OT: boss issues

So I work at a non-profit, outpatient, inner-city, drug and alcohol counseling clinic. I have been there for a little over a year and a half. I had a great boss for the first 6 months but then she left due to problems she was having with upper management. After a few months they got a replacement. Things did not start well off the bat but basically she makes the work environment hostile and toxic. The problem is that I feel silly talking to her bosses' boss (department head)about my issues. He works in a different office and quite honestly she can hold it together when she wants to but when no one above her is around she talks about the other counselor's behind their backs, makes changes to forms and then changes them back without warning, has no clue about specific client's and their needs, and let's her own personal clients knwoingly continue to sell their highly controlled detox/maintenance medications. She seems to have it out for me specifically and tells other counselors that I don't do any work, that I disrespect her by doing things like carbon-copying her boss (as she asked me to), that I make constant mistakes, etc. The problem is everything is always second hand information. Very rarely has anyone outside of the office seen her act like this. In the office we see it all the time, she comes in late, leaves early, and is demeaning to everyone.

I don't want to lose my job but I am increasingly miserable. One can only take so much abuse and I feel like I am getting to the point where I need to look for a new job. Should I talk to the dept. head first, should I just look for a job and move on? Any thoughts, thanks for reading.

 have sum1 report her for knowingly writing meds to b sold!!!  so everyone who is willing to come forward with the info all go to her boss and say sumthing....i hope u do wat makes u happiest......
i would look for a new job personally!!! a person can only take so much!

I too work for a non-profit substance abuse facility in Chicago and I know what a back-stabbing evironment it can be. If your boss is not the type you can sit down and talk with, I would submit an annonymous complaint to the administrative board. I said annonymous not to be a chicken, but I know how vindictive your environment will probably become if you submit a complaint with your name on it. Trust me, I have first hand experience on this. Submit the complaint via post to her supervisor and the supervisors over them. It's hard to ignore a complaint when there's lots of people involved. As for you current environment, keep a log of the things you feel your boss is purposely doing to you. It may come in handy later. And try to stay clear of her. Do your work and make copies of completed forms for your records incase she pulls the "you didn't do your work" bullcrap.

Write everything down to make a record of the things that are going "wrong". Do your colleagues feel the same about her? If so, get them to do the same. Build up a body of evidence and then take it, collectively, to her boss.

In the sort of environment you work in, you can't function properly if everyone is not working together. And if you can show she is allowing her clients to sell controlled substances, then she is surely condoning breaking the law - but don't accuse her of it until you have proof. Watch your own back!

Don't do anything until you have supporting evidence as opposed to just verbal complaints.

Kate