Here is the story in a nutshell for those of you who may not know it. I walked at graduation in June of 08 for Fuller, although I still needed more practicum hours to be a MFT in Oregon so I did the summer term too. How anti-climactic to walk at a graduation when I am not fully completed with my work. I worked at two sites during the summer and did one course. During that time (Jun-Sep of 08) I started looking for jobs in Oregon online, thinking (oh so innocently!) that I would find one and be able to start in Oct of 08 in Portland when I moved here.
When all of Sept, Oct and Nov had rolled by and I still did not have a job, I opened a lease to rent space for a private practice. My thoughts were it would just be temporary while I applied to some jobs in the area. Then the economic crisis hit. Then all mental health funds were comprimised in the State of Oregon. Then all the clinics eliminated jobs, cut funding and some even closed their doors. Then in Feb of 09 I finally got interviewed at two places at once to my delight! One of them said they wanted to hire me then hired someone else. The other eliminated the position after they chose me as their top pick. Then my father died. It seemed to me that my private practice would have to become full time if I were to ever have work.
Although I never stopped hoping for more work in my private practice, at this point I really turned on the heat. I spent more money that month on marketing than I ever had before. I started seeing couples as well as individuals. I went from having 4-5 clients a week to having 10 client contact hours every week.
In the midst of this I got an email from a friend telling me about De Paul's open position. Casually, I sent in my resume thinking my chances were small. I did 4 hour-long interviews for De Paul and kept my emotions guarded, remembering what happened at the previous two places and praying that whatever was supposed to happen with De Paul would happen. At this point new unemployment numbers come out in the States saying the national unemployment rate is worsening, now last compared to unemployment in 1982. I am sober in realizing the competition I have in full time therapist positions in the Portland area and how my practicums are not the best on paper expereince compared to other therapists I'm competing with positions for.
Over the next two weeks my small group pray along with Donovan and I that God would make this possible. My group believed in me when I lost hope and faithfully said "You WILL get it!" After exactly 12 months of job searching (so exhausting!) I was so worn out. After the last interview they said they would call me that afternoon (Friday) with the news. I didn't hear from them all weekend. Then Monday passed by. Then Tuesday. I thought I might call them to check in, but I didn't know what I would say. I waited. Weds afternoon they called and gave me the job!
I'm now a full time employee for De Paul Treatment Centers :)
I will be doing both in-patient and out-patient family and individual therapy focused on drug and alcohol treatment. All I have to say is Yea God. The odds were not good for me in many ways but you provided a job and with that financial stability, the ability to use my learned skills, a stable schedule (which I live for!), and every single thing that the income from that job will provide. And I thank you.
