[earthangel1]

After my mood has been stabilized on my medications: lamictal, geodon, klonipin, and adderall xr, I feel like I should find a career in mental health. The college I want to enroll in, at the age of 23, has a variety of mental health career options. But I want to be a certified practical counselor in a homeless shelter/guesthouse. I worked in two homeless shelters. One in Toronto, and one in Kansas City. This was when I had undiagnosed bipolar 1 and after my first major manic episode, I had to quit and return home. I was diagnosed bipolar 1. I still get dysthymia but not too bad. Homeless shelters, (I call them guesthouses) have a strong need for counselors. You don't make much, but if it's meant to be, it's what I'd like to do. My passion is for the homeless, and I feel as though I can help all the undiagnosed bipolar homeless people. I would have to say from my experience working at homeless shelters, half are bipolar. I want to make a change in the life of many bipolar homeless. Any thoughts? Any challenges to reaching my goal?

[DechanDawa]

Originally Posted by bpenniman

After my mood has been stabilized on my medications: lamictal, geodon, klonipin, and adderall xr, I feel like I should find a career in mental health. The college I want to enroll in, at the age of 23, has a variety of mental health career options. But I want to be a certified practical counselor in a homeless shelter/guesthouse. I worked in two homeless shelters. One in Toronto, and one in Kansas City. This was when I had undiagnosed bipolar 1 and after my first major manic episode, I had to quit and return home. I was diagnosed bipolar 1. I still get dysthymia but not too bad. Homeless shelters, (I call them guesthouses) have a strong need for counselors. You don't make much, but if it's meant to be, it's what I'd like to do. My passion is for the homeless, and I feel as though I can help all the undiagnosed bipolar homeless people. I would have to say from my experience working at homeless shelters, half are bipolar. I want to make a change in the life of many bipolar homeless. Any thoughts? Any challenges to reaching my goal?

The homeless do not have access to continued availability of psych medication and therapy. They resort to street drugs for relief, and their lifestyle is the most stressful imaginable. Maybe you could be a comfort to them if you reduced your expectations, but to make a change in the life of many bipolar homeless? Go into politics and fight to end the causes of homelessness i.e. poverty, at risk youth, food scarcity, crime, abuse, reduced education, unemployment, lack of resources for veterans etc. etc.

Seriously, it would be best to keep kids from growing up and ending up on the street. How many kids are dumped from foster care onto the street? How many veterans are abandoned when they return home with severe PTSD?

Good luck. Please stay realistic. Which means calling homeless shelters what they are...a place to go so as not to freeze to death. Guesthouses? Why pretty up hell? Homeless shelters are breeding grounds for bed bugs, rodents, and even tuberculosis. Thank goodness churches are starting to open up to the homeless in winter. I mean, why do we have places of worship fully heated, and fully empty and locked up while the homeless freeze to death outside on their steps?

As long as homelessness exists I don't see how anyone can feel 100% happy all snug in their cozy house or apartment in the winter. In America we treat our pets better than we care for our returned veterans, those who "graduate" from foster care. and the mentally ill homeless.

Why the hell does homelessness even exist in this country? And why are so many homeless people with mental health problems suffering without medical care or human decency? Sure, everyone thinks about this around the holidays...while those on the street suffer 365 days a year.

(I advocate to end homelessness ASAP)

[earthangel1]

I call them guesthouses because the places I've worked at are NOT like the Salvation Army. The Salvation Army is a horrible place to stay. But I've done one on one pastoral counseling with the homeless and made great gains. Also the places I worked at made strides to make sure the homeless could get medications. For example, the Truman Medical Center in Kansas City offers 4 dollars for each medication. And it's state funded. So we would pay for medications if they couldn't pay and it was free to see a psychiatrist there. Well actually they were doing they're residency and they would report to a main psychiatrist who would prescribe. But their are resources out there and not every shelter is the same. So we had schizophrenics get medications for free each month, and I would drive them to their 10 minute appointments. I know it doesn't seem like much and I wish things could change, but we have to make do with what we have. We have to make a change even if the political atmosphere is not ideal.

[Coffeee]

I think it's wonderful that you want to be a counselor. Sometimes you need a masters degree to counsel tho. Good luck!

[Unrigged64072835]

That sounds pretty cool. I hope it does work out for you.

[bioChE]

Best of luck in your pursuits. Having patients be staff is a great asset to an organization.

[Thaine]

I think its a great idea, I'm working towards becoming a therapist as well. Be aware that you'll nee a Masters degree and licensure. Add that to a BA and its 6 years of school and at least 1 year for an internship for licensure. Make sure that you have the financial backing to get there, and think hard before revealing your diagnoses to professors or professionals in your field. There is still a lot of stigma unfortunately.

[DechanDawa]

Originally Posted by DechanDawa

The homeless do not have access to continued availability of psych medication and therapy. They resort to street drugs for relief, and their lifestyle is the most stressful imaginable. Maybe you could be a comfort to them if you reduced your expectations, but to make a change in the life of many bipolar homeless? Go into politics and fight to end the causes of homelessness i.e. poverty, at risk youth, food scarcity, crime, abuse, reduced education, unemployment, lack of resources for veterans etc. etc.

Seriously, it would be best to keep kids from growing up and ending up on the street. How many kids are dumped from foster care onto the street? How many veterans are abandoned when they return home with severe PTSD?

Good luck. Please stay realistic. Which means calling homeless shelters what they are...a place to go so as not to freeze to death. Guesthouses? Why pretty up hell? Homeless shelters are breeding grounds for bed bugs, rodents, and even tuberculosis. Thank goodness churches are starting to open up to the homeless in winter. I mean, why do we have places of worship fully heated, and fully empty and locked up while the homeless freeze to death outside on their steps?

As long as homelessness exists I don't see how anyone can feel 100% happy all snug in their cozy house or apartment in the winter. In America we treat our pets better than we care for our returned veterans, those who "graduate" from foster care. and the mentally ill homeless.

Why the hell does homelessness even exist in this country? And why are so many homeless people with mental health problems suffering without medical care or human decency? Sure, everyone thinks about this around the holidays...while those on the street suffer 365 days a year.

(I advocate to end homelessness ASAP)

I don't know anything about Salvation Army shelters. I lived in a very upscale town where a brand new shelter was built for millions of dollars and within a year there was a major bed bug infestation there. I also question whether or not you were professionally equipped to offer pastoral care, which is, actually, a form of counseling. If the facility was run completely on private funds and was religious in nature than I guess it was legally fine, but ethically it seems odd given your own (at the time untreated) emotional and mental state that you were doing that work.

[DechanDawa]

Originally Posted by bpenniman

I call them guesthouses because the places I've worked at are NOT like the Salvation Army. The Salvation Army is a horrible place to stay. But I've done one on one pastoral counseling with the homeless and made great gains. Also the places I worked at made strides to make sure the homeless could get medications. For example, the Truman Medical Center in Kansas City offers 4 dollars for each medication. And it's state funded. So we would pay for medications if they couldn't pay and it was free to see a psychiatrist there. Well actually they were doing they're residency and they would report to a main psychiatrist who would prescribe. But their are resources out there and not every shelter is the same. So we had schizophrenics get medications for free each month, and I would drive them to their 10 minute appointments. I know it doesn't seem like much and I wish things could change, but we have to make do with what we have. We have to make a change even if the political atmosphere is not ideal.

To say, "There are resources out there," is vague. Also, if you are talking about residents in a program then they are technically not homeless. Funding for a the program like you described could be discontinued at any time. Residents eventually have to leave protected settings, then what? Once a resident leaves if they don't have insurance who will pay for their medication and who will give them transportation money to get it? If is all like skating on thin ice. Until it becomes a political agenda to end homelessness our cities are facing an epidemic. A few thumbs in the holes in the dam are not going to stop this problem. It is big and it will become as big an issue as the war on drugs.

You came on to ask for comments. I am just giving my opinion because you requested it. You need a lot more education before you can assume a position of authority. Pastoral counseling in other settings requires a master's degree and certification.

[HALLIEBETH87]

That's great you want to help others!!

I'm working on becoming a peer support specialist.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for wanting to help all our fellow struggling souls. I hope I will be better soon and begin my own career in helping people. I want to work with the mentally ill (once I'm strong enough to avoid transference. Who can help better than someone whose actually been through it and knows what it's like. Good on you for turning your condition into a positive helping hand. You have my support!

[xRavenx]

You can absolutely work in the field. I do actually. It is a long road. I went to school for about 7 years. Luckily, I found a job that values their employees and they realize that many counselors also suffer from anxiety and other mental health issues, so they give us a lot of days off that we can use to avoid burnout, which is good for someone like me. I do have to take time off from time to time when I'm experiencing issues with my mental health, so finding a supportive work environment is important once you are ready to work in the field.

I promise you that your goal is not out of reach. As having Bipolar 1, it has been challenging, but helping others actually provides me with a good outlet. It helps to have inside knowledge about what it feels like, first hand, to suffer from a mental health condition.

Also, it makes it even easier to empathize and understand others. This is not to say that the job isn't tough, but it is rewarding. You sound very compassionate, and that is key in the mental health field. I'm sure you'll have a lot to bring to the table if you choose to work in mental health.

[~Christina]

My daughter has Bipolar 1 and in college for becoming T .

Originally Posted by ~Christina

My daughter has Bipolar 1 and in college for becoming T .

I would trust a doctor more if I knew they actually understood me more than just on a research/clinical perspective.

[PenguinExMachina]

You would be surprised (or perhaps maybe not) at how many people who work in this field actually have, or had, experience with mental health issues. Or trauma. Etc. When I was hospitalized, I met two other counselors and a social worker who were also in the hospital. It wasn't the job that put them there, they sought the job because of what they had gone through. It tends to give us more insight. And, like ElsaMars mentioned, many clients seem to appreciate that more, having someone who has been there. Who gets it.
One struggle that you may find is that there are cases that will get to you. Some cases can be so mentally draining, and so it is incredibly important to make sure that you don't forget to take care of yourself because it can be very easy to get lost in this type of work.

[Kuras]

Rock on. I'm actually shooting to become a psychiatric nurse. I believe it's an invaluable asset to be able to genuinely empathize with the people you're caring for who are struggling in the same ways you've experienced yourself.

Originally Posted by Kuras

Rock on. I'm actually shooting to become a psychiatric nurse. I believe it's an invaluable asset to be able to genuinely empathize with the people you're caring for who are struggling in the same ways you've experienced yourself.

This is what my husband did and he worked his way up to running a unit for the criminally insane at a major psychiatric hospital. It's a great career but warning...it can be dangerous even on the non criminal side. You get good training however on how to protect yourself.

[Kuras]

Oh yeah, I've had the joy of interacting with such people. I'm no stranger to violent confrontation in general.

[Estelle79]

Originally Posted by bpenniman

After my mood has been stabilized on my medications: lamictal, geodon, klonipin, and adderall xr, I feel like I should find a career in mental health. The college I want to enroll in, at the age of 23, has a variety of mental health career options. But I want to be a certified practical counselor in a homeless shelter/guesthouse. I worked in two homeless shelters. One in Toronto, and one in Kansas City. This was when I had undiagnosed bipolar 1 and after my first major manic episode, I had to quit and return home. I was diagnosed bipolar 1. I still get dysthymia but not too bad. Homeless shelters, (I call them guesthouses) have a strong need for counselors. You don't make much, but if it's meant to be, it's what I'd like to do. My passion is for the homeless, and I feel as though I can help all the undiagnosed bipolar homeless people. I would have to say from my experience working at homeless shelters, half are bipolar. I want to make a change in the life of many bipolar homeless. Any thoughts? Any challenges to reaching my goal?

ABSOLUTELY. Check out the 'Certified Recovery Peer Specialist' process in your state. It is designed for people like us with mental illness who want to give back. I have been working as a peer specialist for 3 years-paid. The careers available for those with this certfication or in the process of gaining it have increased exponentially in the last few years. The number 1 criteria for achieving this certification is to have your own diagnosis. Good luck!

[earthangel1]

Thanks for everybody's support. I actually got a job as an events coordinator at a nursing home so I plan the calendar of events on a daily to weekly/monthly basis and then run the events/parties/socials/bingo you name it. So this will be a rewarding career. And I also got a job staying with a 69 year old retired doctor with dementia for the weekends. I just cook for him, clean for him. He can clean himself and go to the bathroom on his own. He has an indoor swimming pool he uses every day. He just needs someone to keep watch on him because he has dementia.