I’m at a breaking point with my job and could really use some perspective.
I work in a crisis setting with kids, and for almost two years, I was the only full-time clinician. It was exhausting, but I kept showing up because the kids needed support and there wasn’t anyone else to fill that role consistently.
Recently, things have shifted in a way that’s made everything worse. Overtime was cut without any real announcement or discussion, and now I’m being sent home early if I hit 40 hours—which means a noticeable decrease in my pay. At the same time, morale is incredibly low across the team.
What’s really getting to me is the pressure around productivity. I’m expected to meet certain metrics just to be “allowed” to pick up weekend hours to try and make up for the lost income. It feels backwards—like I have to earn the ability to earn more money, on top of already feeling overworked.
I’m actively trying to find another job, but honestly… this experience has drained so much of my interest in the field. I used to care deeply about this work, and now I just feel stuck, discouraged, and burnt out. It’s hard to tell if it’s just this job or if I’m completely done with this profession altogether. I will be fully licensed by summer.
I still have responsibilities and can’t just quit without a plan, but staying like this doesn’t feel sustainable either.
Has anyone else gone through something similar? How did you get unstuck or figure out your next step when you felt this burnt out and disillusioned?