[SarahSweden]

I´ve read about several types of therapy and knows that insurance companies offers time limited therapy, often around 8-10 times. The therapists are aware of this condition when they begin to work with a client. I now question how this time limited therapy can be serious? I know that some might benefit from this kind of therapy if their problems aren´t too big to handle in such few sessions.

But you at the same time often hear about people feel left out when having to quit therapy just because of money and the core issue here is how you can consider the therapist him- och herself to be serious if working under an insurance companies terms.

It´s one thing that both therapist and client knows that the number of sessions will be limited but what the client most often doesn´t know if it will be enough or not or how it will affect him or her. As an example psychodynamic therapy often has a treatment time of at least six months to be effective and although this, the therapy form is used in time limited therapy.

If the therapist knows this, realises that the sessions won´t be enough and still keeps the client in therapy, how can this be serious? They should instead refer the client to a therapy option he or she can afford as soon as it´s obvious that the time limited therapy won´t be enough. To begin therapy that can´t be continued knowing that the client won´t be able to pay for him- or herself after the sessions paid by insurance- how can a serious therapist devote him- or herself to this?

[CantExplain]

Limited time therapy could be useful if it taught skills. Behavioural therapy is often done on a predetermined schedule.

But digging up the past? That takes years.

[someone321]

I'm sorry if this post is not very supportive but here is my answer...

I understand your disappointment but I think such therapy still can be serious and in my opinion it is absolutely not unethical for therapists to provide such help if another way is not possible... I guess, short-term therapy might be good when someone is in crisis, grieve etc. so that the person gets a support for two months and hopefully it will be helpful enough. Of course it won't work for everyone but then the question is if it's better to stay without any support or to get these 8-10 sessions... And I believe that in many cases the latter is the better option, a client can learn some grounding skills, coping mechanisms, is able to talk to someone etc. so it is already helpful even if it is not enough.

I guess it also depends on the country, for instance in my homeland it is not uncommon that patients get refunds only e.g. for two months of expensive but life-saving medicines and afterwards they have to pay by themselves... It is cruel and terrible but that's how it works and we can blame the government but no one would ever say that it's a doctor's fault and it's unethical to prescribe these medicaments with the knowledge that in two months the patient won't be able to afford paying for them. In the best case, two months of a treatment are enough and if not, that's the time which a patient has for finding other funding sources...

But coming back to therapy, I don't know why a therapist already at the first session should know much better than a client how much money the client has, how much time is needed, how fast the client will progress, how deep the problems are etc... For instance I knew that my problems might take some time, so I waited till I was sure that I could afford therapy. Of course from the beginning it was clear how expensive each session is so I just had to calculate how often I can come etc. but I always thought that it was my responsibility and not my therapist's...

I hope you will find a good solution for your case...

[HazelGirl]

Only a few insurance plans have such a short limit. Most are about 6 months to 1 year limit, and some are unlimited. Most of the time, the T or client can petition to receive more time as well, so it's not such a clear-cut black and white issue.

[someone321]

Originally Posted by HazelGirl

Only a few insurance plans have such a short limit. Most are about 6 months to 1 year limit, and some are unlimited. Most of the time, the T or client can petition to receive more time as well, so it's not such a clear-cut black and white issue.

Sarah is from Sweden so it might work differently there. I've only read here that it is possible to have there free sessions (but you have to pay for any absence) but I have no idea how to get them...

[HazelGirl]

Originally Posted by someone321

Sarah is from Sweden so it might work differently there. I've only read here that it is possible to have there free sessions (but you have to pay for any absence) but I have no idea how to get them...

Oh...yeah, I'm from the USA, so it probably does work differently.

Here in Australia we get 10 free government funded sessions a year (Unless considered at risk the you may get more.)This is unfortunately what I find myself most reliant on. It is also probably the main reason my past is still a dangerously suppressed wound.

I simply cannot attach to a T in that much time and without trust I can not open up and do any serious work so in the end I find myself relying on them to work through any minor issues that may crop up while continuing to try to work out the big stuff alone.

They end up being nothing more than a brief support used to maybe bounce ideas off of than to actually learn any skills.

Ironically we also get 50 free pdoc appointments here a year. I've never seen one more than 6 times in a year. Go figure.

[CantExplain]

I never even checked to see if the government would pay. Nobody ever offered.