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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by holymama on March 7, 2006, at 7:11:42
Where to start???
I know a good reputation/referral from someone else is a good thing.
I tried going through the list of doctors covered by my insurance on their website, and therapist #1 that I tried yesterday (we had a first appointment)was a disappointment -- spacey/flakey/not very intelligent. I don't think I'll go any further through that list.
I have been suffering bipolar suicidal depression and have been in crisis for a few months, so I feel like it's a crucial time for me to get very strong support -- not from a flakey space cadet. My old T has not been able to support me when I was gone for 5 weeks -- I guess liability got in the way. :( -- and is out of town for the next two weeks. So I've been angry and also feeling like therapy with her has been dragging now for at least 6 months, so it's a good time to start with someone new. I'm really just grasping at straws and trying to keep my head above water right now.
Posted by fallsfall on March 7, 2006, at 7:32:16
In reply to looking for new therapist..., posted by holymama on March 7, 2006, at 7:11:42
This might help. I wish you luck.
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20031213/msgs/290414.html
Posted by B2chica on March 7, 2006, at 9:48:18
In reply to looking for new therapist..., posted by holymama on March 7, 2006, at 7:11:42
hang in there holymamma.
you know you can always hang onto the babble chain, we'll help keep you afloat.
sorry things are so rough for you right now.
please take care
b2c.
Posted by Poet on March 7, 2006, at 13:14:09
In reply to looking for new therapist..., posted by holymama on March 7, 2006, at 7:11:42
((((holymama))))
When your old T is back in two weeks, do you think you could ask her for some referrals? She would have a good feel for the type of therapist you would work well with. Plus she knows that seeing her again is not going to work out, so she might be able to assist you in getting an appointment with a new T. This is if you are comfortable enough to talk/email her about this. I know how tough that sort of thing is on me.
Sorry the T that was on the insurance website wasn't right for you. I wouldn't give up on the site, yet. Does it have descriptions of what therapies they do? If so, I think I would look again and write down the top three. I understand how frustrating it is when the insurance says you can't see someone unless you pay big time out of pocket. My T is out of network and has a $1000 deductible. Good thing she has a sliding scale when the insurance isn't paying for it.
That's something to find out about any Ts out of the insurance coverage. What the charges are.
The babble lifeboat and lifeline are here. Grab on tight.
Poet
Posted by holymama on March 7, 2006, at 13:51:48
In reply to Re: looking for new therapist..., posted by Poet on March 7, 2006, at 13:14:09
Thank you everyone.
I think this is when I do need to be here, to grab on to support.
These are good ideas, and I will ask my T for referrals when she gets back in two weeks. I haven't even fully discussed the idea of ending therapy with her -- just in small bits and pieces here and there. I almost feel she is being a bit unprofessional by NOT discussing a change with me, since I've been in an almost constant state of crisis since I've been seeing her. I've had a couple of good months here and there, three months tops...but in general things have been going downhill ever since I started therapy with her.
I thought of the word that suits the therapy I've been doing with her -- maintaainance therapy. Perhaps this is all she can do with me, since I have been in so much crisis. It never feels as if I am moving forward or as if she is helping me to move forward. It's always catch-up and a few hints on how to get through the week. I feel like if I am ever going to get out of this I need to make a big push forward. That might mean therapy 2 or 3 times a week, or a new therapist, or a group therapy...but I wish one of us would suggest a change. It will be me, when she gets back. I need to write this down, like what I've been writing here, so I can say these hard words to her when she gets back.
I feel really detached from my T right now because I haven't seen or talked with her in so long. It's been a couple of months. I had been depressed and avoiding help for a while and then I went out of state for 5 weeks and she left me a phone message saying she would rather not treat me when I was away. Now she's gone for 2 more weeks. I feel really alone in this. I did make a move to find a temporary therapist in Florida while I was there for the last 2 weeks. She turned out to be great -- a big surprise -- and really helpful for those two weeks (4 sessions). I can't expect to have that kind of luck finding a new therapist right away now that I'm home, but I was really hoping the first one would be a great surprise too.
Anyway, thanks all, for the advice and kind and supportive words. I'll keep posting so I can keep an anchor in these rough seas.
~~Autumn~~
This is the end of the thread.
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