Should I quit?

Lindsey · 04-02-2015, 08:03 AM

I started voluntary counselling for young people a few months ago. It has been challenging but there are a lot of ways that I feel I am well suited for the job.

The staff are harsh and very unsupportive. Every time I go in I feel like I'm being criticised. I was late one day because my full time job is very demanding and they were really unkind about me being 15mins late. My job involves working with adults with psychiatric problems and I don't really like going to my volunteer position and being patronised.

I'm starting to doubt myself and get quite upset over some of my feedback. The criticism isn't constructive and I feel like I'm just being torn apart. For example this week in front of a group of 15 people I was told my voice is "horrible and has no empathy". I disagree and thought this was really unfair. Another piece of feedback I had this week I queried and was told that I would not be suited to staying there if I thought I knew better than my supervisors.

I like the role but I find it too hard to take the pressure from the staff. I have never quit anything before and I know some friends were really proud that I took on this comittment and would be disappointed in me if i quit. I had to go through several interviews, applications and background checks to get this position.

The One Who · 04-02-2015, 09:37 PM

Do you have a supervisor you can speak to about this? If you already have, take it to the manager/next level higher. Also, are the others volunteers, or are they all paid staff?

If it was me, I would be looking elsewhere. Your friends should understand, and shouldn't be forcing you to stay in a position you aren't happy in.

Pi.R^2 · 06-02-2015, 11:25 PM

This doesn't sound like a great place to work at all.

As suggested above, I'd recommend trying to speak to someone about this. Hopefully there will be someone more senior who can help to sort this out. If not, then quitting is a definite option. I'm sure lots of people would say that at some point in their life they have quit something and feel so much better for it because they found something so much better to do instead!

Lindsey · 07-02-2015, 07:25 PM

I've met around six of the supervisory staff so far and none of them are very nice. There may be somebody above them but I think it might be more about company attitude than each of them as it seems unlikely they'd put up with so many total horrors on their staff.

I don't think I'm in a secure enough place to take the criticism I'm receiving.

I also disagree with their attitude when it comes to counselling. Because I've had my own share of issues and am in counselling myself, I feel like I have a good idea of what is and isn't appropriate and they're contradicting this. Also if I'm told something that has worked for me isn't good, it makes me doubt whether it is right for me.

I think I'm going to email in this weekend and quit. I don't have the guts to do it over the phone.

Pi.R^2 · 07-02-2015, 07:32 PM

It sounds like this really isn't the place for you, and it's brave of you to be able to admit that. I hope you manage to send the email and find somewhere that is more aligned with your beliefs and that value your skills rather than constantly criticize you!

Moonlight Princess · 07-02-2015, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pi.R^2

find somewhere that is more aligned with your beliefs and that value your skills rather than constantly criticize you!

Absolutely.

When I was looking for voluntary counselling roles I thought about applying for the Samaritans but got put off as some of my friends had similar experiences to you. Now I work at ChildLine and I absolutely adore working there. The supervisors are wonderful and every one of us gets so much support which at the end of the day is the only thing that makes it possible for us to do our jobs well. You can't be expected to do a job that harrowing without being in an environment with people who care about your wellbeing. Keep looking for that place and when you find it it will be worth it. From the sounds of it you are really experienced and any organisation would be lucky to have you.

shadow-light · 07-02-2015, 08:16 PM

I agree with what others have said. Sounds like their attitude is awful, and you shouldn't have to put up with it. Looking for somewhere else may be the best plan, sounds like you were just unlucky with this place, but at least you tried and can go away knowing that they are the ones with an issue, it's nothing you did it's their attitude

Lindsey · 08-02-2015, 10:12 AM

It's funny because it was actually Childline I was talking about!

In theory the support is there, they have the debrief at the end of the shift etc but I think its just more down to the personalities working there that are making me so unhappy.

I've sent the email. I have a full time job, a part time job and do some freelance stuff so I think its believable that I'm just feeling overwhelmed with the amount I have on just now.