[MickeyCheeky]

Does any of you guys know how to search for a good T? I've already tried a couple, but none of them worked, I don't want to fail at it again How do I find one? What criteria should I use to pick one?
I'm 18, I'm in Italy and I suffer from various general problems, such as low self-esteem, loneliness, zero social skills, and general boredom..

Thank you for reading

[Ocean Swimmer]

I don't know if nami is in your city. I got a referral from a support group member.

[Gojamadar]

Originally Posted by MickeyCheeky

Does any of you guys know how to search for a good T? I've already tried a couple, but none of them worked, I don't want to fail at it again How do I find one? What criteria should I use to pick one?
I'm 18, I'm in Italy and I suffer from various general problems, such as low self-esteem, loneliness, zero social skills, and general boredom..

Thank you for reading

Hi,
What you describe as your problems affects many teenagers. It is not easy to deal with growing up, hormone changes and learning social skills.
From your posts, my opinion is that you are resonably well adjusted indivividual and should get on well in life, especially with a university education. Perhaps you're shy and withdrawn in your social life, but otherwise quite normaland a psycotherapist is quite unnecessary.
Another problem is that psychotherapists sometimes assign an imaginary category of MI to keep up their income.

[pachyderm]

Forgive my attitude, but I think you need to be pretty mentally healthy to be able to distinguish a good therapist from a bad one, when you meet them. Of course, if you are, then probably you don't need a therapist.

[MickeyCheeky]

Thank you for your replies

So you guys think I don't actually need a therapist, if I understand correctly? I don't know.. these problems I mentioned are quite a struggle to me, and I honestly higly doubt that I'm going to do well in life even though it is probably true that none if it is quite as close as a real MI struggle. Still, I feel the need to talk with a professional, even to understand what's going on and what I'm going through.

I have several thoughts:

1. your family doctor and/or psychiatrist. Here one gets a referral in order to see a psychologist. There are counsellors mind you available user pay. But, even in a user pay system I m sure your doctors can be of immense help in referring you based on the type/manner of therapy likely to be best for you.

2. EAP (employeed assistance plan) - if you work, you may have one. This is NOT your insurance/healthcare provider. This is an entirely confidential 'clearing house' of support resources. In my own case they got the ball rolling with a few different counsellors providing for the first two consults for free. I was then able to opt for one over the other. My eAP provided me with other resources too.

[MickeyCheeky]

Thank you! I've already tried asking my family doctor, but her suggestion didn't work out in the end :/
The second one I'm not sure I understood.. but I don't work anyway (I'm only 18..)

Is there a national Mental Health Association? Is there a branch in your community? They usually have a list of psychiatrists (and I assume user pay therapists) taking patients along with pertinant information about them.

What about a clinic? Do they act as intake centres too?

[MickeyCheeky]

I don't really know if there's such a thing in Italy.. or at least, I've never heard of it :/ Not sure about clinics either..

[pachyderm]

Originally Posted by MickeyCheeky

So you guys think I don't actually need a therapist, if I understand correctly?

No; all I think is that it is not easy to find a really good one. If you think you need one, keep trying, with as much confidence in yourself as you can muster!

[MickeyCheeky]

Thanks! I'll try. I'm sorry if I sound very ignorant about psychotherapy and mental illness, but I have a hard time understanding it but I have to keep looking. I'll also have an appointment with my psychiatrist in around two weeks (not related to this); maybe I can ask her for some advice..

It is a good idea to ask your psychiatrist this question. For many of the conditions they treat, it is considered a good practice to go to a therapist and a psychiatrist (many psychiatrists in the US only provide evaluation and prescriptions for psych medications) so many are aware of therapists available in their area. Not sure if it works that way in Italy.

[MickeyCheeky]

Thank you I'll try asking some information about it.