Internship

DondadaTimes2

My internship is flippin awesome! I am so pumped for it and already wanting to pick up a Sunday shift (in a few weeks of course) b/c thats visitors weekend.

Im interning at Syracuse Behavioral Health (addictions inpatient) for those who dont know/dont remember.

Sooo what can I say...pretty much I get in and chill in the cafeteria for a half hour while they finish dinner (oh and hey I get to eat too if I show up before 530. Free dinner, what?!) Then they have group, tonight it was life resources and we went to the park across the street and played 'Silent Leader' Ive played it at summer camps and such, great game. And at the end of the game theres a little lesson to it that goes along with therapy. Then they get break for like 1-1.5 hrs, then theres another group, tonight was an NA meeting. They had 3 recovered (?) addicts come in and tell their story and try to encourage the clients to really take the program and the help and fly with it. I got to sit in on an orientation of new clients. Just about everyday/every other day clients come and go. Theyre there on average 28 days. So then they do a reflection (split by gender- I got to listen in on the guys tonight) and they pretty much go around in a circle and introduce themselves ("Im Bridgett Im an addict") and say whatever is on their mind ie. "Today was rough for me but Im glad Im here and Im gunna push though. Goodnight" Then they spend 15 min in their rooms filling out a personal eval sheet about their day, then its medpass and I leave!

So yeah. I was told I came in during a great group that for the most part gets along great. Theres a few odd balls but in any situation we have those.

So YAY for overreacting about my fears and for being excited for the next year!!! Its definitely a million times easier to be away from home so much when you love what youre away doing. Now if only I could find a job that hypes me up this much!

OH! Side note, the night staff is lax on what they wear. FABULOUS! I came all dressed nice nice and 1 of the counselors says to me "Yeah were lax about the clothing. Please come in sneakers and jeans tomorrow. You know you want to" Haha. Woo.

lornarose07

Yayyy I'm so glad its been a good expeienxe so far, hopefully all of my horror stories wont come true for you after all! Question though: you mentioned that you guys went to a park across the street. I heard from someone that at SBH, the residents dont get to go outside at ALL, for any reason. Is there any truth to that?

DondadaTimes2

Well, SBH has a handful off different residences, so maybe there is a house or two that is like that but I doubt it. Where I am, they try to get them out at least once a day but we go as a group. 1 person leads and 1 person follows to make sure were all together. They are reminded that they are not to talk to anyone outside the program etc. In the winter they dont typically go out b/c the cliets tend to show up with winter inappropriate clothing.

But Im pretty sure thats not true b/c SBH has a "doors locked getting in, open to get out" policy. Anyone can leave at anytime, but if they do and theyre there court mandated to be there, their PO gets called and they suffer the consequences. But in my building they are not to leave alone. If they have Drs appts/Court appts etc, they are to call for transport and the second their appt is over they are to call for pick up. If they so much as go next door to grab a coffee while waiting to be picked up, its considered leaving the program and theyre kicked out.

Edit b/c I reread what I wrote and it sounds stupid: What I first said, they may not be allowed outside at some places, but at the one Im working they are. Maybe b/c theres a park across the street and we have a big area to be just us as a group whereas others dont have that open space? So maybe its true for some homes.

kevinandmonica2011

Yay Bridgett!!!   I am so SO happy for you!  I know you have been craving something that peaks your interest.  Take this and run with it!!!

raes19

Glad to hear you are enjoying it!

acmj11

That does sound like a great internship!  Glad everything is going so well, hopefully you find a job you like just as much!

lornarose07

Ohhh, that makes sense.  I forgot that SBH is made up of different facilities (sort of) so whoever told me that might have been somewhere else and even still, not entirely accurate lol. Either way, I'm glad you love it! And don't forget, if you need/want to chat SWK, my coffee offer still stands for ya

CD2011

That's great! I'm thinking of how terrified I was to start student teaching, so I can only imagine how nervewracking it must have been to go into a place like that. Keep doing your thing, and maybe it will turn into a great job opportunity!

ski2play

You go girl!  Glad you are enjoying.  That is what we are supposed to be doing with our careers!  Welcome to the "I love my job" club!.....I am a proud member of this club!

kks4471

Yay, congrats on a great internship!  Hopefully it leads to a great position for you in the future.

sbolger17

Yay!  So happy you love it!!