[SarahSweden]

I´m thinking a lot of ending therapy prematurely because of lack of fundings. I got 10 sessions paid by my insurance company and now I only have a few of them left and already know that I have too complex issues to be dealt with and treated upon within these sessions.

The therapy really helps me but in the same time dealing with different issues also creates mental wounds. That is, if I continue with therapy, more wounds and thoughts will rise and because of my lack of funding I won´t have time to deal with those.

In one way I feel attending therapy was the right thing to do but when I realise therapy in many cases and as in mine isn´t just fixing problems in some short period of time I at the same feel a bit fooled by the situation.

I´ve just got past the first stage in therapy and getting to know my therapist and dealing with some of my issues so I´m very far from really solving any problems. For the moment my therapist is on vacation and I feel a substantial difference, that is having more anxiety and negative thoughts.

I haven´t found any other ways of funding therapy, me myself can´t afford paying. The therapist doesn´t work pro bono and doesn´t offer a sliding scale to that extent that I will be able to pay. I feel very trapped, sad and frustrated and perhaps it´s better not taking any more sessions? I don´t want to spend the last sessions talking about this matter with my therapist because it won´t help me with the issues I entered therapy for.

[kaliope]

perhaps you could take the last few sessions to talk about coping skills that you may think you would need to deal with your issues or what ever you may need in your life currently. do some goal setting for your future. end on a positive note.

[guilloche]

I'm a little confused... it sounds like you're insurance is paying for 10 sessions, and you're worried that more issues are being discovered. Can you talk to T about this? Because my understanding was, in a case like this, T would go back to the insurance company and explain that there are new issues, and get authorization for more sessions.

If therapy is helping you, I'd hate to see you give it up based on what could be a misunderstanding.

[sailorboy]

I would talk to your therapist about this. Sometimes they can tell your insurance you need more therapy. If not, at least you can use your remaining sessions to your advantage.

[kororain]

It's surprising the things that can be resolved in an hour. I would use them all. Just get as far as you can.

[UnderRugSwept]

Have you discussed a reduced rate for further sessions with your current T? If so and that is not an option, have you looked into seeing a new T who will see you for a reduced rate after your 10 sessions are up with this T? Your current T might be able to provide you with some possible names.

[SarahSweden]

guilloche: It isn´t a misunderstanding I´m afraid, it´s Swedish insurance laws/rules that states that you get 10 sessions, not more. My therapist is aware that I want/need more sessions but seems to avoid the subject and probably that is because she knows that there are no possibilities to get the insurance company to pay for more sessions.

That´s why I hesitate to continue at all because I know I wont get the treatment/counseling I need to sort out my issuses.

[SarahSweden]

Elsewhere: I won´t be able to pay more than perhaps a tenth of the regular fee and that much of a reduction is not likely to get. My therapist works in a private practice with no cooperation with publically funded mental health care so I think there´s a very small chance that she knows someone else to refer to.

[Perna]

I would use the rest of my therapy sessions to create a self-therapy model so I could continue to work on an issue or two on my own. I would, with my therapist's help, start a notebook and listing incidences/issues as they arise and begin to organize or cluster them so I could better see what I am working with. A big part of therapy is recognizing and understanding the actual underlying problems and being able to articulate them to one's self.

I would work on my self esteem issues so that I could better do that without judging myself negatively or in a harmful way in the process. I would also look for reading matter about the subjects I am interested in and a plan to come back and see my therapist in three months, saving up to pay for the session as part of the plan, and discuss my successes, difficulties and questions about where to go next.

I would treat it as a sabbatical or self-study semester or part of my regular health plan (why I say 3 months, I see my primary care physician every 3 months for my physical health and use that quarterly schedule to work on my personal projects such as my diet and weight loss, exercise, blood pressure studies, etc.).

[PeeJay]

I know that the idea of paying for one's own therapy can be daunting. Have you done a budget to see if you can make it work?

I'm only asking because I pay out of pocket and the cost sometimes makes me want to quit. But my life has improved. Also, I found comfort in the fact that no insurance company got between my therapist and me.

In other words, could you use up your free sessions and then pay out of pocket while cutting back an expense in another area of life?

[SarahSweden]

PeeJay: Unfortunately I don´t have to pay for therapy myself, in that case I hadn´t risen the issue here in the forum. I´m unemployed and have money to pay just for the most necessary things.