Pros
I've learned in life that everything happens for a reason, and that is the one "pro" I can take from from this experience. The experience i speak of is having the chance to meet my three other colleagues who helped me through one of the most traumatic times of my life. My colleagues and I supported one another and they were the only reason that kept me at this job for a miserable 9 months.
Cons
Where should I begin? I have never in my entire life experienced such trauma and disregard for emotional well-being. Throughout my entire 9 months of employment, i felt belittled, disregarded, incompetent, disrespected, discriminated against, and down right humiliated. Yes, I said 9 months. God only knows how I lasted past one week. My most unfortaunate experience I had working at this disgraceful place was losing my uncle to suicide. During this most difficult time, i was lost and torn between grieving my loss and prioritizing my job and the tons of paperwork not listed in the "job description". While reaching out to my supervisor who I learned to be so unfit for the position, I was told "when will you be returning to work". Not quite the response I was looking for. Then days later receiving an email from my supervisor stating what paperwork needs to be done which was lengthy and quite ridiculous if you ask me. At the time I thought to myself, what human being could possibly treat another person this way without support or guidance. Long story short, I took NO days off to catch up on paperwork which by the way never ends due to the ridiculous amount of corrections that come back about 10 times for the stupidest things like grammar or forgetting to input a comma. I went to work everyday Monday-Friday, took my paperwork home with me and still managed a full caseload of 10 families who were seen on a weekly basis. Not once was I offered some time off, a fewer caseload, or guidance in completing paperwork. I did it all on my own with the support of my three colleagues. I found myself breaking down in my office (caged cell) tears running down trying to grieve and do my job at the same time. I found myself providing therapy to families on the edge of breaking down and having to pull myself together. The mistake I made? Putting this job before my emotional and mental well-being. But like all life lessons, I definitely learned something and that was to put ME first ALWAYS. And how do I begin to discuss discrimination? I was the only Hispanic from my three colleagues and I wasn't allowed to do certain things that my colleagues did, such as clock in on my own, or have someone call my families on my caseload to question whether or not I'm doing my job and doing it correctly. When confronting my supervisor, and I say "supervisor" because what I really want to label that person is extremely disrespectful for this purpose, I get a response filled with lies. How do I know this? The families on my caseload would ask me why they are being called and asked questions like "is your therapist going to the home" "is she doing her job", while my colleagues families never asked this as they were NOT being called. Oh and where do I begin to talk about the environment. I've never felt so disconnected, disrespected, and alienated as I did going into that office. The aliens who worked there were not welcoming nor were they professional. Professionalism did NOT exist within the office or within my supervisor. I was never validated or comforted. However, was attacked, belittled, and spoken to as if I was incompetent. After a few months walking in and out with my supervisor not acknowledging any of us and leaving work early all the time, I did my best to apply for jobs while on the job. With the help of my colleagues I found a posting online, applied for the job, was interviewed and then offered the position. Did I take it? YES I DID. I mean to be honest, they could of offered me to work at a minimum wage job and I would of taken it because it would have meant that I could have my sanity back. So with this being said, this was by far the WORST and most traumatizing job I have ever had. I still have nightmares and flashbacks. I am surprised they did not shut that program down from the highest turnover rate I can only imagine. One of the best decisions of my life was turning in my weeks notice. So please if you are reading this, THINK TWICE ABOUT TAKING A POSTION AS FFT THERAPIST AT THE BRONX 149 LOCATION. The people there are truly disgusting AND unless you have a passion for ruining your life, apply :)