Update (complaining about my situation)

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I quit my job at a drug and alcohol treatment program 4 months ago. I quit because of commuting costs. My intentions were to get a different, higher-paying job in the mental health field after completing my degree. I only had 2 months until graduation when I quit my job. The longer I stayed away from the job, the more I became convinced that I should find a different line of work. After I graduated, I got a job as a temp at a factory and I really liked it. I didn't have to interact much with people (couldn't because of machine noise). It was paying my bills. I could leave the job at home unlike a counseling job.

Well last week, I got hurt at work. Now I can't go back. I don't know if I will get worker's compensation or not. I have to look for a different job, and the only logical field for me to look for a job in is drug and alcohol treatment. I am dreading it. I seriously do not want to get involved in one more person's problems with drugs and alcohol. I also totally disagree with how drug and alcohol treatment is done where I live (recovering addicts as counselors with no training in psychology, mandatory 12-Step meetings). I think drug addiction should be treated like any other mental health problem. I also don't want to tell anybody my story. I want to be a legitimate mental health professional, not a professional addict (doing AA 12-Step work for pay at a treatment center).

Anyway, I don't know what is going to happen next in my life but I am resigned to keep working in the mental health field even though I hate it. I can't just not work because I have bills to pay. I don't want to go bankrupt. I am not ready to go on disability yet. I like counseling but don't feel like continuing to deal with mental health issues on a professional basis. I'd rather do vocational counseling or something like that. I have no idea how to transition to a field other than the one I am already in, and I'm mad.

I have a bachelor's in psychology. I got my degree on December 31, 2013. It is a useless degree unless you plan on going to graduate school or working in the mental health field.

I also have six and a half years working at drug and alcohol treatment programs (two years direct care staff at inpatient facilities and 4.5 years as a case manager for a court-run program). I have no other professional experience, just fast food jobs or temp. jobs.

Well... here's an outside the box idea. Try occupational therapy. I heard quite a bit of NT peers came from the psychology background. They have transitioned very well because they have an edge in their knowledge of mental health already. You can try a COTA program first and then go into a bridge program to become an OTR later (like me) if you think a direct entry to an OTR program is too hard at first.