I am writing this for any therapists out there who may be doing a search on South Bay Mental Health Reviews. There used to be quite a few valid and negative ones on a site called Job Vent that have been deleted.\r
\r
Turnover rate is very high at this company. Clients often commented to me that I was their third or fourth counselor. Therapists are often just out of school and given cases way beyond their limited experience. Supervision is given in group form once a week (which you are not paid for) and once a week (which you are not paid for). Individual supervision usually consists of how many clients you have and how to market yourself and skimps on how to manage and help those clients. Some clients should be referred to a higher level of care, however this company is reluctant to do so, as they lose some money.\r
\r
Therapists are encouraged to do paperwork while in session with clients, as you are not paid for any time not face-to-face with a client. If your client does not show up, you are out of luck. If you don't meet a quota, you lose your health insurance. I was poorer than some of my clients while working here. I was also new to the area and told to go out and market myself to find new clients. I asked specifically in the interview if there were enough referrals, which I was told there were. I was not lazy- I worked 10 hour days driving around and would be paid for about 2 of those hours due to no shows and the paperwork load.\r
\r
Some referrals need medication management, but will be unable to see the psychiatrist for 6-8 weeks after being in treatment with you- it is extremely frustrating to see people who need evaluations and medication told they need to see you for a month before they can even make an appointment with the doctor. \r
\r
Is there any good? I had some wonderful coworkers who were very supportive, and they do have a mentor who helps you in your first few weeks. There is an emphasis on safety and they do pre-screen clients to not put a therapist in harm's way, but it's not a perfect system (please tell your supervisor if you are uncomfortable in a home in anyway- they will not make you go there). Therapists do care about their clients and try their best to help. If you have a ""salesperson"" mentality and can market yourself, you might to quite well at this job.\r
\r
I personally wanted to be a therapist and did not feel supported by the company and would not recommend working here.
more