Hello Everyone,
I hope this questions falls within the guidelines as I recently found this forum and thought it would be a fantastic place to ask my question and get some feedback.
I am currently enrolled in a Counseling Psychology program and nearly finished with this program. As of this posting, I am scheduled to be completed with all my coursework and practicum hours (face-to-face only, 225 hrs) at the end of January. The agency in which I am collecting clinical hours has me at a school here in Southern California where I see students for various reasons, at this point I have about 150 face-to-face hours, and I have a really decent caseload so I will make the 225 requirement before graduation.
Anyways, I am contracted to stay at this school for the duration of the 2018-2019 school year which is Sept-June. I am at my site two days during the weekday, as well as having supervision in the middle of the day after I am at my site, or on a weekday that I am not. With this schedule, plus my school schedule - I am unable to work full-time until I graduate from the program - which is coming up rather soon, and that has been extremely stressful for me financially, it is almost a job itself finding ways to stay afloat. I generally don't have any complaints against my agency, its wonderful just I need to be able to live, not starve and sell all of crap just to stay current.
I started my practicum last March, and since I have not been able to work full-time I have been struggling financially, it has been very hard considering my practicum is unpaid (of course) along with the general high cost of living in Orange County. Thankfully I have a family, a significant other and friends who have been there for me to help out when needed. There have been times where I would have to skip meals because I simply cannot afford food, times where I had to sold various items just to pay my phone bill or car insurance. Thankfully the area I live in is completely flooded with residential treatment centers, and I have picked up a job that gives me some shifts on the weekend and some overnight which helps - but I am tired of living like this. Even though I signed a "contract" to work at a school for free, I am not at all afraid of my agency coming after me legally. I just don't see any court that would uphold that contract forcing someone to work for free, against their will.
My question is: I am finished with my graduate program at the end of January, and I see it as pointless continuing working for my agency for an additional 5 months (all post-graduation) - FOR FREE when I can find a paid full time job. I realize I can't get a clinician job title until approved and get an Associate # by the California BBS and would have to work at a lower capacity until then like as a Case Manager, however that would be full-time and paid... If I leave the agency and have all of my hours signed, its not like my hours can simply be revoked.. it doesn't work like that. At this point, the only negatives I see about leaving my practicum site before the end of my contract is leaving the students I see of course, along with any possible bridges that may be burned. I am looking for alternatives such as finding a higher paying part-time job, and or having my S/O move in with me to reduce the cost of rent.. but yeah. However I do have years of experience working in the field as a case manager, group facilitator, etc so at least there's that to fall back on, experience-wise.
If you were in my shoes what would you do? Any advice? Clearly I can use some financial advising but you know us millennials.. hopefully this post can help someone in a similar situation.
Thank you!
I hope this questions falls within the guidelines as I recently found this forum and thought it would be a fantastic place to ask my question and get some feedback.
I am currently enrolled in a Counseling Psychology program and nearly finished with this program. As of this posting, I am scheduled to be completed with all my coursework and practicum hours (face-to-face only, 225 hrs) at the end of January. The agency in which I am collecting clinical hours has me at a school here in Southern California where I see students for various reasons, at this point I have about 150 face-to-face hours, and I have a really decent caseload so I will make the 225 requirement before graduation.
Anyways, I am contracted to stay at this school for the duration of the 2018-2019 school year which is Sept-June. I am at my site two days during the weekday, as well as having supervision in the middle of the day after I am at my site, or on a weekday that I am not. With this schedule, plus my school schedule - I am unable to work full-time until I graduate from the program - which is coming up rather soon, and that has been extremely stressful for me financially, it is almost a job itself finding ways to stay afloat. I generally don't have any complaints against my agency, its wonderful just I need to be able to live, not starve and sell all of crap just to stay current.
I started my practicum last March, and since I have not been able to work full-time I have been struggling financially, it has been very hard considering my practicum is unpaid (of course) along with the general high cost of living in Orange County. Thankfully I have a family, a significant other and friends who have been there for me to help out when needed. There have been times where I would have to skip meals because I simply cannot afford food, times where I had to sold various items just to pay my phone bill or car insurance. Thankfully the area I live in is completely flooded with residential treatment centers, and I have picked up a job that gives me some shifts on the weekend and some overnight which helps - but I am tired of living like this. Even though I signed a "contract" to work at a school for free, I am not at all afraid of my agency coming after me legally. I just don't see any court that would uphold that contract forcing someone to work for free, against their will.
My question is: I am finished with my graduate program at the end of January, and I see it as pointless continuing working for my agency for an additional 5 months (all post-graduation) - FOR FREE when I can find a paid full time job. I realize I can't get a clinician job title until approved and get an Associate # by the California BBS and would have to work at a lower capacity until then like as a Case Manager, however that would be full-time and paid... If I leave the agency and have all of my hours signed, its not like my hours can simply be revoked.. it doesn't work like that. At this point, the only negatives I see about leaving my practicum site before the end of my contract is leaving the students I see of course, along with any possible bridges that may be burned. I am looking for alternatives such as finding a higher paying part-time job, and or having my S/O move in with me to reduce the cost of rent.. but yeah. However I do have years of experience working in the field as a case manager, group facilitator, etc so at least there's that to fall back on, experience-wise.
If you were in my shoes what would you do? Any advice? Clearly I can use some financial advising but you know us millennials.. hopefully this post can help someone in a similar situation.
Thank you!
