So, I've been thrust into an unexpected situation recently where I am now hourly employee with benefits! and not a loner contractor being paid piecemeal production (I won't say specifically what work but is one done remotely for years, I just call it grunt work ha). It's remote/virtual/work-at home work, but still there are video daily stand-up meetings with the team and twice weekly gatherings with the whole gang of 150+ employees (who are otherworldly to me, being more of a grunt worker type), and did I mention I'm a loner, socially awkward type and still have acne in old age? Oh, and also, apparently a permanent employee has a set amount of time to get work done and can't allow the mind to wander or do research lest you fall behind on production. I also audit others and feel like I should like, know what I'm doing but I don't and I'm not perfect or a fast thinker and I'm being crushed by high expectations in a formal employee setting.
I got an email about TalkSpace being available now for free through the Employee Assistance Program and I thought it might help me cope and not you know, cry on the job and want to quit over little things, because it's a job and I'd be a fool to give up too easily and I might be kicking myself real hard if I don't try, or worse; I give up easily and can't do it again.
So I signed up at TalkSpace, and only one therapist was available but seemed like one that can deal with stress/anxiety/depression/career issues. But he hasn't provided much to me, just comments that I seem stressed and maybe wanting a break. I've never done therapy so had no idea what I should be doing and he's like, up to me. No real guidance. Anyway, mostly he seemed to be pushing for a video session, which fortunately my benefit offers 6 sessions. I thought texting would be better but everyone says that's not real therapy and a lot is not translated through text. I'm not real good at talking and remember relevant things too late, but whatever. I figure if it's needed for him to do his job then I should at least try that as well. I'm so trying!
I scheduled a video session, and he wrote back asking me to detail a bit more about my work stresses, which that I had settled was to be my main focus for now. I sent one long paragraph for one issue and said I'd continue later. Of course, he is obligated to respond timely in some fashion by Talkspace contract and only said he'll reply more in depth shortly. The next day was a day off and then he didn't reply on his next working day. I wasn't expecting a reply in the first place but was kind of disappointed since he did say he will reply "soon", leaving me curious and hanging. Whatever, I'm new at therapy and not getting anywhere yet. Finally I wrote out 2 paragraphs on another issue, and got the mandatory timely response... that he's overwhelmed with new clients (ironic because I feel overwhelmed at work) but will read what I wrote and be "present" with me in a few days. I didn't write back, because he seems busy and I would just get a canned timely response back per his contract, which the responses have been basically saying I'm too busy for you. I'm still waiting for hopefully a real response but not holding my breath it will be useful considering the quality of the prior replies though. Not sure I want to waste a video session with him but I have a couple weeks until that happens and maybe he will write back. But I'm feeling forgotten and of no importance.
So I looked up Betterhelp and saw a way to get a free month trial. You don't get to pick a therapist, they try to match one to you based on responses. It appears that the counselors look at your intake form and what you wrote and decide if you are worthy. And no one is finding me worthy. I got an email apologizing for the delay, saying there are limited therapists in my area, which might be true considering the lack of choices at TalkSpace as well. I did check Talkspace week ago and there were 2 more options, but neither one really "spoke" to me and how can I decide based on sparse info? Annoyingly, you have to rate your current therapist to see what other therapists there are, and I don't know that it's anonymous, so I don't know if he saw the star ratings I gave him...
I kind of feel like my problems are not that important to waste a therapist slot on when they are so in demand and that I'm just whiny and weak. I can't imagine scheduling a more "traditional" video session that isn't through one of these platforms. I've seen a couple counselors (one of these a couples counselor) before but not enough to consider it therapy and they seemed domineering and I felt I was just a big "sigh" to them. How does one select a therapist when it's so expensive to try one and they rarely have websites? I don't even known what to look for to get a good match.
I'm just writing to share my experiences so far with these platforms if it's of interest for anyone considering. I'll update if there are any updates because not much seems to be happening to update about!
I got an email about TalkSpace being available now for free through the Employee Assistance Program and I thought it might help me cope and not you know, cry on the job and want to quit over little things, because it's a job and I'd be a fool to give up too easily and I might be kicking myself real hard if I don't try, or worse; I give up easily and can't do it again.
So I signed up at TalkSpace, and only one therapist was available but seemed like one that can deal with stress/anxiety/depression/career issues. But he hasn't provided much to me, just comments that I seem stressed and maybe wanting a break. I've never done therapy so had no idea what I should be doing and he's like, up to me. No real guidance. Anyway, mostly he seemed to be pushing for a video session, which fortunately my benefit offers 6 sessions. I thought texting would be better but everyone says that's not real therapy and a lot is not translated through text. I'm not real good at talking and remember relevant things too late, but whatever. I figure if it's needed for him to do his job then I should at least try that as well. I'm so trying!
I scheduled a video session, and he wrote back asking me to detail a bit more about my work stresses, which that I had settled was to be my main focus for now. I sent one long paragraph for one issue and said I'd continue later. Of course, he is obligated to respond timely in some fashion by Talkspace contract and only said he'll reply more in depth shortly. The next day was a day off and then he didn't reply on his next working day. I wasn't expecting a reply in the first place but was kind of disappointed since he did say he will reply "soon", leaving me curious and hanging. Whatever, I'm new at therapy and not getting anywhere yet. Finally I wrote out 2 paragraphs on another issue, and got the mandatory timely response... that he's overwhelmed with new clients (ironic because I feel overwhelmed at work) but will read what I wrote and be "present" with me in a few days. I didn't write back, because he seems busy and I would just get a canned timely response back per his contract, which the responses have been basically saying I'm too busy for you. I'm still waiting for hopefully a real response but not holding my breath it will be useful considering the quality of the prior replies though. Not sure I want to waste a video session with him but I have a couple weeks until that happens and maybe he will write back. But I'm feeling forgotten and of no importance.
So I looked up Betterhelp and saw a way to get a free month trial. You don't get to pick a therapist, they try to match one to you based on responses. It appears that the counselors look at your intake form and what you wrote and decide if you are worthy. And no one is finding me worthy. I got an email apologizing for the delay, saying there are limited therapists in my area, which might be true considering the lack of choices at TalkSpace as well. I did check Talkspace week ago and there were 2 more options, but neither one really "spoke" to me and how can I decide based on sparse info? Annoyingly, you have to rate your current therapist to see what other therapists there are, and I don't know that it's anonymous, so I don't know if he saw the star ratings I gave him...
I kind of feel like my problems are not that important to waste a therapist slot on when they are so in demand and that I'm just whiny and weak. I can't imagine scheduling a more "traditional" video session that isn't through one of these platforms. I've seen a couple counselors (one of these a couples counselor) before but not enough to consider it therapy and they seemed domineering and I felt I was just a big "sigh" to them. How does one select a therapist when it's so expensive to try one and they rarely have websites? I don't even known what to look for to get a good match.
I'm just writing to share my experiences so far with these platforms if it's of interest for anyone considering. I'll update if there are any updates because not much seems to be happening to update about!
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