[di meliora]

Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S.:

One of the biggest reasons people don’t seek therapy is money. People look at a therapist’s hourly rates — which might range from $100 to $250 — and immediately assume they can’t afford professional help. So they stop there.

But you do have various helpful options. Below, clinicians share, in no particular order, what you can do if you can’t afford treatment. http://psychcentral.com/blog/archive...fford-therapy/

Tartakovsky lists 11 of the options. Perhaps one may help you?

[vanessaG]

I know when I couldnt afford it, there was a clinic of students (supervised by PhD's) that offered session on a weekly or more basis. (I was going twice a week) and it was based on your income. I paid $5 per session.
Perhaps there is a graduate program near you where supervised students can offer therapy at a low fee?

I think of all those times I couldn't afford it and how I had to piecemeal it all together.

Now I've got an insurance plan that covers 100% (no copay required) with unlimited visits.

That me out a bit, I gotta admit.

[possum220]

If you are seeing a psychotherapist and your financial circumstances change sometimes they will discount their fees commensurate with your income. Also if you are part on a mental health community group they sometimes have psychologist as part of their services. That's free.

[BrokenNBeautiful]

all the clinics where i live closed down because of budget problems. The ones that are still open are only referral services; they refer out to private practices, which of course I can't afford. Now Medi-Cal does not cover psychological in CA. I found a needle in the haystack when I finally even found a pdoc for med management last month on the medicare.gov site. My new primary care could not even refer me to anyone. It's tough.

I rely mostly on self-help stuff now for my "therapy".

Carol

[sunsetsunrise]

I had great coverage and saw two wonderful therapists. one was a hypnotherapist. The other did just regular therapy. But when I got on medicare I had to stop therapy. Neither were covered. lots of people looked for a good therapist for me who was covered by medicare and also satte where my deductable and co payment were paid for. It was a losing battle. No one they found who would be suitable for what I needed was covered by both. So it has been 2 1/2 years since I was in therapy. So I did my work with a psychotherapist before I got on disability.

I do see a pdoc once a month. but i have to pay the deductable, co payment and non allowed amount. Because she is only participating provider with medicare and not the state who covers my deductable and co payment. I got used to not working on things anymore. Just take the medications now. No more therapy.

[BrokenNBeautiful]

Originally Posted by sunsetsunrise

I had great coverage and saw two wonderful therapists. one was a hypnotherapist. The other did just regular therapy. But when I got on medicare I had to stop therapy. Neither were covered. lots of people looked for a good therapist for me who was covered by medicare and also satte where my deductable and co payment were paid for. It was a losing battle. No one they found who would be suitable for what I needed was covered by both. So it has been 2 1/2 years since I was in therapy. So I did my work with a psychotherapist before I got on disability.

I do see a pdoc once a month. but i have to pay the deductable, co payment and non allowed amount. Because she is only participating provider with medicare and not the state who covers my deductable and co payment. I got used to not working on things anymore. Just take the medications now. No more therapy.

I am still working on things.

Just not with a pro. My pdoc has offered to talk to me sometimes.

Carol

[TerryL]

I did self-talk because I could not find a T that could help and I just needed to get my pain/feelings out of my system. didn't cure me but it helped me through some rough patches.

[BrokenNBeautiful]

Originally Posted by BrokenNBeautiful

I found a needle in the haystack when I finally even found a pdoc for med management last month on the medicare.gov site.

Update: February 2013: I had to leave him because I suspected he was acting professionally inappropriate.

I rely mostly on self-help stuff now for my "therapy".

Carol

At least with self-help, I can not worry about someone exploiting me.

[Travelinglady]

Although it's not the same, there are some "self-help" books out there, such as one for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.......(Therapy for Dummies? ) I do see that's a possibility in the list. And some of them are good!

[gracez]

Hi, I also cannot afford therapy. It is very frustrating, the lack of services in my city for people like us. So I can relate. It makes me feel even more hopeless. There is one place that provides 6 mos. free counselling if they even take you, but there is a 3 month waiting list, which is hard to wait for! I searched and search and the best I got was people commiserating with me that there aren't good services here.

It's not fair. I really wanted counselling, it feels impossible to make progress on my own.

It's so good that there are places like this. I just found this forum, and am hoping to learn from others here and also lend an ear or whatever help I can give.

What has helped others when therapy isn't an option? There must be a way.

I admire your courage for keeping on and trying to go work thru it on your own.