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Post by - on Sept 7, 2005 19:03:58 GMT -5
I say what I mean
And I mean what I say
But I never meant to hurt anyone
In any way.
The content of this post has been deleted by the author. To my knowledge it has not be archived in any other forum.
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Post by Kata6 on Sept 7, 2005 19:28:56 GMT -5
Personally, if I was a counselor for a Meehan program and tried to get a job on the outside with those credentials, I'd be embarassed as hell that it was my only experience in the field.
I tend to agree with you, GH, I'm not sure that w/o any formal education someone can just go from being a cult counselor to a real counselor without there being some "after-effects". Especially for people who have just left. If you've been out on your own ten years and then decide to go back into counseling, that's one thing, but if you've been out a year or two, I don't think those cult side effects have worn off yet. Especially if you just leave and are still surrounded by ex-culties. The best way for me to shake all the cult BS was to stop spending time with others that used to be in the cult, get out into the real world for a while and get better.
I don't think education can hurt anyone, in fact, I'm pretty sure in these situations it won't do anything but help.
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Post by hemight on Sept 12, 2005 0:06:55 GMT -5
I didn't even put my experience on staff as a reference on jobs waiting tables. I sure as hell wouldn't have used them to do anything in that field.
In my personal opinion, If you were on staff and bought into the whole thing you have no right to try and sell yourself as any kind of helpful in recovery. You have already proven that you can't be trusted. I put myself in that catagory-I can not be trusted with peoples well being. I look back and I still can't see any evil that I did but I know I didn't do to much good either.
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Post by casper on Sept 14, 2005 18:19:09 GMT -5
I didn't even put my experience on staff as a reference on jobs waiting tables. I sure as hell wouldn't have used them to do anything in that field. In my personal opinion, If you were on staff and bought into the whole thing you have no right to try and sell yourself as any kind of helpful in recovery. You have already proven that you can't be trusted. I put myself in that catagory-I can not be trusted with peoples well being. I look back and I still can't see any evil that I did but I know I didn't do to much good either. Great point. when I left the cult and eventually moved back to CA, I had a few counseling certificates and 8 years of counseling experience WITHIN THE MEEHAN PROGRAMS. I was new to a whole other career and was broke. It was suggested by my parents to get a job at a local hospital for "extra money" I looked at them increduously knowing there was no fucking way that would ever happen. I did look for another job as a gas station attendent and finally landed a job as a valet at the Four Seasons in Carlsbad. I while running my ass off to get people's cars was never happier not to be a counselor anymore. I thought while counseling that I was OK at it, but later realized with a tremendous amount of remorse that I may have directly impacted someone's decisions that resulted in thier having a shitty life. I understand I was doing as I was trained etc, but I can't in good conscience ever try to make a living in that field again. That being said, I think there are people who can if they are retrained in some way. I don't have the interest in that whatsoever though and would prefer to work my 8 -10 hours, come home, have a drink and spend time with my family. If my employer is unsatisfied with my performance they will either tell me or lay me off. either way it's a hell of a lot better than having some crazy scumbag tell me I'm spiritually fucked up. OUT |
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Post by IDBUG on Sept 16, 2005 14:59:16 GMT -5
Great post GH!
I'd like to say that I can see why someone practicing counseling after the cult would feel defensive about not having post-cult education, or how they might feel stuck with counseling as a career (or, hell, drawn to it... after all, like GH said, those were our formative years).
Perhaps they feel that it's all they know, or their confidence in education and themselves was destroyed by their years in the cult. That's completely understandable, but like GH said, it doesn't make it any less necessary.
And education isn't just necessary for people who were in the cult, it's necessary for every potential counselor, especially for teenagers. GH, you mentioned the 15 year old girl who needs real help. That reminded me of this: when I was going through a difficult time (early in the cult), I had this 'counselor' from Charter school me on the proper way to use a gun for ... the s word ... this was AFTER I had a scary (scares me now, not then) incident with the same sorta thing. Apparently he thought it was a funny thing to do. This guy was training to be a neurology nurse, he had no business counseling teenagers. Everyone needs to take a hell of a lot more care about making sure counselors have the right background.
OK, I'm totally losing my focus here.
I want to say bravo to Casper for the courage it took to start over in different jobs. Especially with a family, that has to be one of the most scary decisions to make. To me it shows true strength for anyone who has the balls to do that.
--T
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