How Do You Find A Therapist When Broke?

[Calen]

It's hard enough to find a therapist who can deal who C-PTSD from years of violent emotional and physical abuse, with a rape on top. But, since I can't work due to severe anxiety after an abusive boss, I'm broke and don't have insurance. Does this mean I'm really as screwed as it feels like?

How does one find a good therapist in the first place? Let alone, how does one find one when broke? Given the large number of mentally ill who are homeless and unhelped, it looks pretty bleak and grim for me.

 

[who am i kim]

You can learn a lot here on this site too. :) That might help you.

 

[anni]

I don't know what your feelings are on churches in general, but not a lot of people take into consideration that some of the denominations require ministers to be at the very least qualified counselors as part of their training. Not based on whatever their religious perspective might be, either, it's genuine counseling, not roping you into their church. You'll find a surprising number of ministers then go further and privately acquire therapists degrees and licenses, and practice either on the side or as part of their minstry. My therapist began professional life as Lutheran minister, in point of fact, now is a doc, a 'real' one. When he went back to school, he was able to build on the credits already acheived.

Churches also tend to be extremely well-connected in the mental health field across the board, or at least some of them are. I'm truly not beating a religious drum here, just have been conversant with 'other' things churches do than just hold services. It doesn't hurt to look around, you know?

 

[piratelady]

Sometimes there are community mental health facilities that offer therapy at a reduced rate. Or look for a therapist that charged on a sliding scale.

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

I agree with Piratelady. There is a chain of mental health offices in my area that provides therapy and psychiatrists on a sliding scale. It is based on your income and I know some people will only pay $20. There might be something like that in your area. I would ask around.

Wishing you the best.

 

[Nighthawk]

You might want to see if any of the local Colleges have therapy based clinics Such as anxiety disorders.. They offer very highly reduced rates. As far as I know community health clinics offer mental health as well.

Good luck.

 

[shadowchaser]

If you are in america they can not turn you down regardless of your ability to pay. Most states will give you medical assistance once you have proven the need for it by having bills.

 

[Calen]

That is a myth. About half of the clinic and psych/therapist offices won't take anyone that doesn't have insurance, they won't even take cash. Most of who is left have no sliding fee. The few who do have a sliding fee are booked solid.

The local Rape Crisis Center? There is a 6 month or more long waiting list to see anyone. And that was after a very re-traumatizing intake where they gave me disturbing pamphlets about old men touching little boys. (Not what happened to me at all.) So, I'm on the waiting list, feeling guilty about it, because someone who was just raped would need the help, even so long delayed(!), more than me.

Medical assistance does not cover mental health in the US. If I break my arm, I can get it set for free. But, if I have cancer, I doubt that chemo would be covered. And mental health services? The US emptied the mental hospitals onto the streets back in the '80's, and hasn't changed tune since. The most severe eventually got re-institutionalized, and everyone else severe got shite.

I did find a non-profit place that can see me for a sliding fee. (Just $5, and I couldn't afford that , twice.) The let me talk to a student for a few weeks, who needs to videotape our sessions and have someone sit in "to observe" half the time. But, I'm told that shouldn't interfere with building a trust-relationship with this student/counselor. (Who, "by law" can not see me after he gets his degree.) So, I go, and trying to explain what I've been through to someone who doesn't have a clue... has kept me pretty much constantly triggered for the last month.

So, why isn't there any sort of Hippocratic oath for counselors and psychologists? Why are they allowed to do harm instead of helping with healing? Why does asking for help mean you have to be hurt all over again and again, by the very people who are supposed to help?

 

[Hashi]

I had a similar wait to see a counsellor at a rape crisis centre. (No public health services available to me, no insurance and no money for private therapy).

At first I didn't think I could cope for all that time, but in the end it was a good thing because I had to teach myself grounding and coping skills in a way that I probably wouldn't have done if I'd had the support of a counsellor. I really had to learn and practise dealing with stressors, flashbacks and other symptoms because I had only myself to turn to. I think I've been able to move forward in therapy faster as a result of that.

In my case, it was for things that happened years ago, but I needed support for that as much as anyone with a more recent experience. I don't think you should feel guilty or think that someone else needs the help more than you. You also need help, and the question of who gets access to their services and when is for the centre to worry about - they have ways of assessing that, and they wouldn't offer you a place if they didn't think you needed it.

I know it's really awful having to wait, but I'd suggest focussing on skills in the meantime, and using other resources that are available - like this forum, journalling and journal exercises, grounding techniques, healthy coping methods, emotion regulation etc (I find dialectical behaviour therapy skills really helpful ).