I Quit my Fucking Job and Couldn't be Happier

Yes, it's true: I quit my job (technically not until Monday 02/23/26) and I couldn't be happier!!

I have been told ad nauseum to never quit a job unless you had another one lined up, but in this case, my job was creating so much stress, distress, and overall decreased satisfaction in my life that I had to get out of there before I became a patient there.

UHC/Optum/Sherman Counseling closed all of the outpatient agencies in the state effective 12/08/25 and I got another job at a free standing psychiatric hospital which is a level of care I had no experience working in. The salary they offered made my jaw drop and I immediately accepted.

Here's the deal with inpatient psych care from my humble experience:

There is no "typical" day

The only tasks scheduled are daily groups with the expectation of facilitating and documenting two groups per day 

Any given day at a hospital can include 4-19 admissions; multiple AMA (against medical advice) discharges, involuntary admissions with virtual court which can lead to 90-day orders for patients to remain admitted until the staff psychiatrist deems a patient no longer a harm to themself and/or others with court ordered meds which will be administered by a shot in your ass if you won't take them orally

Severely psychotic patients who will scream for hours on end something like "HELP ME!! SOMEONE HELP ME!! HELP ME!!" And it's not because they are receiving substandard care, it's because they have lost touch with reality and will be given PRN Haldol, Benadryl or possibly Thorazine by a shot in the ass to get them to calm the fuck down and sleep for between 8-10 hours

There are patients such as the one described above who cannot benefit from the inpatient level of care provided and are transferred to one of the state psychiatric hospitals - Winnebago Mental Health Institute outside of Oshkosh or Mendota State Hospital in Madison.

New admissions must have their psychosocial assessment and Treatment Plan with therapy goals completed and routed to the assigned staff psychiatrist, nursing staff, and assigned case manager within 72 hours from admission

If you complete a patient's "intake" as outlined above that patient becomes part of your caseload with the expectation of meeting with them every other day for general updates which you are expected to provide in every morning's Treatment Team meeting with staff psychiatrists, other inpatient therapists, case managers, recreation therapists, nursing staff, and utilization review staff who will tell you what the patient's last covered day by insurance is at that point and that they need a "criteria" note to indicate that the patient needs additional time at this level of care which will be part of the documentation submitted to the insurance company to gain approval for additional days at the inpatient level of care

Patients admitted for alcohol or other substance use detox have an average length of stay of 3-5 days. What beneficial therapy they are going to receive in that amount of time is beyond me.

Mental health patient have an average length of stay between 7-10 days. As primarily an outpatient therapist, what coping skills or insight into what led to their admission they can gain in that short time again baffles me

I am clearly meant to be an outpatient therapist. I want to connect with my patients, establish clear goals and work toward them with my patients, and if we get off track, I want to steer them back on the path of reaching their goals. I cannot do the work for them, however I will provide all of my training, knowledge, and experience to walk that path with them and support them during times of crisis and times of success.

That's who I am. 

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