Re: Absolutely, Sparque!

I have been reading your posts and keeping mum, more or less.

One of the dangers of working in an environment such as yours is that the case-workers, administration officials, and everyone in between becomes desensitized and quite numb to the miseries that these children are attempting to exist within. That's why the long-term, effective counselors have their own therapist/counselor that they can dowload on and decompress with.

Another of the dangers of working in such an environment is that the counselors (who are human beings just like their clients) will be laid open, made vulnerable, suffer along with their clients, and be played like a violin by the NPD or sociopathic child to meet their immediate needs - juvenile NPD's and/or sociopaths? You bet - this society is producing an explosion of children who have developed some type of Borderline Personality Disorder. There are "tools" that can help a well-meaning, empathetic counselor to protect their Self from the barrage of intense negativity that is prevalent under these circumstances - those "tools" help to protect a dedicated counselor's emotional and spiritual well-being while allowing that counselor to still connect with their clients on a meaningful basis and render assistance.

The young girl who has turned to gang activity and has declared that she "hates" you is drowning in her own fear and turmoil - some of which she had no part in creating, but she is now making choices that will confirm that she is worthless, hopeless, etc., because she has been subjected to people who have told her (or, demonstrated by physical actions) that she is just that: valueless in society. There is nothing that you can do to stop, prevent, or divert a child determined upon self-destruction, especially those children who attempt suicide. What we must accept is this: children are being taught that suicide is a coping mechanism and they are not conscious (literally, they are unable to separate reality from fantasy) the fact that dead is dead. They play video games where you can type in a code and you get unlimited lives and they associate (LITERALLY) this ridiculous concept with Real Life. Most children who attempt suicide are just desperate and honestly believe that it is a method of coping and not a final step to ending Life.

I honestly feel for you, Sparque, and I hope that you take care of your SELF (Your Life's Spark that makes you unique) quickly before you fall down that same pit of despair that a full 90% of all counselors working in group homes do. And, keep in mind that you are working in a cutthroat environment - from the Administrators down to the clients, there is money on the line, status up for grabs, and some of the worst drama occurs within the staff dynamics. You sound like an enthusiastic, empathetic, and dedicated person - take care of your Self with a personal therapist counselor. All of the best therapists and counselors that I've known have maintained their own therapist and there is sound reason behind that choice.

God bless you!

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