[SarahSweden]

It´s now been nearly three weeks since I left my counselor and sent her secretary a message that I don´t want to see her anymore. I also asked to see someone else but haven´t heard from the facility since.

This was exactly what I was afraid of when I thought about ending it with my counselor as she couldn´t help me. I´ve called the reception a few times just to check if I´m still listed at the faciltity and I have been but nothing else has happened.

I don´t want to call my counselor and I don´t have any doctor to call either as she didn´t want to schedule a new meeting after I met her in March. I have no right to get another counselor as it was me as a patient who cancelled my next meeting and said I didn´t want to see my counselor anymore.

I knew something like this would happen in some way or the other as our mental health system doesn´t benefit those in need of it.


I don´t know what to do as filing a complaint would probably be to my disadvantage as they´ll then see it as "another complaint". In September I need to get my sick leave signed and I can´t just get another doctor as our general practioners don´t handle that kind of errands.


It´s a huge worry for me besides my abrupt ending with my counselor and other problems I´m facing.

[*Beth*]

I'm so sorry, Sarah. What a rotten predicament to be in. But I don't understand why you can't get a different counselor at the clinic, even though you ended it with your former counselor.

[SarahSweden]

Thanks for your support. Yes, I can't think about much else than what happened and how to find a solution to all this.

They don't just offer another counselor as they see my cancellation of my meeting with my counselor as a way for me to turn down care and what they already offered me.

I've been to a few other people at the same facility, not qualified enough as they weren't therapists, and those contacts didn't lead anywhere and by that they see it as I'm the one to blame. Also, they don't hire therapists but less qualified staff and they already know that doesn't work for me. So it's like a dead end and I feel trapped and very worried.

Originally Posted by BethRags

I'm so sorry, Sarah. What a rotten predicament to be in. But I don't understand why you can't get a different counselor at the clinic, even though you ended it with your former counselor.

[Lostislost]

It sounds an awful situation to be honest. I know you said the counselor wasn't helping you, but I guess she was in a way...even if it was only financially, by getting your sick paper signed every time you needed it.

Mental health care and support kinda sucks everywhere, but the system sounds very broken where you are. I've never heard of someone being left with no alternative doctor to see. sorry you have to go through all that.

[elisewin]

Could you ask to continue therapy with one of the real therapists you were offered a while ago? I remember you didn't want treatment by them either. But maybe you could say you reconsidered and want to start working with one after all?

[SarahSweden]

Thanks. Yes, it is. I´m in a constant worry about what will happen and I can´t do much besides calling the secretary to see if I´m still listed at their facility. Yes, by seeing my counselor I stayed active in their records and I could see a doctor regularly to renew my sick leave.

Yes, publically financed mental health care is of substandard almost everywhere. Here they expect patients to look for alternative doctors, therapists and so on themselves and at the same time you can´t just refer yourself to another therapist. They even use cancellations against patients, if a patient has cancelled some of their meetings, they see it as someone who isn´t cooperating or who perhaps doesn´t want or need care.

Originally Posted by Lostislost

It sounds an awful situation to be honest. I know you said the counselor wasn't helping you, but I guess she was in a way...even if it was only financially, by getting your sick paper signed every time you needed it.

Mental health care and support kinda sucks everywhere, but the system sounds very broken where you are. I've never heard of someone being left with no alternative doctor to see. sorry you have to go through all that.

[SarahSweden]

Thanks. No, I can´t as those two therapists wrote in their records that the therapy I need isn´t within their assignment. They recommended another type of therapy but neighter them nor my current facility is offering such therapy. They just blame me for the failured treatment and think I should start over "somewhere else" although they know there are no other facilities to simply "call and get an appointment". That´s why I cling to the one I´m still at and hope that someone will look into my records and offer me someone else to see.

Originally Posted by elisewin

Could you ask to continue therapy with one of the real therapists you were offered a while ago? I remember you didn't want treatment by them either. But maybe you could say you reconsidered and want to start working with one after all?

[Gasplessy]

I'm sorry you're going through this situation, I send you hugs

I live in Europe and I experienced something similar two years ago
The therapist was qualified but on a human level she was very cold to me, I suspect she had some issues working in the facility (like she wasn't paid enough) I was feeling kind of alone
So I started to skip some sessions and she just still kept the money while not asking anything
I interrupted the therapy and she never checked if I was doing ok after

I hope there is a way to overcome this moment

[SarahSweden]

Thanks for your support. Sending hugs back to you.

Thanks for sharing about your situation, it makes it a little easier knowing that I´m not the only one who have gone through this. Did you ever ask to see another therapist or did you leave the facility all in all?

Did she charge you even if you skipped sessions with her?

I´ve tried several online services when it comes to counseling and I find it a bit supportive in the moment, to vent and to feel a little less alone so I contacted such a service yesterday. I though don´t know what to do in the long run and that´s a huge worry for me.

How did things go for you after you left your therapist?

Originally Posted by Gasplessy

I'm sorry you're going through this situation, I send you hugs

I live in Europe and I experienced something similar two years ago
The therapist was qualified but on a human level she was very cold to me, I suspect she had some issues working in the facility (like she wasn't paid enough) I was feeling kind of alone
So I started to skip some sessions and she just still kept the money while not asking anything
I interrupted the therapy and she never checked if I was doing ok after

Do you think is there any other way to find help?
I know it's not the same, but maybe looking for a therapist online to have someone to talk to meanwhile?

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by SarahSweden

Thanks for your support. Yes, I can't think about much else than what happened and how to find a solution to all this.

They don't just offer another counselor as they see my cancellation of my meeting with my counselor as a way for me to turn down care and what they already offered me.

I've been to a few other people at the same facility, not qualified enough as they weren't therapists, and those contacts didn't lead anywhere and by that they see it as I'm the one to blame. Also, they don't hire therapists but less qualified staff and they already know that doesn't work for me. So it's like a dead end and I feel trapped and very worried.

Uggghhh, I've been in that type of situation before and it is ridiculous. Stupid.

[here today]

Originally Posted by SarahSweden

. . .as those two therapists wrote in their records that the therapy I need isn´t within their assignment. They recommended another type of therapy but neighter them nor my current facility is offering such therapy. They just blame me for the failured treatment and think I should start over "somewhere else" although they know there are no other facilities to simply "call and get an appointment". That´s why I cling to the one I´m still at and hope that someone will look into my records and offer me someone else to see.

The fact that you have this in your record seems a clear case that the mental health resources offered to you are inadequate. Blaming "you" in this kind of instance is irrational in any logical sense. But it seems to make sense to many people "socially". They can't do anything, so it's not their problem, not their fault -- must therefore be yours. Or one that you have to manage on your own since you are declining the "help" which doesn't help.

Your legs are broken, we can't help with that -- so get up and walk! Or crawl -- who knows where. . .

So sorry you are having to deal with this. Your story is very clear here on PC and perhaps, over time, people in society generally will see the insanity in many current approaches to "mental health".

In the meantime -- you are not alone. Hopefully you will find some others in Sweden who can help.

[SarahSweden]

Thanks for your support. Yes, I think so to but I´m not sure if the facility will see it that way. I think it´s easy for them to blame patients as there´s nothing much a patient can do to change things.

It´s a good analogy you present about legs being broken. They offer some cast that only covers a little bit of the leg and then you´re supposed to heal on your own.

Yes, a lot of people experience a similar situation, especially when it comes to the lack of access to psychotherapy. It´s very hard to go through this again and now I'm just waiting for someone at the facility to contact me.

I appreciate you and others posting here and I appreciate I´m not alone in all this.

Originally Posted by here today

The fact that you have this in your record seems a clear case that the mental health resources offered to you are inadequate. Blaming "you" in this kind of instance is irrational in any logical sense. But it seems to make sense to many people "socially". They can't do anything, so it's not their problem, not their fault -- must therefore be yours. Or one that you have to manage on your own since you are declining the "help" which doesn't help.

Your legs are broken, we can't help with that -- so get up and walk! Or crawl -- who knows where. . .

So sorry you are having to deal with this. Your story is very clear here on PC and perhaps, over time, people in society generally will see the insanity in many current approaches to "mental health".

In the meantime -- you are not alone. Hopefully you will find some others in Sweden who can help.