Musings about Therapy

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Musings about Therapy

I know a fair amount about psychology and have taken a basic cert in counselling.

I went through therapy over 10 years ago and found it hard, painful, difficult, emotional but VERY VERY useful.

I had whats called "Gestalt Psychotherapy", my then therapist is dead now, he was a gentleman in all senses of the word and his service was free, provided by the local health service.

No comes the crunch, I desperately dont want to upset anyone.

Ive read loads of posts here about people visiting a T - all of which seem to suggest some form of payment.

Now I was thinking (again I dont want to upset anyone) that if the T is getting paid, either in cash or by medical insurance surely it makes sense for them to keep us their longer?

I would hate to think that some of the brothers here are being led along a long dark road that they dont need to be on, all for the sake of unscrupulous therapists who want to earn a few extra bucks.

Now, I was fucked up. Badly.

I was using a lot of drugs, I had issues with my sexuality, my perp was still part of my life, I had 0 self confidence, I had been in trouble with the law, been involved with organised drug dealing and various criminal enterprises and my therapist gave me the strength to take charge of my life after 2 years.

By that I mean he taught me how to control my mind, where I could go to further train my mind(university) and how to cope with the flashbacks and memories he said would never go away 100%.

I thought about this alot over the months since I've been coming here and to me it does seem that some T's are keeping guys alot longer than they need.

They cant heal us, these issues will never go away. They are with us for life. Some can however, make us feel weak and insecure, install in us a need for THEM which in turn lines their pockets very nicely.

One of the first things my T said was "My goal is for you to STOP coming here"

Again, I dont want to upset anyone, its just my thoughts.

I do have a psychological background, but am by no means an expert.

Comments appreciated.
 
JZ - I don't really know what I think about all of the Psychologists and Therapists that are out there.

I go to work and do my job as best as I can. To do that I have to ensure that we produce enough of the product that we make at the right price for the customer, but also at the correct quality standards that puts us in good repute as a supplier!

I know that when I go to work, I will flog my nuts off to ensure that happens. I also know that others in the workplace will sit back and let me do that! They just want a paycheck, regardless!

I suppose that therapists/psychologists are the same! They are either genuinely committed to what they do, or they are not!

I only ever went to about 6 counselling sessions (provided by my employer when I had a breakdown) - J was excellent, although she was not an expert in the field, she never told me what I should feel/think/do. She just led me through it! I saw the genuine concern in her face, and sometimes the tears in her eyes - I knew she was 'real' and that she believed me! I think that was all I needed at the time!

She was part of the reason I took it further and went to court. She never told me to do this, and was actually quite shocked when I took that step! I don't think she even thought that I had such an idea in my mind (neither did I at that point)!

I was lucky! I didn't pay (though my company did). She was OK.

Best wishes ...Rik

*PS - if you are being taken for a ride, get off the pony!
 
Zen
That's an interesting point, and there are mercenary therapists out there. I know of a newly qualified guy who immediately rented a room above a private doctors surgery in a smart suburb and started charging about 50 an hour, and when you consider that therapists working for charities and other national organisations are paid less that 20 an hour and probably nearer 15, then you can see what's possible. And for the non UK residents, a skilled engineer would maybe earn 10 TO 15 an hour for normal day work, but therapists do generally work less hours and unsocial hours as well.

The demand for CSA therapy is such that nobody can afford to keep clients on the books for longer than neccessary, waiting lists of months rather than weeks are the norm to get to see a therapist.
So the fact is clients are seen and dealt with in the most economical manner, therapy models are honed and developed to speed things up because nobody has the luxury of spare time.
That doesn't mean clients are thrown out of the door before they're ready, far from it, but counselling and therapy services are very aware of the demand and strive to meet demand.

Dave
 
My T said the same thing, the goal is for you to stop coming.

I am a healthcare professional and I know what you are talking about regarding keeping people longer than needed to collect payment. It is fraud and I hate it, however it is everywhere and in every thing.
 
I think that a good number of the doctors who don't accept insurance and require you to submit for payment are ones who are just in it for the money and want to string the patient along for as much as they can.

I am currently seeing a therapist who doesn't accept insurance who I believe may be stringing me along. I've been told by my former therapist who was too far a drive for me, that he knows my current therapist but he only knows him to be an expert on sexual abusers not sexual abuse victims, however my therapist told me he had been dealing with abuse victims for many years. I'm coming to think that he was just BSing me. I'm very close to ending my therapy with him in search of another doctor.

When during our first session, I mentioned that my insurance wouldn't cover him (out of network)and I could only afford to see him 2 times a month, he lowered his fee from $150 to $100 a session for me. Which on the surface looks nice but I think he was expecting me to be able to see him weekly and therfore have him collect an extra $100 a month from me ($150 per session X 2= $300 $100 per session X 4=$400).

Anyway, yes, I'm sure there are alot of these doctors out there and its a shame but its reality.

Jason
 
Indeed, there are good and bad T's. I currently owe my T arond $1500 and he insisted that I keep going despite not being able to pay him. I think that says where he is at! There is a lot to be said for putting T's on the public payroll, so they work for a steady income. Almost everyone I meet needs them. Ha. Lol.

cheers
AKN
 
JapanZen,

My Ts in Hamburg, PA and Oxford were all great and I never felt they were spinning things out to keep me as a paying customer.

As Dave says, in the UK the NHS has long waiting lists in all areas, so the Ts are under the opposite pressure, to finish with you as quickly as possible. My T in Oxford wants us to evaluate where we stand within the next few weeks, and though she says I will get help as long as I need it, I know she can't continue to see me indefinitely and deny someone else on the waiting list the help they need.

That said, there are of course unscrupulous people in all fields and I think you are right to raise this issue.

Much love,
Larry
 
The problem in the UK, is twofold....yes there is a shortage of therapists (NHS)! I found that the problem was actually having to go on a waiting list in the first place, rather than having therapy stopped.

When I had my major breakdown, my boss at work sorted me out with a therapist (good boss).

My Doctor referred me to a clinical psychologist & 3 months later, I got an appointment - it was for 6 months down the road. 9 months before I would have anyone to talk to from first going to the Doctor.

I was an emergency case when I went to my Doctor! If my Boss at work hadn't helped me out, then I don't think I would have ever made a post here!

Best wishes ...Rik
 
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