There are a million reasons why I would tell someone not to waste their time on submitting an application, but I will specifically state reasons that working out at the Ranch was disheartening.
Your work load and personal commitment to young trouble kids is already hard to deal with on a daily basis, but when you are trying to learn the ropes of becoming a professional counselor, it is very discouraging to not receive any feedback or guidance from upper "management." The only thing that former management was worried about was whether he/she was able to get away at 4:30 each day and that we were billing the correct amount of hours. There was an extreme lack of ethics and employee morale was ridiculously low.
It is hard to show up to work every day 100% committed when all the staff speak poorly about not only direct supervisors, but the CEO as well. The only reason I was able to last as long as I did was that there were a few very dedicated and passionate individuals that were keeping the program afloat. Dealing with these youth who are both diagnosed with mental health problems and substance abuse issues is the easiest part of the job. Trying to provide a consistent and healthy environment due to office politics and micromanagment is the hardest and most frustrating.
If you need to get supervision hours, then this obviously an option, but keep it as a last resort. The supervision and guidance you receive will not be adaquete enough to prepare you for work outside their isolated world.
