Hi Ecrivain,

I live on the other side of the country, and sadly, we have some similar issues here. Like you, I'm on disability. I, too, have challenges finding a therapist or counselor who is willing to see me for fees I can afford. It's a very tough thing. "Sliding fees" from their perspective is a different thing than we'd like to see sometimes, as you mentioned.

I don't know what your area is like. In our area, we do have some community health centers which offer counseling and mental health treatment for some individuals. If you qualify, they see patients for extremely low cost. It could be worth exploring that option in your area. If it exists, it would be more likely to fit in your budget. If there is a teaching hospital in your area which accepts Medicare (assuming you're on Medicare) you may be able to get your therapy covered by Medicare and pay a lower fee that way also by being seen through a clinic there. Medicare does have some benefits for mental health therapy, although it can be hard to find a therapist who accepts it. Those people exist, but you'd be more likely to find them through a University hospital which has a central bills processing system as the paperwork is more extensive than most therapists can do on a regular basis.

Depending on how your PTSD occurred, you might have better luck contacting an organization connected with that situation. If you're a veteran, for instance, try contacting the Veteran's Administration (which, by the way, offers a lot of support groups, therapy, and other opportunities which I believe are free of cost). If you were a victim of child abuse or violent crime, there are groups who provide support to people who've experienced these types of trauma. If you call or write them and explain your situation, they may be able to provide some more specific referrals who have better sliding scales. You get the idea.

I don't know if any of this will help. It may be stuff you already know, but it's what I've learned over time, and thought I would pass it along in case it is useful. Hang in there. I hope you'll be able to find a therapist soon.

Take care,
ErinBear