1. Give me a long period of time off of work and I’ll finally get some reading done!.
2. Whenever I’m feeling down, I can always count on my blogger friends to cheer me up 🙂.
3. I wish there were more than 24 hours in a day! Oh Mother Nature can’t you change your ways?.
4. Sugar cookies and chocolate cupcakes with vanilla icing that my sister made was the last thing I ate that was utterly delicious.
5. To live in this world you have to learn to be flexible, patient, and willing to adjust.
6. Other than this one, I have no idea who is the last blog I commented on I’ve been horrible about commenting lately though, and I really apologize for that!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to heading to my friend’s house after I get off of work to spend the weekend, tomorrow my plans include watching parades and having some drinks and Sunday, I want to watch more parades and have more drinks!
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I thought that instead of responding to each comment individually from the last post, I’d just do one big response here. First of all, thank you. Thank you all so much for your support and advice, it means the world. CJ’s comment especially struck a chord with me. I hope I didn’t give the impression that I want to leave my job, because I don’t. I really, really enjoy it! I agree with everything that CJ said when it comes down to it, but it can still be so frustrating as she mentions. I know that counseling is another profession, just like anything else. And it’s a way to make a living, which I have to do. When I start seeing patients privately, I know that they have to pay me for my services and that I can’t help everyone. But I wish I could, lol. Once I go into my private practice, I plan on doing a sliding scale fee where the payment that you make is based on your income. So for instance, if my standing fee was $75 per session, it might be $40 for someone with a lower income. That alleviates some of the financial burdens that some people have. But the company I work for doesn’t do that. And they won’t even do a payment plan for anyone. They want the money up front or you’re not admitted basically…unless of course you’re suicidal, homicidal, or hallucinating…then we have to admit you by law.
I just see so many people at my job get disillusioned, and that part frustrates me. They’re at the point where sometimes they just seem to have no empathy any more. I know I’ll never get to that point (and if I did, I would leave the profession) but it’s still upsetting to see other “counselors” who feel this way. It’s become a corporate office job for some people. Which is partly what it is I guess. There are certainly times that I am frustrated with some clients and would rather “not bother” with them…times when people are obviously abusing the system when others really need the help, times when a person who doesn’t really need the help gets in because they have money while I’m looking at another person who just doesn’t have the money and really does need it. But that IS part of this profession and I just need to find the balance of accepting that and helping those that I can rather than stressing and grieving over those I can’t. In a perfect world, we could help everyone…but this isn’t a perfect world.
Anyway, all this is to say that everyone’s advice truly helped me sort things out somewhat and I really thank you all for it. You’re a gem.
In other news, I’m gearing up for a very fun filled weekend! I probably won’t blog again until Monday (in which we will assign blame) and I probably won’t read after tonight until Monday. I have a friend who lives on the parade route in Uptown New Orleans, so I’m packing my bags tomorrow and moving in for the weekend! During Mardi Gras, you really can’t leave once you get a parking spot! So I’m hibernating there and just enjoying parades all weekend. There will most definitely be twitter updates though throughout the weekend, so if you’re having withdrawals from me, you can follow me there :p See you Monday guys!
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Stuff as Dreams are Made on 
I like your answer to number 1 🙂
Have a great weekend!
I didn’t chime in yesterday, but I just want to say I hope you never become cynical about your job, and always retain your compassion and clarity. People need you.
Chris –
Glad to hear you’re doing better. Balance can be found but sometimes it’s difficult. You remind me a great deal of one young man who went to school at my university. He’s now a deputy sheriff and I’m beginning to see the same sort of signs in him that you’re experiencing – reality crashing up against ideals and expectations. It’s a hard fight, but a good one, too.
cjh
I’m so jealous of your weekend!!! And I enjoyed reading your big response on your job…very thoughtful and thought-provoking. 🙂
I am late to read about your job frustration but just want to say that I understand! I work for a non-profit therapy center for kids–speech, occupational, and physical therapies. Funding is a HUGE problem, (except for those on state medical coupons), and the folks that break my heart are the parents who I classify as the working poor—barely making it from paycheck to paycheck who have insurance. Crappy insurance usually, as the insurance companies all have loop holes to weasel out of paying for neuromuscular therapies. Those parents just want to get the help they need for their children and are punished by high copays or no coverage at all, yet they make too much in salary to qualify for state aid. We do have a sliding fee scale, and it is pretty easy for a parent to lie as we don’t do income checks or anything, but most people don’t lie. And even with a sliding fee scale it is a lot of money these people are paying out every week–while my tax dollars help so many others come and get free therapy. Some days it is so frustrating, but most days I am so gratified by the therapy victories I see all around me!
Chin up! You are doing a great thing and making a huge difference in lives!
*smiles*
Kim
Have a great and safe weekend!!!
Remember, you’ve touched and helped many more lives than you will ever be able to realize!!
I think that’s a very good idea to measure the fee to the patients’ income. It’s only fair and I’d do the same in your place.
Enjoy the parades!