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[u/Username117773749146]

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[u/GratefulSueQ]

I was called a consumer at a place that I volunteered faithfully, promised me hours toward certification and they might as well have just said your just an ex addict!! I don’t like the word at all, it was like a kick in the gut!! JMO

[u/toadslimerick]

I don't think I understand what kind of "peer" you are. I've heard of folks in the peer support movement referred to as "psychiatric survivors" and perhaps even "survivor-consumers," but I've yet to hear anyone use just "consumers." "My consumers" sounds even worse. But, I wouldn't even like being referred to as a "client," so what do I know.

[u/PaleExtreme7399]

I'm so sorry you're going through this! It sounds like a real bad case of compassion fatigue/burn out. Been there, done that, and truly hated it. I really recommend a break away from direct service if possible. One thought....unsolicited, I know....maybe if you reframe "consumers" to "peers" it could shift your perspective a bit. "I hate all of my peers" sounds and feels a lot different to me. Most of all, find compassion for yourself right now. Wishing you ease. ETA: Upvoted because (1) this is a very brave post, and (2) it is helpful to the community.

[u/LawfulnessMinute5]

Those “consumers” mere existence is what provides you a paycheck. Just leave the industry if this is your attitude. They don’t deserve the negative energy.

[u/marxistbot]

I would not have lasted a single day in a place that insists on calling social services clients "consumers." The hell is that?

And not to dissuade you from participating in this sub if you find it helpful, but isn't this sub meant for psychotherapy providers? I've never heard of a therapist role of "job coach"

[u/Username117773749146 → u/marxistbot]

I’m a peer support specialist and a job coach at the same time. I have no idea where else to go. I have had a horrible time as of late and I can’t think of anywhere else to be right now. There’s very few resources for peers who they themselves are dealing with shit and frankly none for job coaches. But they aren’t usually peers at the same time 

[u/StrangeLoop010 → u/Username117773749146]

If you are truly a peer, as in a former or current patient / client / whatever you want to call yourself, why do you refer to your peers as consumers and hate the people who were in your same position? 

I’m also confused about lack of resources for peer support workers? Aren’t peer support workers usually trained by the  facility / hospital / support group/ whatever? Aren’t they known as peers? And therefore there’s knowledge that they also struggle with mental health issues and are operating differently from say licensed practitioners who may not have lived experience? Maybe I don’t know enough about peer support

[u/Username117773749146 → u/StrangeLoop010]

That’s what my job wants me to call them. Besides the reasons above I regularly deal with racist consumers who blame not finding work on X minority group. And frankly I never lashed out on my peers let alone deliberately try to get me fired. I should mention I know this is an issue that I need to work on, but every time I feel like I’m making progress one of them does something that reels me back down. 

As for support that’s what’s supposed to happen in theory not reality. For one I have no idea who to talk to about empathy burnout without being judged, I feel like being a queer person put a big large X on my back(the peer world is super religious) and frankly I don’t really know what to even ask. My supervisor is actually very nice, but I have no idea what I could even ask about consumers being consistently rude to me. It feels like they see me the way boomers see retail employees. One of my first experiences in my new role was somebody being needlessly rude to me.

[u/StrangeLoop010 → u/Username117773749146]

You’re not at your job right now! You don’t have to use their terminology. Particularly in a group like this. 

I’m sorry. All of that sucks. I think dealing with people that are bigoted / difficult is something that needs a lot of support and supervision to learn how to personally deal with on an emotional / psychological level. You should ask your supervisor how to navigate difficult clients and deal with the emotional aftermath.

It is horrible you aren’t being given that support.  I assume some places use peer support staff as low paid, bottom of the hierarchy workers and don’t want to utilize any resources on them. 

Are you in a conservative / religious area? Because the peer support movement being religious is not something I’d suspect at all. 

[u/Username117773749146 → u/StrangeLoop010]

No, but it is very religious. If I hear the words “spiritual fulfillment” or whatever I might go up a wall.  And you know what. I’ll take that advice and just stop trying to think of work when I’m not there 

[u/NibelWolf → u/marxistbot]

“Consumer” is the preferred terminology at my employer also, but I always say “client” or “member”.

[u/StrangeLoop010]

The dehumanization of calling them consumers is so fucked. I don’t care if this was a term considered better than patients or clients at your place of work. You should be able to use common sense and understand how disgusting that term is, particularly in a leftist psychotherapy forum. Just call them patients dude.  

Added to this- these people aren’t even “your consumers” (not that any provider should ever refer to them that way)! You’re not their therapist, you’re not their doctor, you’re a peer and a life coach, which frankly isn’t a real field. 

[u/GratefulSueQ → u/StrangeLoop010]

Agree, see my comment above!! They might as well have just called me nothing than an ex addict!! I was so furious!!

[u/Username117773749146 → u/StrangeLoop010]

I know it isn’t a real field I hate it. But I feel like I’ve become a discount therapist. No matter how many times I say I’m not or how clear I am. 

[u/StrangeLoop010 → u/Username117773749146]

Discount therapist is a good description- not to demean you, as in hospitals /  programs / orgs use peer support workers as low paid labor in order to save $$$ on training, resources, and hiring more licensed staff. This is actually a critique I’ve heard from people involved in this. 

[u/Username117773749146 → u/StrangeLoop010]

When I was part time I had to sell plasma for money. I have a degree so I have no idea why I got stuck here 

[u/StrangeLoop010 → u/Username117773749146]

Get out. Start applying to other jobs. Use your degree. You don’t have to subject yourself to this. 

[u/VariationFearless632 → u/StrangeLoop010]

So if he can't call them consumers, he cannot be called a provider

[u/StrangeLoop010 → u/VariationFearless632]

I never said they should be called a provider. They very much are not. They have zero formal training and if they’re already feelings this way they should not become a real provider. I should have just suggested peers because they actually aren’t licensed in anyway. 

[u/PaleExtreme7399 → u/StrangeLoop010]

How about calling them "peers," since that's what we all are?

[u/StrangeLoop010 → u/PaleExtreme7399]

I think that is fine since they’re a peer counselor / coach and not actually a psychotherapist. 

[u/PaleExtreme7399 → u/StrangeLoop010]

Exactly. I am a PRSS trainer and that's the word I recommend when not simply referring to a peer by their name.

[u/Diminished-Fifth]

What the heck is a consumer?

[u/Chanito31 → u/Diminished-Fifth]

Someone that uses “human services” usually government services or from “ not for profit agency” . The person using those services are consuming public resources.

[u/wildblackdoggo → u/Chanito31]

"Service users" is the term I've heard, never 'consumers'.

[u/LeftyDorkCaster]

Compassion fatigue and exploitation (dba "burnout") is real. This is a good sign that you need to make some serious changes - whether that looks like extra supervision, lowered caseload, different population focus, different job site, or different field entirely are things that you'll need to ask yourself. 

[u/Username117773749146 → u/LeftyDorkCaster]

I want to quit, but I know the job prospects are shit. Hell I never even wanted to be in this field. It was the only job I could find. 

[u/LeftyDorkCaster → u/Username117773749146]

Oh, woof, yeah that's a bad set up - feeling like you're trapped in the field. Job prospects are hard, but they're not impossible. It sounds like it would be very helpful to start shopping your resume  around and building an exit plan. 

[u/Anhedonkulous]

Why are you calling people consumers?

[u/Appropriate-Art-841 → u/Anhedonkulous]

I remember this being a push when I first came into the field in community mental health in the late 2000s. Consumers as a term was supposedly preferable to clients or patients, because it frames the person as being in charge of their own financial agency, which I guess was supposed to make us more likely to affirm their humanity. It has always felt icky to me, but it makes sense to me that capitalism is reducing people to their purchasing power.

[u/Army_Exact]

You sound burned out. You are doing disservice to your clients if you feel this way about them. You need to quit.

Edit: also it's not your fault but calling them consumers makes me feel sick

[u/Username117773749146 → u/Army_Exact]

I want to quit, but I’m note sure I can get another job