[izzyfg2000]

Since I recently told my parents about my issues with depression, they're trying to find me a therapist. My dad told me, when I was asking him about when I would be having my first session, that i would only be able to have three sessions if the insurance didn't cover it. If i can't get help anymore, then what's the use?! I'll just be at square one again! I need help. This just makes me so confused and angry and sad and i just want to die.

[Asiablue]

Can you try looking for any programmes that offer free counselling? See if there's anything in the community that can help. I agree three sessions probably wouldn't be much use but better than nothing and if you get something CBT based then 3 hours could still definitely help identify any maladaptive thought processes.

In the meantime, try to see your depression simply as a message that there's things in your life no longer working for you. Whether that is thoughts, behaviours, emotions. There's lots of worksheets online to help you with that sort of stuff. The feeling like you want to die is often an expression of feeling stuck and in emotional pain and not so much that you want to be dead but that you want the pain to stop. I hope you get something sorted.

[tametc]

I'm sorry your dad responded this way. I've been in therapy for a long time, and over the years I've had some therapists who had sliding scale fees, which made it more affordable. Also, I had three different therapists who were ministers, two of whom were also licensed professional counselors, and one who had his master's in social work way before he became a minister. I liked each of them, and got a lot out of the therapy. None of these three charged me for the therapy, as they saw it as part of their ministry. At one time I was able to use funds from a United Way-sponsored organization to help pay for therapy. I'll be praying that you are able to find an affordable, helpful therapist.

[Daeva]

Most of the time the T will give you a diagnoses in the first 2 sessions (Not that they will always tell you), which is what the insurance needs to give you more sessions. BUt for starting out they give you a minimum of sessions till they have a diagnosis

[turquoisesea]

I agree with others - there are ways to get cheaper sessions.

I don't want to be too forward, but how old are you and in what country? If you are in high school in the US there is normally a school counselor, who might not be as good as someone you get outside but at least it's something to start with. There are also group therapy options, and as others have said sliding fee scales.

take care!

It sounds to me like your Dad may have contacted his insurance program and lots of times they send you for free three sessions through a program provided through his employer called Employee Assistance... then the therapist decides whether they think its necessary for you to have further sessions and work with your insurance to pay for this.

Of course your father doesn't know what the T will say so he's just telling you what he knows now. Your best course of action is to talk honestly with the T and then at the third session talk to the T about what they think and what they are going to say to the insurance company etc... Try not to worry about the whole picture now ...