Finding a Job with Clinical Experience When you Have PTSD

[PatchSusan]

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I am really needing some advice. To make a long story short and without going into much detail, I have PTSD after being raped and sexually assaulted for two years. Before this, I was well on my way to building up my medical school application. I had a 3.92 PGA. My AA degree. Multiple scholarships and a service award for volunteering 300 + hours around my community. After the first assault, everything came crashing down. I trusted some people that only lead to a cycle of abuse. I finally was able to go to the police and tell people what happened. I am currently attending counseling once a week for PTSD.

Here’s where I could use some help… those two years about destroyed my application. My transcript has 7 withdraws. The cGPA I worked so hard for is down to about 3.60. The only classes left are my major science courses and I am not ready to take on a full course load yet while still going through the treatment for PTSD. Not only has my GPA and transcript been mard, but they show a downward trend. My parents were supporting me financial up to this point, but have told me they can only afford to do so for one more year.

My plan is to continue with counseling, take a half-course load in the fall, and get a part time job. I could still use clinical experience, but my self-confidence isn’t the greatest right now, and with no prior work experience in a clinical setting or certification, I don’t know how possible this is that someone will hire me. Any advice on part time jobs that have clinical experience, and don’t require certification (or the certification is something I could get in a semester) would be appreciated.

I have read about becoming an EMT-b or CAN but I worry that they might trigger the PTSD (while I am in the middle of this counseling program, I get triggered vary easily). I was volunteering in the ED at the local hospital for two years on and off but had to stop for the summer while in the counseling program.

While doing all this, I still need all my shadowing experience, to take MCAT, and get research experience. And I am supposed to be applying in a year…

Thank you for anyone who took the time to read this. If you do give advice, please be honest but compassionate in your reply…

 

[Goro]

Very sorry to hear of your woes.

Even with the downward trend, your GPA is still quite competitive. The essays in your secondary will explain the circumstances and any reader will come to the rational conclusion that your PTSD was the cause, NOT your inability to handle the material. I'm assuming the seven Ws all occurred within a short space of time. We typically associate these with a life event, rather than someone trying to protect their GPA.

I can't advise on the risk of your clinical experiences triggering your PTSD. This is something you need to discuss with your therapists. But not all clinical experiences are of the severed artery type...work in hospice, or a children's hospital, or nursing home. But also discuss with your therapist the pressure of medical school, which can be a meat grinder.

I hope some of our attendings or @DrMikeP can chime in on this, but my understanding on treatment of PTSD is that confronting the trauma is a successful treatment modality. So, perhaps work on a crisis hotline, or counseling sexual assault victims might be of use?

I am really needing some advice. To make a long story short and without going into much detail, I have PTSD after being raped and sexually assaulted for two years. Before this, I was well on my way to building up my medical school application. I had a 3.92 PGA. My AA degree. Multiple scholarships and a service award for volunteering 300 + hours around my community. After the first assault, everything came crashing down. I trusted some people that only lead to a cycle of abuse. I finally was able to go to the police and tell people what happened. I am currently attending counseling once a week for PTSD.

Here’s where I could use some help… those two years about destroyed my application. My transcript has 7 withdraws. The cGPA I worked so hard for is down to about 3.60. The only classes left are my major science courses and I am not ready to take on a full course load yet while still going through the treatment for PTSD. Not only has my GPA and transcript been mard, but they show a downward trend. My parents were supporting me financial up to this point, but have told me they can only afford to do so for one more year.

My plan is to continue with counseling, take a half-course load in the fall, and get a part time job. I could still use clinical experience, but my self-confidence isn’t the greatest right now, and with no prior work experience in a clinical setting or certification, I don’t know how possible this is that someone will hire me. Any advice on part time jobs that have clinical experience, and don’t require certification (or the certification is something I could get in a semester) would be appreciated.

I have read about becoming an EMT-b or CAN but I worry that they might trigger the PTSD (while I am in the middle of this counseling program, I get triggered vary easily). I was volunteering in the ED at the local hospital for two years on and off but had to stop for the summer while in the counseling program.

While doing all this, I still need all my shadowing experience, to take MCAT, and get research experience. And I am supposed to be applying in a year…

Thank you for anyone who took the time to read this. If you do give advice, please be honest but compassionate in your reply…

 

[DingoPingo]

I'd suggest being a behavioral therapist for children with autism. It's not strictly clinical, but you're working as closely with patients and their families as you can hope for, and hopefully children do not trigger your PTSD.

For an entry-level position, you don't really need any certifications nor experience. There are lots of college students doing it. It's a fantastic experience imo if you want to work with children or work with people with neurodevelopmental disorder. You don't get paid much (entry-level pay) but that's why you're going back to school. It's also something unique that I don't see on the forums too often, probably because it isn't clearly clinical, but the skills you can gain from the experience is really worth it.

I'd also suggest just taking a break until your triggers become less severe. Your mental health is much more important than your application to medical school.

 

[DrMikeP]

I am really needing some advice. To make a long story short and without going into much detail, I have PTSD after being raped and sexually assaulted for two years. Before this, I was well on my way to building up my medical school application. I had a 3.92 PGA. My AA degree. Multiple scholarships and a service award for volunteering 300 + hours around my community. After the first assault, everything came crashing down. I trusted some people that only lead to a cycle of abuse. I finally was able to go to the police and tell people what happened. I am currently attending counseling once a week for PTSD.

Here’s where I could use some help… those two years about destroyed my application. My transcript has 7 withdraws. The cGPA I worked so hard for is down to about 3.60. The only classes left are my major science courses and I am not ready to take on a full course load yet while still going through the treatment for PTSD. Not only has my GPA and transcript been mard, but they show a downward trend. My parents were supporting me financial up to this point, but have told me they can only afford to do so for one more year.

My plan is to continue with counseling, take a half-course load in the fall, and get a part time job. I could still use clinical experience, but my self-confidence isn’t the greatest right now, and with no prior work experience in a clinical setting or certification, I don’t know how possible this is that someone will hire me. Any advice on part time jobs that have clinical experience, and don’t require certification (or the certification is something I could get in a semester) would be appreciated.

I have read about becoming an EMT-b or CAN but I worry that they might trigger the PTSD (while I am in the middle of this counseling program, I get triggered vary easily). I was volunteering in the ED at the local hospital for two years on and off but had to stop for the summer while in the counseling program.

While doing all this, I still need all my shadowing experience, to take MCAT, and get research experience. And I am supposed to be applying in a year…

Thank you for anyone who took the time to read this. If you do give advice, please be honest but compassionate in your reply…

I'd recommend getting your PTSD under control before attempting any clinical related work! You will see events that will trigger you. Even those without a trauma hx struggle with the sights, sounds, and experiences.

Not sure what your counselors qualifications are, but PTSD really does need someone skilled in TX of such, people who work with female vets with PTSD are often some of the best IMO. I'd recommend a psychologist who works with complex trauma. Once you get the PTSD under control then you'll have the tools to cope when you are triggered. You MUST get these tools down for the experiences to be helpful and not just causing more harm. That is often the first step in actual treatment after building a safe and supporting environment, getting you the coping tools. Rebuilding confidence should occur along the way.

Do some reading on sdn on reinventing yourself. It will be a challenge to convince adcoms that you've overcome your past but you can definitely do it. Just don't rush yourself too much and dig yourself deeper or you'll have a problem proving it was in the past. Speak with your therapist on if he or she thinks you are ready.

Ive known a lot of drs with a trauma hx that have made it through. It will be tough but you can!

Best of luck

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

 

[QueenAudrey]

I am not an adcom or physician, but as someone with a few years of experience as a victim advocate for soldiers, I applaud you for continuing your therapy and urge you not to jump back in to clinical environments before you are absolutely ready. Don't undo all the progress you have made.

Please do not use clinical experience as a form of Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PET) for yourself, i.e.: I do not recommend working with other sexual assault survivors for the following reasons:

1 - PET doesn't work for everyone, and if you are triggered easily, it can do more harm than good. Try EMDR first.

2. Clinical work and volunteerism should be about the client/patient, not about you. If you are having a panic attack or flashback or bringing your personal biases into care, you can't do your duty. In fact, that is doing harm to the client/patient by taking away from their needs.

3. Actually, almost any clinical experience has the potential to trigger you. Sexual assault is often about taking away someone's control, and clinical environments carry power dynamics (ex: physician as an authority figure, people naked/vulnerable under hospital gowns, anesthesia, etc) that can be upsetting to survivors.

I salute your courage for wanting to move forward with your life. If you give yourself another year (or more) of therapy and perhaps non-clinical work to pay the bills, medical school will still be waiting for you when you are ready. Take a look at the nontrad forums -- you don't have to matriculate at age 22 to be successful. Good luck!