My dilemma.

I am about to finish my 2 years of Social Sciences at Lionel-Groulx College, and I'm really excited to go to university. I need to choose where I am going to go and in which program. I'm hesitating between doing a Ph.D at University of Laval, which is further from where I live, or a master at University of Montreal, which is near to my dad's house. I visited both places and I really don't know where to go!

Choice 1 : Go to University of Laval for a Ph.D.

Choice 2 : Go to University of Montreal for a master.

The University of Laval.

I am really happy about my experience here. I am enjoying all of my courses and how my teachers teach. They are all very professionals and interesting. I made new friends from my Psychology program who are as passionate as me about the human brain. I just finished my doctorate and it is finally time for internships. I feel fulfilled about by my program and now I don't know if I want to take a break or pursuit my career.

Choice 1 : Go volunteer in South America.

Choice 2 : Do an internship with a psychologist.

Go to University of Montreal.

I realized after my first week that I chose this University principally because it is the one closer to my house. The way most of my teachers explain don't help me understand, especially about psychopathology. Du to my lack of motivation and my difficulty concentrating, I am failing 2 of my courses. I can't finish in time and always stress about my homework. I need to decide what to do.

Choice 1 : Drop school.

Choice 2 : Take longer to finish my master.

Volunteer in South America.

I am taking a break before starting my career to find my purpose. Many teenage mothers in Peru needs help to receive the resources and skills to provide a loving and safe home for their children. This opportunity really helped me to take a more in-depth look at certain issues the young people can endure. The moments here are invaluable and I don't even think about the premium wage I would have made in an internship with a psychologist.

Choice 1 : Start over.

The internship with a psychologist.

I am now the intern of Dr. Mark, and by observing his sessions with his many patients, he really helps me learn the ropes of my future career. He asks me questions and I enjoy coming handy when he needs my help. This test drive of the job confirms that I chose the right path. Dr. Mark asks me if I want to work for his clinic, but I know that I always wanted my own.

Choice 1 : Opening my own psychologist's clinic.

Choice 2 : Accept the job at Dr. Mark's clinic.

Drop school.

I went to Walmart to give my curriculum vitae and got engaged. My on-the-job-training went well and my boss told me all the ins-and-out of the customer's service. The only big drawback about this job is the wage. It is too low to pay my apartment bills and all of my expenses. I have only been a trainee for one month and I already find the job repetitive.

Choice 1 : Start over.

The additional year to finish my master.

After one extra session, I finish my study and get engaged in a dead-end job. I decide to become an assistant psychologist in Forensic Psychiatric Clinic Victoria. I help the forensic psychologist by doing self-report inventories, neuropsychological screening and administration procedures. I love working in a criminal justice context and I really feel fulfill. After 15 years of working there, my boss offers me a promotion in another city, far from my family.

Choice 1 : Accept the promotion to work at Riverview Forensic Hospital.

Choice 2 : Keep the job I have.

My psychologist's clinic.

I am very happy to be my own boss, to be able to arrange my workplace according to my taste and to make my schedule. I love the team of employee I engaged as the Human Resources. They take care of all the administration work as filling vacant positions, taking into the background check, training the new employees and taking care of the compensation and benefits. It is working so great, and I am making a good wage, so I am thinking about opening another clinic.

Choice 1 : Open another clinic.

Choice 2 : Keep my business small.

The job at the clinic.

I have been working under Dr. Mark for ten years. I know he feels fulfill with my work because he asks my more than often to do overtime. But personally, I experience a big lack of motivation. I don't feel like going to work anymore and I feel like my help is not as worthwhile as it was when I began to work here. I have depressive thoughts almost every day and I need to do something to improve my own mental health.

Choice 1 : Take a medical leave.

Choice 2 : Work less day.

Take a medical leave.

I just finish my two months of medical leave and I feel way better. I am finally ready to go back to work, but my boss insists that another psychologist accompany me during my sessions with my patients to start slowly. I am not really sure if I should accept, because I don't want to be infantilized.

Choice 1 : Work assisted.

Choice 2 : Work alone.

Work less day.

My mental health is the worst then before. I have no motivation for doing anything and my self-esteem is at his lowest. I don't feel appreciated at work anymore and I feel like I am worth nothing. I get diagnostic with a major depression and my therapy and medications don't work. One day, when I feel at my worst, I take all of my pills in one shot and end my life.

Choice 1 : Start over.

Work assisted.

I am assisted by Dr. Miller, and she's not taking control over my sessions, I feel good with her assistance. She knows when to intervene and helps me with diagnosis with depression and burnouts. She understands that it is still a sensitive subject for me and I really appreciate that. After a couple of weeks, I am ready to go back to normal.

Choice 1 : Start over.

Work alone.

My first session back is with a new patient. He explains to me that he often feels as his lowest and doesn't have much self-esteem. He isolates himself and doesn't want to be with anyone. I diagnose him with major depression. It is difficult to work with him, because of my situation, but I try my best and talk to him about how he feels. The more we talk, the more I understand that he is in a mental distress. My patient doesn't tell me clearly that he might hurt himself, but he stipulates it.

Choice 1 : Report it.

Choice 2 : Plan another session with him.

I tell the police.

I decided to break my professional secret because I think my patient may be in danger and end up hurting himself. The second I tell the police, they go to his house and found him unconscious on his bathroom floor. They get him to the hospital as fast as they can, and once there, the doctors take good care of him. I am relieved, he is safe.

Choice 1 : Start over.

Bad news.

I planned the session for the day after, but the day arrived and my patient didn't show up. It is already too late. I get informed that he caused a car accident, and he didn't survive. I panic the second I hear the bad news and call my boss to tell him it is my fault.

Choice 1 : Start over.

My new clinic.

It is not like I imagine. It is really hard to manage everyone from the two clinics. I don't have time to be at the same place at the same moment and my schedule is fuller than before. I get informed from an employee that one of the assets has been stolen. I don't really know what to do and when I go to my new clinic, I talk to my personal and see how many corruptions there is in the system. My company doesn't survive after that theft and goes bankrupt.

Choice 1 : Start over.

Keep my business small.

I stay in my clinic for the rest of my career. My patients really trust me, and I am happy to see their mental health and behavior improve through the sessions. I am at my best and feel accomplish in my job. I am now 60 years old, and I decide to retire with the money a set aside and my pension. I live happy for the rest of my life with my children and grandchildren.

Choice 1 : Start over.

Riverview Forensic Hospital.

After a long sleepless night, I go to work and felt very at low. In the afternoon, after my last client, my boss asked me to come meet him in his office. I stress a little bit, I did nothing wrong, so I am a bit taken buy surprise. I sit at his desk, and he come behind me and begin to touch my shoulder in a flirty way. I deter him but he continues aggressively. I feel dread and the perpetrator act with total misconduct. I told my husband about this, and he proposes me two options.

Choice 1 : Change to another hospital.

Choice 2 : Report my boss to the Human Resources department.

Keep the job I have.

I worked here for 25 years and through the years I find it difficult to have a dead-end job. As an assistant, I feel like the forensic psychologists always withhold information from me about the patients. I try to endure the situation, but they undermine my motivation. Because of the drive of work, I decided to quit 3 years before my retirement.

Choice 1 : Start over.

Change to another hospital.

I have bad difficulties to adapting to my new environment. I am scared to approach my colleagues and when they try to get to know me, I push them away. When I go back to my place, after my day at work, I cry all night. I consult with a psychologist and get diagnosis with post-traumatic stress disorder from my sexual harassment experience. I quit my job for an undetermined time.

Choice 1 : Start over.

Report my boss to the Human Resources department.

During the week that follows this incident, I go see the head of the Human Resources department and tell them about my situation with my boss. They report it to the police and announce me that my process is in one week. I feel very stressed, but I am relieved that this situation won't happen again. My boss get fired and I get to see people from a support group. I am slowly letting go and feeling better.

Choice 1 : Start over.