How’s Your Therapy Going?
- Thread starter dandelions
- Start date
Unless you need help with medication, a psychiatrist is not needed and most of them don't do counselling. I'm just saying this because this is the therapy thread. A gp can prescribe medication. Or you could maybe make one psychiatrist appointment if your meds need tweaking.
As for a therapist, I'm not sure if they would take insurance. Many companies have an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) phone line for support, where employees or their family can make appointments for counselling. So if your husband has that you could use it. Also many universities that grant master's degrees in counselling psychology offer free therapy with graduate students who are doing practicums.
As for a therapist, I'm not sure if they would take insurance. Many companies have an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) phone line for support, where employees or their family can make appointments for counselling. So if your husband has that you could use it. Also many universities that grant master's degrees in counselling psychology offer free therapy with graduate students who are doing practicums.
a psychiatrist would cost me $200-$400 and I just can't afford that. My gp absolutely will not prescribe me anything and she's not allowed to discuss my mental health with me anyway. I can't find a therapist, none are available. I don't know why people think psychiatrist don't offer therapy, as they do. What else is there to talk about for 45-50mins? My husband is abusive and image is very important to him, no way will he allow his employer to know about my problems. I need someone with a lot more experience than some greenhorn who will lock me up the moment I mention suicide.
Hi @Astrid78 — I’m sorry you’re having trouble finding a psychiatrist who accepts insurance. That sounds rough. If you have the insurance, perhaps you could contact them and ask if they have a list of psychiatrists who will take their insurance. Also, in the meantime, even if your GP won’t prescribe meds, an appointment might be helpful because a number of physical health issues impact our mental health. She could check you over physically and rule out those causes.
I’m surprised and can’t understand why your GP is not be allowed to discuss your mental health with you. The only times I’ve heard of that is when a person is deemed incompetent to have a say in their own care. You seem to have your faculties…Maybe your abusive husband interfering and telling you or telling GP you can’t talk to each other about your mental health?
I know that @Lady Wolfshead lives in a country where most psychiatrists do not offer “counselling”—they meet a patient often enough to write in a diagnosis and the meds management or other therapy they recommend. Then a GP takes over prescribing the meds. I live in a country where mental health care is like that, too. “Counselling” is from social workers and psychologists, or from a few other trained people who are listed as “psychotherapists” (and psychotherapist training requirements vary from place to place)…All those services are things I would have to pay for myself. And yes, for the psychologists, the range of rates is about $190 to $395. Far too expensive for people without insurance!
I hope you can contact the insurance company and maybe get some names of psychiatrists who will accept that insurance. It sounds very stressful and difficult for you. Perhaps you could let us know how things are going.
I’m surprised and can’t understand why your GP is not be allowed to discuss your mental health with you. The only times I’ve heard of that is when a person is deemed incompetent to have a say in their own care. You seem to have your faculties…Maybe your abusive husband interfering and telling you or telling GP you can’t talk to each other about your mental health?
I know that @Lady Wolfshead lives in a country where most psychiatrists do not offer “counselling”—they meet a patient often enough to write in a diagnosis and the meds management or other therapy they recommend. Then a GP takes over prescribing the meds. I live in a country where mental health care is like that, too. “Counselling” is from social workers and psychologists, or from a few other trained people who are listed as “psychotherapists” (and psychotherapist training requirements vary from place to place)…All those services are things I would have to pay for myself. And yes, for the psychologists, the range of rates is about $190 to $395. Far too expensive for people without insurance!
I hope you can contact the insurance company and maybe get some names of psychiatrists who will accept that insurance. It sounds very stressful and difficult for you. Perhaps you could let us know how things are going.
I have mixed feelings about the issue. GPs can follow the prescribing direction and treatment plan outlined by a consultant psychiatrist…it’s an added burden to a busy GP’s load. But psychiatrists don’t counsel or provide long-term follow up here anymore.
I’m fine seeing a consulting psychiatrist for a short time if I need meds changed, and then having my GP carry on with the prescriptions. However, if the GP takes over the meds, I think it would be best to have access to a psychiatrist periodically and that doesn’t happen if psychiatrists won’t follow a patient long-term.
I think it is the system that is flawed, not the GP in my case. Your situation might be vastly different so I can’t really say, right?
I’m sorry there is drama about this issue for you. Again, I hope that you manage to find someone to see. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you.
I’m fine seeing a consulting psychiatrist for a short time if I need meds changed, and then having my GP carry on with the prescriptions. However, if the GP takes over the meds, I think it would be best to have access to a psychiatrist periodically and that doesn’t happen if psychiatrists won’t follow a patient long-term.
I think it is the system that is flawed, not the GP in my case. Your situation might be vastly different so I can’t really say, right?
I’m sorry there is drama about this issue for you. Again, I hope that you manage to find someone to see. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you.
The appt went well, they are going to offer meds and something called micro therapy, this sounds very interesting and unlike therapy I've had in the past, its more focused on coping then on feelings or past experiences and the sessions are only 20mins long, this suits me very much. I'm still not going to feel hopeful though, just in case.
the therapist no showed on me today, I sent an email to support asking if I'd get $50 for this as thats what I would be charged for a no show lol doubt it but it'll be neat to see how they reply to that. My time is just as important as the therapists time and they should recognize that, even if its an emergency I wouldn't receive any grace and neither should they.
The goals for this week are difficult, because I have to work on accepting people for who they are. So that even means people who have hurt me. Part of me feels they shouldn't be forgiven, because it's like saying the things they do to hurt me are ok when I know they're not. And I have to be kinder to myself, which is just as hard.
I can relate... I try to forgive but not forget--- forgiveness helps me to release the bitterness/anger/hurt feelings ---but not forgetting reminds me that their actions were real and to recognize signs if something similar is about to happen again (don't always listen/recognize those hints though alas) . And yes being kind to ourselves is even harder. The adage be gentle on yourself/give yourself slack is oh so much easier to give to others than to ourselves. Sending you 
s.
s.
I can relate... I try to forgive but not forget--- forgiveness helps me to release the bitterness/anger/hurt feelings ---but not forgetting reminds me that their actions were real and to recognize signs if something similar is about to happen again (don't always listen/recognize those hints though alas) . And yes being kind to ourselves is even harder. The adage be gentle on yourself/give yourself slack is oh so much easier to give to others than to ourselves. Sending you s.
s.