mental health technician

clinician

therapist

health information specialist

senior administrative assistant

Seneca Family of Agencies

During my time at Seneca I met some really cool kids/clients and made some life long friends that I once worked with. However management, in particular Director's and above, are horrible. From my experience if you were a 'yes' person and blindly did whatever you were asked/told to do you were given opportunities to advance and grow. But if you questioned anything the agency, and Management, deemed as policy or the norm and spoke up about it then they considered it as almost an attack on the agency and you are 'marked' and labeled 'negative' or 'difficult to work with' etc. and were not afforded opportunities to move up or grow. In fact the director's have a term they use in their meetings called 'career limiting' for folks who they feel this way about. But they'll still use you if you are good with the clients or families. It felt to me as if the agency was encouraging a cult like atmosphere and there was even a running joke throughout the agency about 'drinking the kool aid'. There was no consistency within management with regard to promotions, terminations, or even following policy. During my time I saw some of my supervisors make some very questionable decisions and if in good standing it was ignored. But other, committed and good, staff were let go for making a single mistake, because they were seen as  a 'problem'. And I think the most frustrating thing is the impression Seneca tries to give the communities/counties they work with that they are this 'perfect' organization that embraces/encourages diversity, differences of opinion, having a voice, direct feedback etc. But none of that is really true and they don't want people to know that. Hence it is my opinion that most management/director's within the agency are the biggest hypocrites I have ever encountered at a job. Overall I would recommend working at Seneca only if one were to remain at an entry level position and work there for a year maximum. That year will go by really quick and you will gain a lot of good experience working with troubled kids and, hopefully, meet some really great co-workers. Anything longer then that or any advancement would be a waste of time unless you want to either be targeted as a 'problem' or are an individual who has no problem treating/judging others like they are less then if they don't always agree with what the agency says.

Seneca is a great place to learn, and I’ll always be grateful for that. If you’re in clinical, there’s lot of trainings and growth opportunities you can experience before even getting licensed.  The program attracts incredible people which helps with the peer support you are definitely going to need. However, that’s not enough. 

Working in the clinic, you are contracted with your county to do an extensive amount of work for little pay, even if some of said work (paperwork, procedures) don’t make sense. Management kind of just throws up their hands if this is mentioned because they can’t do anything about it, and they’re not about to get caught complaining (sorry, “giving feedback”).
There’s some pretty nasty politics within management that adds to the already difficult job. Majority of management was (and I hear, still is) non diverse, so my peers whom were POC struggled to get the support they needed. Lots of gossip within management rebranded as “feedback”, which will make or break you should you want to try to switch departments or promote. Boundaries and work / life balance are preached and healthy… until it negatively impacts your supervisor, then you’re not being flexible and/or a part of the team. Lots of missed opportunities for management to practice what they preach and expect of you. The executive director was difficult to approach and even with the “feedback” provided, did nothing to change this. I saw our regional director once or twice on site, but she never made an effort to introduce herself or get to know staff. 

Reaching HR for anything was a joke; there’s a whole department of people, but only the director can actively do anything you might need.  There was a huge disconnect between other regional locations, especially in Southern California. 

Seneca is amazing for its community and all the services they offer, But it comes at a price (high staff turnover). I use what I have learned from Seneca, positive and negative, every day. But the last year of my time there was awful and I dreaded it every day until I put in my notice. 

An organization built on the simple commitment that we will do whatever it takes to help youth and families through the most difficult times in their lives, Seneca promotes a vision of hope and progress unlike any I've ever experienced.  I was hooked before I even arrived for the interview, yet nothing could have prepared me for what I was about to experience as I became steeped in the same values that I wanted to emulate not only as a social worker, but more importantly as a person. Love. Compassion. Joy. Hope. Courage. Respect. Curiosity. 

Seneca Family of Agencies is driven by values and principles that reflect the foundational commitment we make to our youth and families -that we will always do whatever it takes to sustain them through the most difficult times in their lives.  
It's that unwavering promise that infuses hope where there is despair; courage when the risk seems too great; love where there appears to be only loss; compassion in the face of indifference; respect to contest the unjust; humility enough to change; curiosity when the barriers seem impenetrable; and joy when the successes are hard fought.  

As a leader in the organization, I have the absolute pleasure of bearing witness to the extraordinary work that our staff do on a daily basis--and what they do is truly life changing for many of our families.  Not only are our teams willing and eager to demonstrate heroic efforts to meet the needs of our clients and families, they are some of the most intelligent, committed and joyful individuals I've ever met. I'm challenged and improved by them every day.  

The depth of my appreciation for Seneca is immeasurable and I feel privileged to have the opportunity to work in this incredible organization.   It is both the hardest and most rewarding job I've ever had, and I wouldn't want it any other way.

When you’re first hired at Seneca, you get the same feeling you get when you go to Disneyland. Where you feel like you’ve entered a magical place filled with excitement and sparks of joy. Little do you know, this magical feeling will go away the second you get deeper into your job. Eventually, realizing that you’ve walked into The Haunted Mansion, but have also taken the “ Doom Buggy” ride that’s been imposed by management. In many Disney movies, there is always a Villain (Cruella De Vil, Scar, Maleficent, Ursula), as for Seneca, its villain is the OC Regional Director. Just like Lord Voldemort, from the Harry Potter Novels, she is a ruthless dark wizard, who uses her magical wand and book of spells to break people's souls. This woman doesn't care about anyone’s opinions but her own. If you don’t do things her way, you’re out on the highway. 
Seneca’s management just wants you to be their own personal Cinderella from their own storybook. Just like in the movie, The Lion King, Seneca has a variety of locations (The East, The North and The South). I personally had the experience of getting to know every site, but the one to fear the most is The South Lake Forest office. As you open the doors to the Lake Forest office, you get goosebumps, just like you would while watching a horror movie. The staff there are not welcoming towards other program staff, but they welcome others with dirty looks. All while making it pretty obvious that they are mouth talking behind your back. When someone talks about the positive qualities of a therapist, it is being empathetic and non-judgmental, but behind the South’s glass walls, you will find that the therapists there are very judgmental and will speak badly about anyone. Just like Pinocchio, the LF therapists lie and are never held accountable by the OC Program Director. Seneca, please start giving your staff unconditional care.

I am a Mental Health Associate at South Shore, a Pre-K through 8th grade Seattle Public School. I provide "resets" or breaks for students to help with self-regulation, deescalation and preparing them to be successful in the classroom. These breaks may be planned breaks that occur daily, or unplanned breaks that I respond to over the radio. It may be that I push into the classroom to work with the student, or provide student with a separate, quiet space. I also teach SEL lessons and lead small social skills groups.

I initially was drawn to Seneca because of their Unconditional Care model, meaning that they serve ALL kids, meet them where they are and will work with them no matter what obstacles arise.

The support I've received at Seneca from coworkers and my supervisors has been amazing. I am applying to MSW programs right now and could not have done it without the fantastic people within Seneca that have sat down with me to tell me about their careers, and experiences with grad school.

I have gained so much experience working with youth in a school setting. I have been able to see the systems in place that support our children in special education, while also seeing the limitations. I have also learned a variety of positive data-based strategies to help deescalate students, while also teaching them strategies for self-regulation and sensory regulation. 

My favorite thing about my job is the strong positive relationships I get to build with all of the wonderful kiddos at my school. I love seeing the positive change that students experience over the school year (socially, emotionally, behaviorally and academically).

Culturally inclusive and diverse work environment, that promoted healthy dialogue and discussion between clients, staff, and families. The agency consistently adhered to an exceptional standard of care for the communities and families they served. 
The agency offered many opportunities for community building and family outreach, which fostered more engagement between clinicians and the community. Staff was often encouraged to practice self care, via personal time off, mentorship, and retreats. Additionally, weekly individual and group supervision was mandatory and encouraged by leadership team. Supervisors had an open door policy, consistently available for check-ins, consultation, and reciprocal feedback. Supervisor supported creative  approaches to, which was apparent in the types fo trainings and seminars offered through the agency's training program. 
.The most enjoyable part about working at this school/agency, was not knowing what to expect on daily basis. I was often presented with a new challenge reward each day. I felt that I could rely on my team to help problem solve around an issue.

Initially, I was blown away by the two week training program at Seneca. It almost felt like a healing circle but also further education. I felt so excited to work for an organization that cared so much about mental health and making a difference in the lives of marginalized youth. Going into the job, I quickly felt like I was part of a genuine team backed my supportive management. On top of this, expanding education on mental health was encouraged and I loved that too. You can Flex Time off work for trauma informed practice training. That’s only possible of course, when there is enough staff to accommodate this. I’ve noticed there is a high turnaround rate in some of the direct care positions as it is tough work. Rewarding work, but tough. As I mentioned, you have to be passionate yet have tough skin. You are dealing with youth who have behavioral issues and who have been through a lot. The unconditional care aspect of it is nice but I don’t fully agree with is as it can send the message that there are no consequences to actions which in turn doesn’t exactly set youth up for success in the real world.  On the other hand, a lot of the youth need soooo much love and care and it’s not their fault that they are in the position they are in. Overall the system is quite heartbreaking to work in, but I guess that’s also what makes it regarding…. 

Everything about this position and agency is great except for the management at Santa Clara County. Extremely rewarding work with amazing youth and families. Must desire to work in a fast-paced stressful environment, but the colleagues felt like family, and I always felt supported by my team members. I learned an immense amount - learned how to write treatment plans, other clinical documents, mental health notes, counseling skills, strengths-based/ trauma- informed approach... Lots of great training and professional development opportunities. If you get a supportive supervisor, the job is great, but the management turnover has been off the roofs since I started in 2015, and many of the managers have consistently been unhelpful, had poor boundaries, and involved in management politics/ drama which was a huge challenge for me in the work environment. There is a lack of transparency between management and direct care staff and oftentimes decisions were made by management that directly impacted direct care staff negatively and we were not provided with rationale or opportunities to have our feedback heard. They talk a lot about being open to feedback but it definitely seemed more talk and less a reality of the management team.

What is the best part of working at the company?
The collaborative community aspect really makes you feel supported no matter what your goals are. The company is flexible with time off and the benefits are secure. In sum, it’s a company that really seems to care about their employees.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The work itself in this field will always be hard, and trigger the deepest insecurities and traumas. The work requires constant self-reflection and dedication to inner healing as well as community work towards collective liberation. It’s a hard but fulfilling role that will test you. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
It feels supportive and open. It’s dedicated to building community and encouraging everyone to be themselves and follow their goals. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
You start off with a morning meeting to discuss important things about the students, then you’re on the floor, in the classroom working 1:1 with students or modeling and engaging in the classroom. After the school day is done, there are usually team meetings, or trainings. Finally there is time to work on documentation for the rehabilitation time spent with students.

First and foremost on a selfish level, Seneca has been a wonderful employer to me. Starting in an entry-level role with little other work experience (and none in the non-profit/social services sector), I have learned a huge amount and had the opportunity to work closely with an interdisciplinary team of direct service providers (support counselors, clinicians, occupational therapists, etc) and administrative staff. This was the perfect position for me, given the chance it presented to get a sense for many different viable career path options. Informal interviews with co-workers for my first year on the job helped me to narrow my focus to the career path I am on now within Seneca. Every step of the way, Seneca has supported my professional growth, even hiring me into my dream job and providing a professional development scholarship to build my skills in that area. 

The selfish reasons to work for Seneca are important for any prospective employee to know; the agency's mission to improve outcomes for children and families speaks for itself! Each day of work has a purpose.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Mental health technician 3 salaries reported	$25.33 per hour
Clinician 4 salaries reported	$67,000 per year
Therapist 3 salaries reported	$74,667 per year
Health information specialist 5 salaries reported	$23.20 per hour
Senior administrative assistant 4 salaries reported	$27.00 per hour

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