Terminated from my practicum

[forensicpsychjy]

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So I’m in my second year for a Psy.D in clinical forensic psychology. The practicum placement proceedings are already really shaky for us because we’re a new segment to professional psychology. So I started my practicum placement in July. And I recently got terminated. Very long story short, something happened in the beginning of my practicum (out of my control and reach((another colleague sent out an e-mail with my personal information to the practicum site)) that left me on high watch and put on a contract of making boundaries. They said if I didn’t follow this, I would be terminated. So obviously I was super anxious and stressed out about being perfect. I already knew and felt that the director did not like me and would probably find any way to terminate me.

Something happened last week – I saw a client and told an intern a different time than I had told my supervisor. They saw this contradiction and said it was a lie and terminated me on the spot. This kind of incident was not outlined in the contract but they terminated me anyways.

So basically I am put back a year, behind in my practicum placement, and I’ll have to explain it to my next practicum applications and internship application (which is already extremely difficult) I’m filing a grievance report. Does anybody have any advice? Any thing I can do? Where do I go from here? Thanks for any kinda advice/guidance.

 

[CheetahGirl]

So I'm in my second year for a Psy.D in clinical forensic psychology. The practicum placement proceedings are already really shaky for us because we're a new segment to professional psychology. So I started my practicum placement in July. And I recently got terminated. Very long story short, something happened in the beginning of my practicum (out of my control and reach((another colleague sent out an e-mail with my personal information to the practicum site)) that left me on high watch and put on a contract of making boundaries. They said if I didn't follow this, I would be terminated. So obviously I was super anxious and stressed out about being perfect. I already knew and felt that the director did not like me and would probably find any way to terminate me.

Something happened last week – I saw a client and told an intern a different time than I had told my supervisor. They saw this contradiction and said it was a lie and terminated me on the spot. This kind of incident was not outlined in the contract but they terminated me anyways.

So basically I am put back a year, behind in my practicum placement, and I'll have to explain it to my next practicum applications and internship application (which is already extremely difficult) I'm filing a grievance report. Does anybody have any advice? Any thing I can do? Where do I go from here? Thanks for any kinda advice/guidance.

That sounds rough.

Sorry to hear it. If I were in your shoes, I would "own" your faults (the initial transgression, as well as the subsequent transgression). Figure out your part in it all and learn from your mistakes. Then, make sure you can explain it so removes the suspicions regarding your judgment (like 'I learned about boundaries & organizational details in the most difficult way: My private/personal information was made available to both staff and current patients…along with a scheduling conflict, contributed to my termination.' I would refrain from saying 'A text image of my pee-pee was emailed to staff and patients learned of it.'...or whatever it was. Now is not the time to be wild & crazy guys.). MODS - I will edit this if necessary.

Then, go to your department/advisor and see how you could remedy this within the Good Graces of your department. Ask if you could spend a semester as a TA or finding another practicum placement that would provide some sort of beneficial experience (stocking shelves, answering phones – grunt work).

Or spend this time-off working on the next step in your plan (thesis, dissertation idea).

There's a lot to negotiate in these programs. Being sharp is key to this field. 'Bringing bridges' is a no-no. Otherwise, you fall behind, and stay behind or move on ~

Good luck to you.

 

[PsychResearch]

What do you mean by

"'Bringing bridges' is a no-no. Otherwise, you fall behind, and stay behind or move on ~" ?

 

[CheetahGirl]

What do you mean by

"'Bringing bridges' is a no-no. Otherwise, you fall behind, and stay behind or move on ~" ?

I should be working...

Bringing bridges - try not to get fired. "No-no" - say it a lot, esp around children. Fall behind - you're behind your cohort group by 1-2 semesters, maybe more. Left behind - you quit your program or modify it - stop after masters. Move on - transfer, pick up a different career and the "~" is meant to be cool 😎 in hopes to bring wit to the situation, not gloom & doom. 🙁

Life is too short.

 

[PsychResearch]

I should be working...

Bringing bridges - try not to get fired. "No-no" - say it a lot, esp around children. Fall behind - you're behind your cohort group by 1-2 semesters, maybe more. Left behind - you quit your program or modify it - stop after masters. Move on - transfer, pick up a different career and the "~" is meant to be cool 😎 in hopes to bring wit to the situation, not gloom & doom. 🙁

Life is too short.

Got it! Thanks! Unfortunately, I am behind. I know the thread is not about me, but I am behind because I basically have no support system in the program (or otherwise, although I am married -- and my husband is supportive as much as he can; but my friends and family are not here). I am in my fifth year. My plan is to defend and graduate in the Spring. I keep coming up with research ideas and they seem to be distracting me from the main goal. I lagged behind due to working on a paper and banging by head against the wall as it was 'not good enough.' I finally submitted the other day. Now..it's time to move on..but I'm still working on another paper instead of the dissertation (for which I only have written one chapter).

It's the 'binging bridges' part I did not get..getting back to working myself.

 

[KillerDiller]

It's the 'binging bridges' part I did not get..getting back to working myself.

I still don't think I get it. Cheetahgirl, did you mean "burning bridges", or are you saying that students shouldn't put effort into not getting fired? I'm guessing the former because that seems to fit in more with your post, but I'm genuinely confused.

 

[wigflip]

I still don't think I get it. Cheetahgirl, did you mean "burning bridges", or are you saying that students shouldn't put effort into not getting fired? I'm guessing the former because that seems to fit in more with your post, but I'm genuinely confused.

I think she means "burning bridges."

 

[CheetahGirl]

...

 

[CheetahGirl]

Cheetahgirl, did you mean "burning bridges", or are you saying that students shouldn't put effort into not getting fired?

Wow, did I do that double negative or did you?

I mean students should put forth effort into maintaining good relationships & keep your jobs. See OP (original poster)'s situation: Seemed out of his/her control. Sucks to get dissed. Call me conservative, but I follow the puritan work ethic: WORK IS GOOD. I wouldn't want to loose my job (not to say I haven't been terminated from positions myself). Any attempt to keep my job & maintain positive, lasting relationships would be my first choice. However, I am object relational by theory. Others may say screw this & move on (like maybe the externship site/supervisors).

I think she means "burning bridges."

and yes, I mean don't burn your bridges...

Just my opinion. 😎ver & out.

 

[erg923]

Um, Im sorry, but due to the OPs writing style, I dont really even understand what happened or why he/she was terminated. The description is so vague I'm not able to determine if we should tell this person that they have issues to work on and that the termination was justified/reasonable or whether they got "railroaded" and should write a formal appeal to their program. Nobody else seemed confused here though...so maybe im just not seeing the obvious?

 

[AcronymAllergy]

Um, Im sorry, but due to the OPs writing style, I dont really even understand what happened or why he/she was terminated. The description is so vague I'm not able to determine if we should tell this person that they have issues to work on and that the termination was justified/reasonable or whether they got "railroaded" and should write a formal appeal to their program. Nobody else seemed confused here though...so maybe im just not seeing the obvious?

I'm a bit confused as well, but here's my understanding as it currently stands:

1) OP had his/her "personal information" emailed to their current practicum site by a colleague; I'm not sure what the information was or why the OP would be placed on "high watch" based on it being disseminated (especially when it was someone else doing the disseminating), but I'm guessing it may have something to do with either the nature of the information, or the OP's prior grad school track record? That's all I can come up with, but it's very possible neither is correct.

2) While on "high watch," the OP gave conflicting reports to his/her supervisor and an intern regarding some nature of client contact ("time" is somewhat vague, but I would imagine it was perhaps related to when the contact occured, for how long it occured, or both).

3) Because of being on "high watch" when giving these conflicting reports, OP was terminated and is now wondering the proper recourse, if there is any.

 

[roubs]

Um, Im sorry, but due to the OPs writing style, I dont really even understand what happened or why he/she was terminated. The description is so vague I'm not able to determine if we should tell this person that they have issues to work on and that the termination was justified/reasonable or whether they got "railroaded" and should write a formal appeal to their program. Nobody else seemed confused here though...so maybe im just not seeing the obvious?

No, I'm confused also which is why I have nothing to say really 😀

 

[wigflip]

((another colleague sent out an e-mail with my personal information to the practicum site)) that left me on high watch and put on a contract of making boundaries. ..

Hmmm...sounds like "making boundaries" might be key here. My guess is it's some kind of qualitative comment about the site or what does/n't go on there that went unappreciated by the unintended recipient. Or who knows, maybe Cheetahgirl nailed it:

I would refrain from saying 'A text image of my pee-pee was emailed to staff and patients learned of it.'...or whatever it was.

 

[cara susanna]

I don't really understand either. We need more details, but I can see why the OP may not be willing to provide them.

 

[Ollie123]

Definitely not just you. I didn't reply because I don't feel like I have enough information to offer any insight into how to handle it.

 

[PsychPhDone]

I would speak to the DCT.