Great Care in Mental Healthcare - Faceless Businesswoman #7

What is your Job Title?

I am a Mental Health Practitioner (MHP) on an Assertive Community Treatment Team (ACT).

Also known as a case manager.

Did you get a degree, and if so is it directly related to your field, if no, what is your degree in?

I have a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. My degree is directly related to my job as a Mental

Health Practitioner as I work with Adults who experience Severe and Persistent Mental

illness(SPMI) and Chemical dependency.

How long have you worked in your industry?

I have worked in mental health for about 15 years. I started in an Intensive Residential

Treatment Center and now work in community Mental Health.

How did you get started in your industry?

When I graduated, my college had a career e-mail with some job listings and I saw one for a

MHP at a Residential treatment facility. I interviewed with a gentleman named, Cameron. In my

interview I knew I was not qualified because I literally had zero experience. I got the phone call

that I did not get the job, which was understandable. I told Cameron if anything comes available

to help me learn or get in the field, I will take it. Three months later, Cameron called me and offered me a part time position which a couple months later turned into full time. For my current

job, I was at a training and overheard a woman named, Paula, talking about needing people

with some experience. I had a mini interview right there and a couple days later I had my official

interview. I was offered the job the very next day. I mention Cameron and Paula by name

because they literally changed my life and career direction. They gave me the confidence I

needed to stick with the Mental Health Field.

What do you wish people knew about your industry?

The Mental health field is so challenging, but it is also so rewarding. It is more than just “helping

people.” It is learning about their needs, teaching people skills, being human and realistic with

people. We help our clients with so many tasks; need help with bed bugs or vermin? I’m your

gal. Need resources for housing, food or assistance? That is me too. You need help speaking

with family, friends or a landlord? I am there. Have there been interactions with police or court?

Still me. My clients are some of the most resilient people I know and come from all different

back grounds. I have seen clients grow and become very independent. The workers in my field

are some of the most compassionate, caring and hardworking individuals I know. Many of us

are the ONLY advocates our clients have. We see and hear some really difficult things which

makes burn out very high.

I’d also want people to know about some of the misconceptions of those with mental illness.

Many say to my clients, “just get a job and stop mooching.” Well the reality of it all is that many

want to work (and do) but sometimes their mental health is so debilitating that they can’t even

leave their homes. I’d also like people to know that addiction is a real disease and should be

treated as such.

Many also expect us in the mental health community to have an instant fix for their loved ones, but that isn’t so easy. Some of the systems set up to help us (and clients) often take a long time or sometimes go against us. We truly have a broken system. I could really go on an on about what I wish people knew about the social work/mental health field.

What advice would you give someone looking for their place in your industry?

Don’t get a degree in Psychology, go for the Social Work degree as you have so many more

opportunities. It is one of my biggest regrets.

What do you think are essential qualities for someone to possess if they are interested in working in your industry?

You need to have excellent listening skills, time management, be able to problem solve,

flexibility, be good at multi-tasking and have excellent boundaries. It is also very necessary to

understand how cultural and socioeconomic status affect individuals and families.

What is the hardest part of your career/industry/job for you?

There are several things that come to mind, so I will give four. First, it is really hard to see how

systems set up to help people can actually be against them at the same time. It is hard when people think we can do much more than we actually can because of the legalities.

Another hard part of my job (in particular) is that Adults get to make choices no matter how

much education or direction you give them. Sometimes you can literally predict the outcome and

then have to watch as the choice they make falls apart. Some times they make the same choice

over and over, but people can learn and change.

Some of my clients are on Civil Commitment and Jarvis order, this means that the person is

legally obligated to be in treatment, work with case management and they must take

medications. This can often be a source of anger for the clients and I really have to build up

trust with my client, but it also means if they are not safe I am the one that has to help them get

to the hospital. Sometimes this makes a client very angry and I have to work again to build trust.

Stigma is very much still a problem with mental illness. The stigma surrounding mental illness

and chemical dependency prevents people from getting help they really need.

What is the most fun part of your career/industry/job for you?

The clients I get to work with! I get to see people grow and learn over time. I’ve seen people

excel in life after taking medications and learn how to manage their illness. As I mentioned

before, my clients are some of the most resilient people I know and it is inspiring.

If you could change one thing about your business/industry what would it be?

I wish I could make all the systems flow together and be more streamlined. For example,

applying for county benefits should be the same no matter which county it is. In

fact, I’d like all the states to be streamlined.

If you could do it all over again would you still want to end up where you are now?

Absolutely, I love my job! My career has really shaped me to become the person I am. I have

become a stronger person and better advocate for myself and others.

If you could meet any businesswoman who would she be and why?

I want to say two, one dead and one alive.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg- I know she is passed away but dang she was a badass b***h! She fought

so hard for women’s rights and I am forever grateful for her efforts.

I’d love to meet Mary Jo Copeland. She has done amazing things for people in need and flourished in her life.

What is the worst advice you've ever gotten, or in hindsight given? Did the advice hinder or embolden your advances?

“You will never succeed in the mental health field, just do a business degree.” At first it really

hindered me and I thought I’d be working at Walgreens forever. I didn’t know how to get into the

mental health field with zero experience. When Cameron gave me my chance, I knew this was

my career and it blossomed. I am now in the process of applying to go and get my Masters of

Social Work.

What does your typical daily schedule look like?

I leave the house usually by 830 and I am on my way to meet with my first client at their home

or current location. The location could also be a coffee shop, homeless shelter or literally in my

car on the street. I have anywhere from 5-8 clients I meet with per day. A portion of my day is

spent in a Team meeting which consists of updating other Team members of client needs,

progress or developing a treatment plan for the client. I also spend a significant portion of my

day writing case notes.

On the weekends, I spend time with my husband, dogs and family.

What does work/life balance mean to you? And how do you personally achieve it?

This is a great question! Work-life balance in the mental health field and to me is HUGE. For me

a work-life balance means work stops at work. Life should be more than just work.

I mentioned before that adults can make their own decisions, despite outcomes. Learning this

was important for me so I could sort of take my emotions out and remind myself it was their

decision. Boundaries are super important as well and knowing when to say no. Learning to turn

off the work cell phone and not check e-mail after work is important for a work life balance.

There are times when I may have gotten bad news or had a difficult interaction and I replay it in

my head. During these times I talk it out with a coworker or maybe I will vent to my husband

(without specific HIPPA details). Work-life balance becomes a little challenging when I am on

call. Every 7 weeks I am on call and people can call at all hours of the day with crises or

emergencies.

What does self-care mean to you? How often do you take time for self-care, or is it not

important for you?

Self-care to me is setting aside time for things I enjoy. For example, nearly every Sunday I do

my nails and maybe a face or hair mask. Doing mindless tasks such as scrolling the internet or

watching TV are also part of my self-care. Getting my hair and lashes done is also part of my

self-care. Also making sure to take that vacation is part of my self-care.

How do you show yourself care and compassion while ruling your world?

By recognizing when I need time off or time away and then giving myself that time. Giving

myself grace. Letting others know that I am burning out.

How often do you schedule time off and vacations?

My job has excellent PTO benefits since I have worked there for nearly 13 years. I take several

weeks off per year and indulge in one big vacation per year. I love visiting the Hawaiian Islands.

I try to do one long weekend per month if I don’t have a week off that month. I also schedule

time off when I feel burn out coming along.

What did you do for your last vacation or time off?

My last big vacation my husband and I went to Kauai and Maui for two weeks with our best

friends. I also went to Lutsen, Minnesota to see the fall colors.

Are you a life planner or do you let it go with the flow?

A little bit of both. I see so much in my job that I know it is necessary to plan for some things

such as your financial future. I also think about where I see myself in the future career wise.

However, life is truly short and unpredictable that sometimes you just need to YOLO.

If a planner, what is the next goal you are going to hit?

I plan to go back to school (at nearly 40) to get my Masters in Social Work.

What did you want to be when you were a child?

I wanted to work with animals as a veterinarian until I dissected animals. Then I realized that

animals are the best thing and humans can be so cruel to them.

When I was a senior in High School, I took a Psychology class and I was so interested in

learning about schizophrenia that I was hooked and wanted to learn it all.

If you could do it all over again would you still want to end up where you are now? If no, where do you wish you had gone?

The only thing I wish I would have done differently is changing the degree I went to school for.

But then again I might not have met the amazing people I have met in my current path.

What else would you like to share with us?

Be kind, you never know what someone has going on in their life. Also do what truly makes

YOU happy, you are the one leading your life.

Fun additional questions - lightning round style (quick answers):

Favorite Book: Where the Crawdads Sing

Favorite band/singer: Garth Brooks

Favorite Hobby: Anything with Glitter

Favorite Food: Baked Potato Pizza

Favorite Color: Purple

What’s the weirdest/funniest thing in your bag for work: Bright blue boot covers

Secret Talent: My knuckles are double jointed, freaks people out

Best life hack: Not giving a f**k about what everyone else thinks! (Sorry if that’s aggressive)

A Mundane thing about you: I am pretty boring when get home, I am not sure ha!