Good luck getting it all sorted out.

At 55 I’ve questioned my lack of a career choice, to my great chagrin

Most people don't realize how deep their skillset actually is. This applies to you because if you follow your passion and stay on your current career path, nothing stops you from shifting gears and trying something else a few years beyond if things go south for you emotionally. Human services is a broad field beyond rehab and support, there is a data gathering and analysis part, a grant application part, a PR part, a compensation analysis part, a psychological/sociological part, a marketing part. The best way to find out about all of these things is from the inside, to continue to learn all the facets of your career even after you have settled on a path (for now at least). And all of the things I mentioned are applicable to other career paths: data analysis happens in every industry these days, grants-person-ship is a transferrable skill, PR happens just about everywhere, compensation analysis is pretty (excuse the term) agnostic with regard to career areas, you see what I'm saying. Plus, you may get better at your first choice as you gain experience and confidence.

Choose what you really want to do and learn all you can. Don't fear change later. Trust your own instincts.

Best of luck to you VA.

Putting your heart into a job is the recipe for happiness. Don't compromise. If you do need to compromise, keep your eye open for a better compromise. When you say you love what you do, that means you need to double down on it.

Yes. I thought that being a computer programmer would mean that I could live anywhere. I didn't count on "anywhere" being India or Taiwan or Russia.

I'm like @BeeHappy and think her advice is spot on.

Perhaps you're letting the long-term scope of it overwhelm your decision? You'll probably have several careers during your lifetime, so start with the part you love and work out from that. If you don't like being an employee, you can always redirect to something else, but it would be a shame to miss out on the opportunity to do something you love.

Oh, and there are courses on how to manage people without being strict in a negative sense that may help you if that's the impediment.

I've never figured out what I want to be when I grow up! LOL. I've had a variety of jobs, loving them at first but eventually getting bored and changing.

You lose absolutely nothing by trying. Go for it! If you decide after a while you can't do it... no problem, just find another route. Sometimes we think there is only one right course to take but that limits you. Don't be afraid to experiment with life. The worse that can happen is you will learn from your experiences.

Nope. I was born to play music for a living. I tried a career in advertising and was good at parts of it, but found business people and routine boring. At the age of 25 l switched careers and never looked back. No doubt I would have made more money with my original choice, but it would not have been as fun, interesting, exciting, or satiisfying.

What degree are u trying to get ? I am confused .
In what setting u are working w patients ? And I don’t understand y your clients are only males . Is the criminal history a requirement for those who live in that rehab center ?
Is it a state funding program ? Or private ? I am really confused . What are u studying or interning to ?

do what makes you happy and adjust your life to live on what it bears.