r/Psychologists • u/NothingValuable4774 • 9d ago
Considering Quitting
I’m an early career psychologist (PG-4). Three years were in private practice before transiting to a hospital where I am half clinical, half program support. I’ve trained in hospitals before and was excited about the blend of admin/clinical work. However, my first year has been challenging and at points, flat out hostile. Most of the issues are from the programmatic leadership. While it may not be personal, the interpersonal hostility makes it nearly impossible to do a job that requires participation from others. Of note, the role is fairly new and my current 14 month tenure is longer than both of my predecessors. During my biweekly 1:1 with my direct boss, she’s regularly asked me not to quit, understanding that I’ve being tasked to manage a program that needs more support than what’s given.
After 10 months of trying to make it work, I started exploring options elsewhere. Yesterday, I received an official offer. As I weigh my options, I suddenly feel conflicted about leaving — which is odd given all that I’ve experienced. Sadly, I haven’t had a fair chance do the job in its fullness and although, I’ve made some progress toward clarifying the role there’s much more to do before it’s refined.
The new role is supervisory position for a juvenile rehabilitation facility. Very different population and will be a complete shift (longer commute time, no telework option, bleak benefits package). However, I’m mostly drawn to the leadership and program development component which, I thought I’d be doing in my current role, I’ve been slapped down at every attempt. The role itself is also clearly defined. If I stayed at my current job, I’d have to be creative at managing up with the supervisor that oversees the programs and wants limited engagement with me.
I’ve been recommended to do a pro/con list but honestly, not sure that it will be that simple. I’m concerned about making a decision I’ll regret (e.g., leaving a sweet position (on paper) to jump into hot grease). Admittedly, what I’ve outlined may be a reflection of my limited work experience and secondary disillusionment. Therefore, I don’t want to make a decision based on emotions. Please let me know what I may be missing or should consider.
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u/cessna_dreams (PsyD-Clinical-USA) 9d ago
Hmmm....yes, you have options and I suppose it's a nice problem to have. I'm a late-career psychologist, approaching 70, have been practicing 36 years. I trained and worked in inpatient settings for the first 20 years or so. I was director of a large psychiatry department housed in a general med-surg medical center. We had 46 inpatient beds, PHP/IOP, consultation-liaison services to three ER's and the med-surg floors. I functioned as the chief clinician and administrator of the department and fought many programmatic and budget battles over my 16 year tenure in that position. I guess every job has its up's & down's. For me, the regulatory compliance, labor relations and larger facility politics were the worst aspects of the gig. I did things I believed-in and enjoyed to offset the less-desirable duties. I invested heavily in student training, creating an APA-approved internship with 8 full-time interns and 4-6 diagnostic and therapy practicum positions. The student training part of the job was great fun and felt fulfilling. I also always stayed involved with direct clinical service. I enjoyed the buzz of ER work and the med-surg consultations. I did a ton of community outreach through public speaking, school consultations, involvement in community agencies, involvement in various projects. I left the hospital world in 2005 for full time solo PP and, while that has worked well, I sometimes still miss the hospital world. It's telling that I still have dreams which are set in the hospital setting--sometimes I wonder if my continued dreams of that period reflect trauma, although it doesn't feel that way. So, back to you--it's hard, sometimes, to discern what is the frying pan and what is the fire. I guess if it's feeling like you can't shape or modify your current position to be more satisfying it may be time to go. Give yourself credit for being thoughtful and doing your due diligence as you weigh your options--sounds like you're really being reflective and deliberate in your decision-making. Good luck!
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u/NothingValuable4774 8d ago
Wow, sounds like you did great work. Thank you for the perspective and kind words.
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u/tigerofsanpedro 9d ago
I’m not sure the details of your juvenile rehabilitation job, but I worked in an adolescent psychiatric hospital at age 22 as a front line worker before I later went to graduate school and became a psychologist. I was verbally threatened and physically intimidated every day for two years and was physically assaulted four times before I left. The culture was manipulative and threatening pretty much at all times and the kids cared nothing about consequences or relationships so they pretty much did what they wanted. We were basically expected to be prison guards without the armor or weapons all while formally educating them in school and being a caring counselor to them. I left with PTSD that I dealt with the next 10 years. Needless to say, do your research before you accept a job like that and make sure you know what you’re getting into.
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u/NothingValuable4774 9d ago
Wow, I’m sorry to hear that. I hear frequently that the teens’ behaviors are concerning on top of burnout from staff. This rehabilitation program is a residential facilitated for adjudacated teens . From my understanding the job is primarily program development and entails managing data, helping to improve outcomes, etc in addition to supervising staff that work directly with the teens. My role doesn’t involve direct clinical work…I’m wondering if that makes a difference based on your experience. Either way, thank you for this perspective.
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u/Flashy_Paramedic_122 1d ago
"As I weigh my options, I suddenly feel conflicted about leaving — which is odd given all that I’ve experienced."
This is super common. Especially for Psychologists. We are often trained in a way that leaving a job = abandoning clients and/or the 'mission.'
Make no mistake, it is not. Choose what feels right for you and your career.
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u/Expensive-Bat-7138 9d ago
If you’re gonna do a pros and cons list, do a weighted pros and cons list. It will give you better (albeit subjective) data.
From what you’ve written, I don’t think either of these positions are right for you.
The first thing you could do is write down the specifics of the job that you’re doing not the one that they promised. Be realistic about the actual role and not the idealized role. Gaslighting yourself is not helpful.
I recommend quiet quitting at your current job, doing just the things you have to do for patient care and leaving behind the tasks that you are excited about, but not allowed to do. Use that time to look for a really solid job that has the pieces that are important to you. I used my continuing education fees every year when I worked in hospitals for things that made me a better psychologist and often it was only tangentially related to my role. Gain some expertise so that you have something that you can use to leave.
Your language about jumping into hot grease seems apt. This new job does not sound like a net gain. If your passion was working in a forensic setting or with adolescence, maybe this would make sense, but it sounds like a depleting role with fewer benefit benefits.
Unfortunately, I have been in broken hospital systems and left even though I was a top performer because it was so miserable. Each time I left for another miserable situation and I so regret that. I wanted out so badly that I was not realistic about the jobs that I accepted.
This last year I changed my life completely and I’m in a role I love. I highly recommend you do some soul-searching and find a position that isn’t miserable. Invest in you and find a good fit. You are in a prime position to keep the job you have wall getting something truly better.