Spooky events at an Old Outpatient Mental Health Facility

True Story

Five years ago, I worked at a Mental Health outpatient facility. I remember being excited when I got the call that the position was offered to me. By then I was in college going for my B. A in psychology and raising my son, so my plate was full. I also lived in my studio apartment and was desperate to make more money for the rent.

On my first day at the job, I met my boss the director of the program. She asked me a series of questions and made presumptions of me that were offensive. She said oh so you are in school studying psychology and you use to work at Congreso as an educator? I said yes, and she said “I guess that explains why you got this position then.” I should have seen her odd serious behavior as a red flag, but instead, I saw this as her testing me. I smiled and answered all her questions. She said I will fully start tomorrow.

So, the next day I met my new coworker, she was short and cold with me. She kept on writing her case management notes while I asked her questions and she had me do one of the notes, so Id learn. I was given a caseload of 60 participants and all were of Hispanic and Latino descent. The secretary would always smirk and shake her head when she saw me walk past her desk, it was almost like she knew something, and she and my coworker would chit-chat and gossip anytime the director left. My office was on the second floor and anytime I was in there alone I did not feel like I was alone. The floor had various rooms the hallways were small with an ugly green rug with a dusty stench. The room had wooden walls; I could automatically tell it was an old building. I was also able to realize that the facility was a different type of place a long time ago.

As a new Recovery Coach, I saw all these strange behaviors as a test. I thought they are just trying to see how I react. I kept it cool and did my job. Over time my coworker, and I started to have a good bond. She and I would take turns facilitating group therapy with the participants. They all had an arrange of mental illnesses and anytime the director entered the room in the morning everyone would stay quiet. Everyone hated her, she had such negative vibes and would be demeaning and degrading in her tone. She said that the participants are like children and we need to keep them in check. Over some time I…