“I work at a non-profit Christian organization and we believe that it is our duty to promote hope, healing, and wholeness to the clients that we interact with. We are able to show Christ’s love through our work.”
Elisabeth's Career Journey
This is Elisabeth's first job out of college. It has helped her gain a better understanding of the mental health field.
Working as a Milieu Manager
"The job position is M-F hours 7:30-3:30. First I arrive at work and pick up van keys to pick up the adolescents/children that come to our day hospital program. The program starts at 8:30. I have a sign in sheet when they come in and they work on their goal sheet and journal first thing. The journal questions are on the topic of the day. We have a three week cycle of different topics that we discuss in group therapy. The topics range from, depression, anger management, anxiety, self-esteem, relationships with peers/adults, and healthy living. They go to school for an hour and 15 minutes in the morning. We then have community meeting where they say how they are feeling for that day and they also have a goal that they are striving to work on. Ex. Control Anger, Control Impulses. In the afternoon is where we go over papers on the topic of the day and some of the experiences that they may be facing or situations that are challenging. Most times the kids are referred by schools because of their behavior in school or they may just not be attending school at all. We try and help them with coping skills to help them to re-enter back into school and in their communities. I work with the middle school aged children but we also have a program for high school and younger children. The normal stay for a client is two weeks and then they are discharged and we provide them with additional help after the program (mobile therapist, after school program). I am also writing out progress notes for every client that I have. These progress notes help the doctor to see if their medication needs to be changed or if the dosage is the correct amount. It also helps to see if the client is able to achieve their 3 treatment goals that they picked when they first arrive for their intake. I also fill out their goal sheets that I use from a scale of 0-3. Which is how they receive their points throughout the day. I make a evening goal for them to accomplish and their parent has to sign and either circle that they met or did not meet their goal. The client returns the goal sheet to me the next day."
How has HDFS prepared you?
"I feel that the HDFS department has helped me by understanding the family and how to really connect with those within the family. This field is about working with people who come from different backgrounds and walks of life. Being in HDFS has taught me how to better understand people and the different situations that they may have been in.'
Elisabeth's Advice
'I would say if you are someone who really enjoys working with people and want to help out others then this major would be for you. It is definitely challenging working with people, but at the end of the day you can look back and see how many people you were able to help. I know some days I come home and am so exhausted, but I know that I was able to give my É«×ۺϾþà and give 100% of my time to those who are truly in need. It definitely is not a high paying job, so if you are looking to make a lot of money then this is not the field to go into, but I do have this to say, it is a very rewarding job.'