Is This Therapy Right For Me? Your Opinions Please.

[cherryblossom]

I have written about this in my diary, but I could use some help, so I apologise for the repetitions.

First a little bit of background. I was diagnosed with PTSD probably about 6 years ago, from a single incident about 17 years ago. Since then I've tried various anti-depressants with little success. I have also sought help during times of crisis, when my PTSD symptoms are too much to cope with. I've had bad experiences with therapists/ psychiatrists/ psychologists, so I basically stopped all therapy and meds. PTSD symptoms are back with a vengeance and I need help. The GP I've been seeing for the last few years has always been very good. He listens and understands, and does not treat me like an idiot. About a month ago, he finally persuaded me to give counselling another go. He understood that I did not want to go back to the same people I've seen before and said that he would look into finding a trauma specialist. I have not seen him since, but got a “Referral for counselling” in the post today.

“On receipt of your forms, you will be added to the waiting list. You can expect to wait approximately 12 weeks for an appointment”

"This information should help you to decide if you would benefit from receiving counselling."

The counsellor will :
Listen carefully to what you say
Enable you to express your feelings
Help you explore and understand your difficulties
Help you to find ways of managing these effectively
Help you develop more helpful ways of thinking and behaving.

Although it may sometimes be appropriate to offer advice and guidance the emphasis is very much enabling you to change, rather than telling you what to do. You will be collaborating on how to make positive change and this may involve doing some homework or trying some new thinking or actions between sessions.

You will be offered six sessions of counselling.

The service is for people who are suffering from symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress or other related conditions due to general life crisis. It is a short term service."

" You will meet with your counsellor and if all goes well, you will be offered a further five sessions lasting 50 minutes each.

If you are unable to accept the first appointment slot offered, we will offer you one more slot. If you are unable to accept either, your case will be referred back to your GP"

I can only assume that he couldn’t find a trauma specialist, and this is the best he could come up with. I can’t find the word ‘trauma’ mentioned anywhere in the information. I really don’t consider having PTSD (as a result of being raped at knife point) “a general life crisis”.

I find it incredibly difficult to talk about what happened to me. It takes me a long time to build up any trust to be able to open up. I don’t forsee five 50 minute sessions with a generalised consellor, being very helpful. I’m dubious because I had EMDR, which was rushed through, with no preparation or help dealing with the aftermath. The results of which caused me much more harm than good. I was totally re-traumatised. I’m concerned this would happen again. I can’t envisage being able to open up much in such a short time, since I have big issues with trust. I am concerned that if I do manage to talk, I will simply open up a whole can of worms that will be no-where near resolved by the end of 5 sessions. I will then be left with no help and in a worse position than I am now. It is also at the same surgery where I had EMDR. Just going back to that place will be traumatic enough. Even driving past the place causes an anxiety reaction. I don’t expect counselling to be a walk in the park, but I don’t know if this is right for me. They also clearly have no flexibility in arranging a time suitable for me, which is going to be difficult since I have a full time job.

I know that I need help, it was this desperation that led me to agree for my GP to refer me. However the thought of any kind of ‘talking therapy’ makes me feel sick and anxious, and fills me with dread.

I would like opinions from you guys as to whether you think the type of therapy they describe sounds like the right way forward for someone with longstanding PTSD?

Are my concerns legitimate, or am I just using excuses to continue to avoid talking therapy?

All opinions welcome,
Thanks, CB

 

[cat]

Hi cb

From my experience therapy for ptsd needs to be more than a 6wk course of CBT. Before I went to my psychologist I received counselling at my GP surgery for 12wks, it helped to a point but really was just talking & didn't last long enough to address my trauma.
I have had a thought though, have you heard of Woman Kind the Bristol therapy centre specifically for women. Have a look at their website it might be just what you're looking for. Their helpline is open this evening.
Take care
Cat

 

[Lisa]

Your concerns are perfectly legitimate. You're mentioning GP so I assume you're in the UK... The NHS is not equipped for PTSD treatment and I get so p*ssed off with it! I've also had bad experiences with professionals and went down the same path as you by avoiding anything to do with any of them... So have a small idea at least of what you're going through.

Personally, the way I dealt with having to argue my case, I've decided to bypass it altogether and pay privately for a therapist. There are lots of organisations out there who will see you for free - for as long as necessary. Your local rape crisis centre would be an ideal place to start...? I can sympathise with your feelings towards therapy also and I find it extremely difficult to talk.

The referral you have received sounds like a standard referral, and is not appropriate. CBT is appropriate, the NICE guidelines recommend it as a treatment to PTSD and yes CBT can be useful... but 6 sessions is unlikely to change your life. And, in my view, it's unlikely to change your life anyway as PTSD is not solely 'thought causes problematic feeling', though could be a useful tool. It could be a part of something useful to helping you though, but in my view, it's only a part of what is useful. A trauma specialist - counsellor, psychologist, psychiatrist, whatever - is necessary whatever, though. Services aimed at people going through 'general life crisis' doesn't sound like trauma specialist service to me.

It sounds like you have a good GP so it may be that in your case, somebody else has made the referral... I'd book to see your GP again and see what he says. Something may have got mixed up somewhere along the line... ?

 

[cherryblossom]

Cat, thanks - I will have a look at that website.

Lisa, yes, I'm in the UK. You are right about the NHS not being equiped for PTSD. There is another thread currently in the carers section about this. To be honest, I think my GP is almost as despairing as me, about how to help. Last time I saw him, he said that he wanted to refer me to a trauma specialist, but the above is the referral that I received. I suspect it was the only option available. Actually getting an appointment to see my GP, is another ongoing saga which I won't go into again here. I will be trying again, to see him tomorrow. If I can get an appointment with him, maybe I can find out more.

 

[Sunrise]

I am in Oz but I suspect things are similar. Find someone through the phone book/ newspaper/health mag/Internet, interview them if possible till you feel you have someone you feel is a good bet, then get you GP to refer you to them. Doctors refer to the people they know and trust or at least know of but their list might be short and this may be of help to them
love to all

 

[Auburngirl]

I think you are right to be concerned, I'd go backto your GP and ask about things. I don't mean to be pesimistic, but 6 sessions may do more damager than good (not that they are harmful in anf of themselves, but they open things up and you don't want to be left on your own in the middle of that). I'm at the point of considering discontinuing (finally of my own accord not because someone thinks I should) and it's been more than 2 years. I started weekly (for 3-4 months, then every two or three weeks, now at every two to three months).

Could the counsellor refer you to a trauma specialist, do you think?

 

[2quilt]

In my humble opinion, only very small common problems can be solved in 6 hours. It takes more time than that to get to know and trust your therapist. I would not share personal problems or weather predictions with a neighbor over the back fence if I had only known her for 1 hour x 6 visits! Would it do any good for your GP to write a letter of medical necessity or request alot more visits? If not, do you have the option to pay privately or are there public free support groups in your local area?

 

[cherryblossom]

To be totally honest I forgot about this thread and some things have moved on since I posted it. Thank you for all your replies. This is the update.

I have spoken with my GP about this. He was in agreement with me, about my concerns. Anyway he made some phone calls and it seems I was referred to the wrong clinic. I have now been referred to a PTSD clinic and I'm awaiting an appointment. I have been to that clinic before (2 years ago) and had the most awful experience with (in my opinion) a terrible therapist who said the most inappropriate things and did EMDR with me that left me totally re-traumatised. My GP has confirmed that this time there will be no EMDR. However if I find out on my first appointment that it's with the same psychologist I will not be returning. I've been waiting for the appointment now for well over a month, and have heard nothing. My GP wrote to them a few weeks ago asking for me to be a priority after I took an OD. I still haven't heard from them, so I'm already beginning to think that they are a bunch of incompetent idiots. Not a good start. I saw my GP again today for a meds review. He was shocked that I still haven't had an appointment through, so He's going to get in touch with them again. If I ever get an appointment I'll let you know how it goes!