Seeing a Counsellor/Therapist/Psychologist

[Paris2]

Hi,

I would like some help and info on seeing a Counsellor/Therapist or Psychologist, preferably on the NHS.

The only way I can think to see one is to talk to my GP, which I am more than happy to do but have to wait 2 weeks for an appointment and then god knows how long for the referral.

So does anyone know of a different route or anything else I should consider?


Cheers all
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Current Ride: Daytona 600

[J0Al1]

Yes, trainee shrinks...

£15 per hour I paid.

[Skudd]

I got to see one within days, but there again I had lost it slightly.

What makes you think you need to see someone?

Mine was too much stiff upper lip and then Bang!
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Famous last words of Humpty Dumpty. " Stop pushing me "
Petty Anarchists look at "1984".............. The Visionary looks at "Animal Farm".

[LordShaftesbu...]

You can go to any you like if you're prepared to pay, but if the NHS pays it'll only be via referral.

[-Matt-]

If you're only interested in going down the NHS route even with a GP referal you can expect a very very long wait sometimes of months unless you're deemed 'at risk' or anything along those lines of course in which case things can be fast tracked often.

If you haven't seen the GP already i would first speak to them before planning to go on for the counselling and see what his opinions on it are - not to say all doctors are good mental health assessors though

You may benefit first more from speaking to a mental health nurse if you can get a GPs referal there who can consider if counselling/therapy etc is the right route you want to be taking for whatever reasons it concerns.

I'd be cautious of who and where you go for private counselling also if you do go down that route, although they're acredited and love to hang all their pretty papers on the wall, half of them aren't particulary beneficial for many peoples issues, or value for money either - but of course they will happily take your money none the less

[Bubbs]

£40 an hour private.

Well worth it!! I had some issues that needed straightening out... and I talked a lot about stuff that I had no idea was even bothering me.
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Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.

[J0Al1]

[-Matt-]

A lot of it depends on location often ive found, in Bristol as a large city theres very long waits, sometimes though in a small town you may find its much less even though theres far fewer professionals actually in the area. The problem tends to be the level of mental health care per head doesn't tend to increase like that of normal healthcare support, so when you might get a new hospital built for every 100 000 people, they don't always bother to consider an extra mental health team for that same group.

Great budget management by the NHS to thank for that

[Skudd]

I walked into the Doctors, had a small chat, went home and had the rapid response team out within an hour. Went to see a nice lady a couple of days later.
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Famous last words of Humpty Dumpty. " Stop pushing me "
Petty Anarchists look at "1984".............. The Visionary looks at "Animal Farm".

[P.addy]

If you go and stand on a motorway bridge for long enough and end up getting the police called out, NHS mental staff will speak to you, faster than a referal

Genuinely... it works well.

[MCW]

It will take a while. If you don't feel you can wait, call the GP back and say that you need an emergency appointment and don't be fobbed off with a 2 week wait. It will still take a while for the referral to go through though.

In the meantime, see if there is anyone you can call. If you have a specific issue, there may be a specific helpline. If not, the Samaritans are not a bad place to start. They will listen, and might have some other suggestions for places to get help.

Good luck with it all. It is shitty feeling shitty. You are not the only one and there is help out there. x

[Kickstart]

Hi

Locally I think the waiting list was quoted as about 6 months for the mental health nurses, but a real wait of about 3~4 months.

Possible you could try going direct to MIND or similar.

Paying £40 an hour could get rather expensive over a few dozen sessions.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Ste]

GP appointment doesn't take 2 weeks, you should be able to get an appointment the same day.

[Clanger]

Some companies (via work) offer counselling / wellbeing sessions. There are also companies online who offer doctors to chat to in real time, such as 'justanswer.co.uk'.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[Robby]

GP referral is the way to go. Do not embellish your symptoms to try and get seen faster - you'll just end up referred to the wrong people. If you're losing it and the walls are getting a bit close, you need a decent psychiatrist. Tell them you're hearing voices to get bumped up the list, and you'll get referred to the local team that deal with schizophrenics.

It's the equivalent of going to see a gynecologist for athlete's foot.

[TheSmiler]

I've had counselling a few times now over the same issue sort of, most of it was through North Staffs Mind, although I had some through college (that I turned down after 1 session the guy was useless).

Believe it took me about 1/2 weeks to get through to them when I was at school but then offered a place (decided not to take a few months later). When you go/get refereed make sure you talk about the truth of what you are feeling don't make anything up as it will be harder to get the help that way.

To be hones it didn't work for me even though the Mind counsellor was great it didn't do anything for me or help me in any way at all. But you have to bear in mind it might not help everyone.

Personally I'd say go through the GP route/ have a look for locally funded health organisations that offer counselling.
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CB125>CG125>GN125>ER5>K100RS>R1100RS>K100RS
A2 completed 23/07/15 Ready for the Golden Crisp Packet

[mistergixer]

[Skudd]

[Skudd]

[hellkat]

[MarJay]

In Reading if you need to see someone they send you to 'talking therapies' which is four 1 hour telephone sessions and a work book.

£40 per hour private is a bargain if there is a real issue that needs dealing with.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[The Artist]

[Skudd]

[Hetzer]

[yaigi]

Wait. You mean to say you think there is a problem that the powers of BCF can NOT sort out for you? C'mon, what's up - we'll give it our best shot. Honest.
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What would you do in life, if you knew you could not fail?
Currently own - Fazer 600, 2000, Red. (But no riding as baby on board atm)