Ann Currier, LMHC

01/17/2024

8 Things People Want In A Job/Career

1. STABILITY. If you’ve ever done seasonal work, then you know that the situation is temporary and you are most likely going to be back at Square 1 at the end of the season. In addition, a job might be unstable as in not seasonal, but unstable in other ways. If you’ve ever worked for a company that cannot guarantee staying power, has shaky supervision, or high turnover rates, you know what I mean. This leaves people feeling like the job search is never over because there has to constantly be a back-up plan.

2. A GOOD BOSS. I think we’ve all worked for bosses who are….not so nice. This makes a work environment unbearable, especially if that person is more up-close than afar. I’ve heard a lot of people complain that their boss is just not personable and doesn’t have any idea how to manage people. It ranges from that to having a boss who’s an abusive narcissist and bully, and everything in between. If you find yourself on the latter spectrum, you definitely want to find something else.

3. C0-WORKERS WHO PULL THEIR OWN WEIGHT AND DON'T HAVE DRAMA. Nothing is worse than workplace drama: gossiping, yelling, barking orders, making unreasonable demands, etc. I’ve had a lot of clients complain that others aren’t pulling their own weight, making it difficult for them. Be careful folks! This is a slippery slope because if you make yourself the “step up” person too often around lazy ingrates, that will be your whole work life and you’ll have no one to blame but yourself.

4. A DECENT COMMUTE OR ABILITY TO DO VIRTUAL. I once worked a job I hated, in a small town an hour away from where I lived. I felt like all I did was drive around all day. It was really draining on my gas, my car, and me. Not to mention my supervisor was a horrible, wretched woman. There was no ability to do virtual because it was a hands-on type of job. Now, I have a 20 minute drive each way to my work and go through neighborhoods and am never on a busy highway for more than a block or so. I find the ride to and from work to be very relaxing and enjoyable, a time I can listen to NPR and get caught up on what’s going on.

5. TO ENJOY WHAT THEY DO. A job/career is typically how you’ll be spending the majority of your time in your life, more than you do with family, friends, or doing hobbies that you love. If it’s not something that you enjoy, it’s not worth it. Sometimes it’s doing what you love, but in an unhealthy environment (a culprit of one of these other talking points.) I’ve done this before and, TRUST me, it’s not worth it.

6. Feel like they’re HELPING PEOPLE/MAKING A DIFFERENCE. Providing therapy in the LGBTQ community, for example (like I do), is so important to me. Almost daily I write letters of support for people to start hormones, get surgeries, have their pet as an emotional support animal, and I also write recommendations and referrals to help people get into school, and other letters of support. It feels so good to help make peoples’ dreams come true! Here at Spektrum, we even started a tradition some time ago that, whenever someone gets a letter, practically the whole office chimes in with their tambourines to celebrate. It’s so much fun.

7. To make DECENT MONEY. I’ve listed this as #7, but, come on, this is probably the first thing on the list for most people. I’ve worked plenty of jobs where I’m proud of what I’m doing and accomplishing in a community, but having to live with a roommate or roommates because I couldn’t afford my own place. This is not a good place to be. We’ve probably all learned at some point in our lives that if you can’t afford the basic cost of living, you need to figure out something else to do.

8. REASONABLE HOURS. I hear complaints all the time about people having to work unreasonable hours and, other than the job I mentioned earlier with the commute, I can’t relate to it because that is not something I have ever tolerated in a job. Your “you time” is precious and if you find yourself in a situation where you are working more than you are living and sleeping, it’s time to update your resume.

No one job or career is going to give you all of this, which is why I recommend picking and choosing which of these topics is the most important to you and to understand where you can make some sacrifices.

Hope this helps!

11/28/2023

Happy Giving Tuesday everyone! If you want to donate to a really super good cause, check us out

Giving Tuesday is a global day of charitable giving that takes place on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving. It is a movement that encourages people to come together and give back to their communities or support causes and organizations that are meaningful to them. Giving Tuesday harnesses the power of social media and collaboration to inspire generosity and philanthropy.

On Giving Tuesday, people are encouraged to donate to charities, support local nonprofits, volunteer their time, or engage in other acts of kindness. It serves as a reminder of the importance of generosity and the positive impact that collective giving can have on communities and causes globally.

SPEKTRUM Health is dedicated to our community; here are some examples of how we are fighting:

Monitoring all current legal cases, with updates a few times per week. We must also stay tuned into the new laws and rules in Florida and throughout the country – a task that is beyond full time, given the vast amount of legislation the country has seen attacking the LGBTQA+ community, and the frequency of change and updates.

We are engaging with several business partners and organizations to ensure they are up to date on what is happening, as well as to recruit their support.

Members of SPEKTRUM’s team are attending (and in many instances facilitating) coalition meetings with advocacy groups throughout the country. (virtual and on-site)

We are collaborating with multiple attorney teams to navigate how best to resolve the crisis, or at the very least develop and maintain pathways for health safety for our patients. Some of the attorneys are “pro-bono”, while others are not.

We are meeting with representatives, advocates, lawmakers, and stakeholders to ensure they have the most up to date information possible and are equipped with the necessary information to take a stance on key issues.

We are constantly engaged with a variety of media outlets (Spectrum News 13, WESH2, WFTV, CBS, ABC, Vice, to name a few). We have been interviewed for at least 50 news articles, television reports and even a two-part story featured on ABC’s Nightline in July. In each instance, we spend a great deal of time working with these producers, editors, and journalists to educate them on LGBTQA+ culture, as well as the battles we are facing with the state (and others).

There is need to travel (Tallahassee, Washington D.C., California, and other) for critical advocacy and planning meetings. To date, we have not been able to participate in the capacity we would like, strictly due to financial limitations.

Accountability to our mission and responsible use of all donations received take priority. By supporting SPEKTRUM Health you are ensuring the key commanders on the battlefield have the resources we need to continue the ever-growing fight. Please help us continue our advocacy and ensure we are here until the day of victory!

https://spektrum.health/donate/

10/31/2023

07/26/2023

Coming Out as Transgender to Parents

One of the biggest hurdles my trans clients face is coming out to parents. I often hear, “Ann, you don’t understand. My parents are (fill in the blank)”…Catholic, Jewish, Indian, Hispanic, Republican, Conservative, Old. It doesn’t matter, they are still parents, and their job is to love and support their children unconditionally.

Typically what I have found in having worked with parents in this situation is that they’re scared. They make lots of assumptions about what this means for this person’s future: Will they ever be married or have a good relationship? Will they be able to have children or a decent career? Will they be shunned in society or putting themselves in danger?

My advice to my trans clients and friends has, at times, shocked people: Don’t make a big deal out of it. When someone starts a conversation with: “Sit down, I have something really important to tell you and I don’t know how you’re going to respond to it”, it gives that other person anxiety about the big news they’re about to hear.

Gender Dysphoria is a medical condition that requires treatment and should be treated as such. If someone experiences depression, they might be put on Citalopram. If they are diagnosed with diabetes they might be prescribed insulin. Someone with Gender Dysphoria (in most cases) will need to be on hormone treatment. If you don’t present it as anything more, most of the time, others will not react to it as being “extra”.

I’ve often told clients that if they have fears, concerns, or shame about transition, to discuss those topics with ME as I am an EXPERT in assisting people throughout transition. My suggestion is to poker face with parents in order to alleviate their concerns.

Family Therapy is available and welcome here at Spektrum Health. I am happy to help your family through transition.

07/20/2023

I'm so looking forward to this! It's not too late to confirm

🌈💜 Join us for Support Group Sessions! 💜🌈

🗓️ Starting July 20th, 2023 | Every Other Thursday | 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM | Cost: $15

Are you navigating difficult and uncertain times? We're here to support you and your loved ones! At SPEKTRUM, we believe in fostering a community of love and acceptance, especially for our transgender friends, clients, and framily. 💪❤️

Join our upcoming support group sessions where we'll discuss important topics such as building a support system, exploring options for relocation or staying in Florida, understanding current issues, addressing safety concerns, and overcoming challenges related to hormone treatment restrictions. 🌟🌍

These group therapy sessions are open to transgender individuals, parents, partners, friends, and allies aged 18+. We'll meet every other Thursday, starting on July 20th, 2023, from 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM. The cost per session is $15. Let's come together and create a network of support! 🤝🌺

Spread the love and share this information with anyone who might benefit from it. We can't wait to see you there! 🤗💙

07/19/2023

07/17/2023

I have openings this afternoon and some tomorrow as well if you want to check in. We'd love to see you!

07/11/2023

07/07/2023

Starting Thursday July 20th!

07/06/2023

Ann Currier, Counselor, Edgewood, FL, 32809, Welcome and thank you for stopping by! For over a decade, I have specialized in transgender care assisting people with letters of support for starting hormones and obtaining surgeries, making referrals, and helping with general aspects of transition, some...