What is the company culture like at The Dorm?

The Dorm is the loveliest, most inclusive and progressive space I have ever worked in. The workplace culture is one of constant connection, kindness and fun. You can feel the heart and purpose with which everyone carries themselves in their day to day tasks, and I never doubted my value in the organization thanks to the kind and consistent communication from everyone I crossed paths with. I have also never witnessed such an honest and consistent determination by leadership to constantly be asking and listening to their employees to see where they can do an be better as an organization.

It can be a fast-paced environment, and is probably best for those who thrive in them!

Decent clinical experience can be gained due to the clientele and their varied mental health challenges.

The Dorm has a toxic work culture. There's a lot of cliquishness among staff, and the marketing often feels more like a sales pitch than a reflection of what the company can actually deliver. They oversell or lie about their services just to get clients in the door, and once they're in, there’s little focus on actually caring for their wellbeing. Staff are overworked, and there’s a serious lack of training and support. Interns are frequently left to handle client work/run group therapy, even though clients and their families are paying a lot of money for these services. On top of that, The Dorm either doesn't understand basic nutrition or doesn't care. Clients have unlimited access to sugary cereals and snacks, with no regard for how these foods can negatively affect mental health and overall well-being. It’s disappointing to see such a lack of attention to something so fundamental.

Pros: 1. Strong sense of belonging and team support 2. Very collaborative environment that is passionate about a shared mission 3. Great growth in personal and professional opportunities. The team is very collaborative so you often wear multiple hats which accelerates skill development and learning 4. You can see the impact of your work and team wins are always celebrated 5. A very authentic and warm environment that feels like a family-style culture

Cons: There is rapid change and adaptability as The Dorm grows. It's fast-paced and a self-starter can thrive here. I personally enjoy this but it's worth mentioning as a "con" since it's not everybody's preferred style of work environment.

Working in New York City. Being able to leave the office and go for walks with clients, or to a park, you don’t have to sit in an office all day. Free food for the groups no one shows up to, generally always plenty of left overs.

It will be sold as a pro, you get a computer and phone - this means you are always on the clock and expected to be available (mobile office). A lot of progressive branding, including “gender affirming,” “black lives matter,” and “scholarships for the less fortunate.” I have witnessed judgement, prejudice and ignorance in the face of serving members of the lgbtq+ community. A real disservice and multiple hr issues regarding people of color and clients of color who are often made to be “angry,” “loud,” “threatening.” For all of the trainings they conduct, you would think micro aggressions and racism would have been registered by their leadership and employees by now. Pretty much every “scholarship” case is unsuccessful due to a myriad of reasons. They will sell experience in complex clients, attract those clients and then offer clinicians who are right out of their graduate program, with no experience other than an internship, in some cases not even be 25 years of age and then end up with the blind leading the blind. Everyone gets promoted once a year. So you have “senior” therapists, who have been out of graduate school for one year. Ask yourself, how does a “clinician” with one year of work experience constitute a “senior” anything. In the end all of the workers who have integrity, promise and are capable of thinking for themselves leave and have left. A toxic work environment through and through, with a crumbling infrastructure. Save yourself the trouble and keep it moving. This is not it.

Decent clinical experience can be gained due to the clientele and their varied mental health challenges.

The Dorm has a toxic work culture. There's a lot of cliquishness among staff, and the marketing often feels more like a sales pitch than a reflection of what the company can actually deliver. They oversell or lie about their services just to get clients in the door, and once they're in, there’s little focus on actually caring for their wellbeing. Staff are overworked, and there’s a serious lack of training and support. Interns are frequently left to handle client work/run group therapy, even though clients and their families are paying a lot of money for these services. On top of that, The Dorm either doesn't understand basic nutrition or doesn't care. Clients have unlimited access to sugary cereals and snacks, with no regard for how these foods can negatively affect mental health and overall well-being. It’s disappointing to see such a lack of attention to something so fundamental.

You get to improve your skills as a group practitioner. They pay decently, but not enough for your integrity.

There are not enough words to fully explain the cons of this job. The organization requires parents to pay an extreme amount of money to hopefully get their children to an "okay" mental health space, yet really promotes compliance. Young adults are in crisis with their mental health an deserve an environment that actively supports them. They have perfected their sales pitch to families, and the clients get better in spite of the environment. It is truly due to the control of time away from their lives that they improve. There are a few therapists who are good but their training is typically due to outside education not provided by the Dorm. This place is not as bad as some TTI centers but it is not a place that a clinician can properly grow and feel integrity with their own values.