Off to college- what happens to therapy?

[unbrokenn]

I’m a 17 year old with CPTSD; I’ve been through CSA, attempted murder, cult abuse, DV, and witnessing someone die.

I was wondering how I would get therapy when I go to college next year. Like is there therapy at college or not? Would I have to pay? Like right now I am in therapy but my parents pay for it. I’m not sure if I have to quit altogether or not, but like I’m afraid that if I ever need it I won’t know how to go about it

 

[Cypress]

Check what mental health services are available at your college student health center. Depending on the size of the school they usually offer short term therapy and medication management. For trauma therapy you might have to find someone in the community or do skype therapy with your current therapist. Its tough.

 

[flowerapple]

It depends on which country you live in, but most colleges and universities have mental health/counselling services, so you could access that. For the cost of it, that also depends on where you are. But most universities have, included in their tuition, a fee which is supposed to be for your university health insurance. I know for some colleges, their counselling services is free to its students. But if not, you could check to see if therapy is covered under your university health insurance.

 

[digger]

right now I am in therapy but my parents pay for it. I’m not sure if I have to quit altogether or not, but like I’m afraid that if I ever need it I won’t know how to go about it

A good starting point might be to pick your current therapist's brains about it. They may be able to help you set something up for when you go ahead of going, or help you find out what resources might be available to you.

 

[Ronin]

I was about to suggest psych programs students in training that are under supervision, but then I saw your traumas & yeah, dont think students would be equipped to even begin any work on that.

But they might still be useful if dealing with student life normal stresses & stressors, that dont touch on your trauma history but might help with management of day to day.

 

[Skywatcher]

What are you planning to major in? Only asking because you may need to seek out legal accommodations for your mental health. (United States) There is usually a student services area that can help you with this. I know a few people with a 504 in place for their ptsd.

 

[flowerapple]

I was about to suggest psych programs students in training that are under supervision, but then I saw your traumas & yeah, dont think students would be equipped to even begin any work on that.

I think depending on the school, or maybe not even, they might be able to. I know at my university when I first went there I was seeing a psych student in training with a supervisor and she was able to work on it. And whenever there was something she wasn’t sure on or felt wasn’t yet equipped to deal with, she would tell her supervisor and then the next week when I would return she would let me know and help from there. So don’t count it out yet, and check to see first.

 

[siniang]

Check what mental health services are available at your college student health

It depends on which country you live in, but most colleges and universities have mental health/counselling services, so you could access that.

I would like to point out that their expertise is usually really limited to counseling, mindfulness, stress management and the sorts. Maybe I'm just burnt in that regard, but I'm convinced that the mental health/counseling services at my old college would not be equipped to deal with anything a little more severe past procrastination and exam nerves, let alone actual severe mental disorders such as cPTSD. They're often social workers and counselors, not psychologists and psychiatrists. Big difference.

That could, of course, be very different in other countries/schools/...

@unbrokenn I second @digger's comment that this is something to discuss with your current therapist. Also, I'm just you're keeping health insurance through your parents for the time being, so you should be covered to keep receiving therapy? If not (because you're moving states or what not and it would be out of network anyway), you'd need to pick up new insurance either way. What prevents your parents to keep paying for your therapy even if you switch therapists? (though, depending on how far away you'll be moving, I feel like it would be a good idea to keep your old one in addition)

 

[hithere]

In the states you are considered a dependant through your 25th year of life as long as you are either a student or you don't have employer-offered health insurance. So, your parents can still make claims on their insurance for your counseling to off set the cost.

Also, you can sign up for student health insurance yourself at time of registration, and it's rolled into the tuition package. It's also very reasonably priced for what you get. It's worth it's weight in gold! That way you can use it to help pay "private" counselor if you find one. Your "student services" will have a relationship with counseling services in your city and can refer you. Some colleges have counselors on staff already, as a counseling service for all students.

In additon, perhaps your current therapist can do skype sessions with you while you are at college. I would find that comforting to be able to skype with my therapist if I was going away to college. I hope this time is very rewarding for you, and you find college a healing experience and a place to engage with life fully. Best of Wishes to you and congrats on going to college!

 

[susannahsays]

In the states you are considered a dependant through your 25th year of life as long as you are either a student or you don't have employer-offered health insurance. So, your parents can still make claims on their insurance for your counseling to off set the cost.

That's just not true. You are not considered a dependent if you make more than a certain amount of money in a given tax year, and that's a very low amount - like 4k. Most people have made that much in a single year before they are 25. Many students work full time and may exceed this amount. Also, being a dependent in terms of filing taxes and being a dependent in terms of applying for financial aid are not the same thing and should not be conflated.

Rereading what you wrote, I assume you are referring to the provision under the Affordable Care Act that requires health insurers to allow children to be covered under their parents' insurance through the age of 25.

OP, as for the student health insurance, at my university, it is not included in tuition as a couple people have said. It is a separate cost and a significant one @ $1,200/semester. Students are required to have health insurance at my university and are automatically enrolled, although they can opt-out if they have other coverage. The coverage is ok - the deductible is really low at only $500. The other rates are ok - it's a bit hard to go anywhere but the student health center, though because there's a copay plus 20% coinsurance for every visit. The therapist I see only charges 10% coinsurance, so it costs me $37/visit. Counseling services at my school are short term only and they refer out otherwise. I think it depends partially on the size of the school. Really big schools probably have more scope, but I think most don't have the resources to handle long term therapy. For reference, my school has about 16.5k students enrolled. The largest universities in my state have about twice that.

 

[hithere]

That's just not true.

It is for the Affordable Care Act concerning insurance. Perhaps the word isn't "dependant" but obamacare put into law that if anyone under the age of 25 does not have employer-offered health insurance then the child can be placed as a dependant covered under the parent's insurance.