringing relief for one temporary issue. It better mean that much to me, because working in Mental Health doesn't pay squat!

So, that was my week at work. Home is good! I have a 4 year old boy who LOVES me, a husband who pampers me, and a couple of teenage daughters who grace us with their presence when convenient - they're leading their own exciting lives - please!! - we're lucky if they stop by and say hi before going to bed. Whew! So, those are my thoughts for today. Thanks for listening, and have a great evening.