Posted by ramsea on February 25, 2004, at 4:07:58
In reply to Re: guest expert, posted by Dr. Bob on February 11, 2004, at 2:39:04
I have what is considered to be a very chronic, rapid cycling bipolar 1 disorder. As a UK resident reeceiving NHS psychotherapy is possible, but one does have to wait a long time and it is not on offer indefinitely. In fact I saw a clinical psychologist for almost a year, and she terminated the relationship. She does not like working with people who are very ill, so I was out. She actually said to me, "I think we both know you come here and just sort of ramble." That hurt a lot. For several reasons.
1)I think it is HER job to ensure that our time together is fruitful. She let an entire year pass before blowing me off with that, not even giving an opportunity to change focus and work more actively on something. I thought I was doing what I was meant to do--talk about stuff. Was it really my fault that she seemingly took a whole year to tekll me I ramble too much, goodbye???? Doyou see a problem in this?
2) I am very psychological, have even been trained to be a counselor, and have studied psychology at post-grad level, though I make no claims to be a therapist. However, I do feel that with this background I should have/could have handled therapy that required the more reflective, educated sort of client who likes to write and do assignments. She never seemed to see this side of me or take advantage of these personal qualities---
3) I felt and still feel very let down by this experience. I can't afford private therapy. It looks like I am going to have to keep playing therapist for myself. I sometimes long for one of these therapists people write about, this person who isn't down on bipolar, or anti-meds (as was the psychologist I saw--she didn't believe bipolar was real and she thought most psychiatric medicines are placebos for people too lazy to take care of themselves. She helped one chronic schizophrenic I was friends with come off ALL medicines within a month's time, and he was all triumphant, even got featured in a major national mental health magazine as a real success story. Within six months he was in hospital, worse than anyone had ever seen him, and he still isn't back to his previous level of functioning.)
By the way, this psychologist is no longer working for the local NHS.
Do you have any thoughts about how a person who needs therapy, but can't afford it, can help themselves? Is there therapy on-line that works???
Thanks for your time.
poster:ramsea
thread:308062
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040225/msgs/317423.html