Therapy I can do myself for free?

badmouse · Jan 30, 2014 at 03:03 PM

Disability money barely covers expenses, haven't had any success getting medicare to cover therapy - Is there any therapy that won't cost anything? I've been through therapy for depression, and frankly most of it wasn't worth paying much for. I still have a lot of the meds left over but since I take a lot of other meds, I'm scared to mix them without good advice . I also need help with organization.

Any ideas?

(JD) · Jan 30, 2014 at 05:04 PM

That's a tough place to be. Cognitive behavior therapy is done by the patient with an expert's guidance..but the work is still the patient's. In the Psychotherapy forum read the thread on the 10 Cognitive Distortions and what to do about them...

Changing our thinking from negative to positive (even and especially when we don't feel like it or believe it) works in the brain and changes chemicals that help us feel better.

Also the book by David Burns: The Feeling Good Handbook can lead you to helping yourself out of depression...if you work it like you would work in therapy with a doctor.

Fuzzybear · Jan 30, 2014 at 07:04 PM

nottrustin · Feb 05, 2014 at 09:20 PM

Couple of ideas: I know they are not free but much cheaper than seeing a therapist. There are a bunch of workbooks on different subjects on Amazon, My therapist has had me do a couple.

Also if you live near a college you might be able to get therapists who are students doing their clinical. We have some at our hospital that work the school year add see clients,

Worth looking into

shortandcute · Feb 07, 2014 at 09:43 PM

Here are a couple of websites I like:

GET.gg Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Self-Help Resources

www.psychologhytools.org

They have all kinds of things you can download and print off-like worksheets, etc.

There are alot of good books out there, and many libraries have them. Here are some books I've checked out from my local library:

Get It Done When You're Depressed, by Julie A. Fast & John D. Preston

Breaking Free From Depression, by Jesse Wright and Laura W. McCray

shezbut · Feb 08, 2014 at 02:34 AM

You may want to check into the links below.

http://www.needymeds.org/free_clinic...=list&state=nj

NJ211 - Need help? Start Here

I don't know if you've checked into these things before, but it didn't sound to me as though you have.

SSDI can be a real bear to work through, especially if you had a relatively decent income before the disability struck.

Very best wishes to you!

pinkbutterfly · Feb 17, 2014 at 08:49 AM

Some areas have free counseling services. A lot of times they are connected to churches. But that might be a good avenue for some counseling that won't cost anything. If it's a "good" place they will respect whether or not you want to incorporate spiritual aspects into your treatment.

kim1975 · Feb 24, 2014 at 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by badmouse

Disability money barely covers expenses, haven't had any success getting medicare to cover therapy - Is there any therapy that won't cost anything? I've been through therapy for depression, and frankly most of it wasn't worth paying much for. I still have a lot of the meds left over but since I take a lot of other meds, I'm scared to mix them without good advice . I also need help with organization.

Any ideas?

These days, just to see a therapist to talk for an hour costs almost $200. A psychiatrist who prescribes the meds cost much more. It is a ripoff for people who need mental health care but who cannot get help or insurance coverage for it are most definately SCREWED. The system needs to change because it costs a whole lot more than going to a regular doctor for an exam. Mental healthcare officials charge so much that if you do have insurance, especially like Medicare and the like, then the state pays an extremely big amount per year on just one person. Think of how much one mental health clinic can get in one year from the state, like Medicare and the like, for people who need help.

Perna · Feb 25, 2014 at 10:04 AM

The online book below, in the Self-Help forum is good: Psychological Self-Help

RTerroni · Feb 25, 2014 at 09:57 PM

I have Medical Assistance so I am able to go to certain Therapy places for free.

seeker1950 · Feb 26, 2014 at 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by badmouse

Disability money barely covers expenses, haven't had any success getting medicare to cover therapy - Is there any therapy that won't cost anything? I've been through therapy for depression, and frankly most of it wasn't worth paying much for. I still have a lot of the meds left over but since I take a lot of other meds, I'm scared to mix them without good advice . I also need help with organization.

Any ideas?

There are many good suggestions here. I personally have found the serious self-work I have done without a therapist to be more beneficial (and a lot cheaper) than working with and paying a therapist. Some of the books I used, I literally read and re-read underlining passages and committing them to memory. Now, I look back on that and wonder, why did I need to do that? But at the time, it was totally necessary, and even a therapist wouldn't have helped. Doing it on your own can be very validating and self-affirming.

shortandcute · Mar 02, 2014 at 04:21 PM

I, personally, need some one to kind of help me along, so to speak. But of course, my medicaid covers it. On the other hand, I've tried for several years to "do it on my own" and it never worked.

anneo59 · Mar 09, 2014 at 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seeker1950

There are many good suggestions here. I personally have found the serious self-work I have done without a therapist to be more beneficial (and a lot cheaper) than working with and paying a therapist. Some of the books I used, I literally read and re-read underlining passages and committing them to memory. Now, I look back on that and wonder, why did I need to do that? But at the time, it was totally necessary, and even a therapist wouldn't have helped. Doing it on your own can be very validating and self-affirming.

yup, been there too, good stuff. Thanx!

anneo59 · Mar 09, 2014 at 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perna

The online book below, in the Self-Help forum is good: Psychological Self-Help

great, will give try!

anneo59 · Mar 09, 2014 at 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by (JD)

That's a tough place to be. Cognitive behavior therapy is done by the patient with an expert's guidance..but the work is still the patient's. In the Psychotherapy forum read the thread on the 10 Cognitive Distortions and what to do about them...

Changing our thinking from negative to positive (even and especially when we don't feel like it or believe it) works in the brain and changes chemicals that help us feel better.

Also the book by David Burns: The Feeling Good Handbook can lead you to helping yourself out of depression...if you work it like you would work in therapy with a doctor.

so sorry for loss of your beloved Caleb!!!!! He looks lovely!!!!!

anneo59 · Mar 09, 2014 at 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shezbut

You may want to check into the links below.

Free Clinics List - NeedyMeds

NJ211 - Need help? Start Here

I don't know if you've checked into these things before, but it didn't sound to me as though you have.

SSDI can be a real bear to work through, especially if you had a relatively decent income before the disability struck.

Very best wishes to you!

Thanks much, shez, will look into!

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Fuzzybear Wisest Elder Ever Member Since Nov 2002 Location: Cave. Posts: 96,390 (SuperPoster!) 21 81.4k hugs given	Jan 30, 2014 at 07:04 PM #3 __________________
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pinkbutterfly Member Member Since Jun 2013 Location: USA Posts: 343 10 64 hugs given	Feb 17, 2014 at 08:49 AM #7 Some areas have free counseling services. A lot of times they are connected to churches. But that might be a good avenue for some counseling that won't cost anything. If it's a "good" place they will respect whether or not you want to incorporate spiritual aspects into your treatment.
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Perna Pandita-in-training Member Since Sep 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 27,289 (SuperPoster!) 17 550 hugs given	Feb 25, 2014 at 10:04 AM #9 The online book below, in the Self-Help forum is good: Psychological Self-Help __________________ "Never give a sword to a man who can't dance." ~Confucius
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RTerroni Elder Member Since Sep 2013 Location: USA Posts: 5,751 10 2,136 hugs given	Feb 25, 2014 at 09:57 PM #10 I have Medical Assistance so I am able to go to certain Therapy places for free. __________________ COVID-19 Survivor- 4/26/2022
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shortandcute Grand Magnate Member Since Aug 2011 Location: Washington State, U.S.A. Posts: 3,169 12 2,427 hugs given	Mar 02, 2014 at 04:21 PM #12 I, personally, need some one to kind of help me along, so to speak. But of course, my medicaid covers it. On the other hand, I've tried for several years to "do it on my own" and it never worked. __________________ "Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom before you can see the top." -Wildflower http://missracgel.wixsite.com/bearhugs
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