This post was split from another thread: I had no choice but to start paying £50 per therapy session 
As some of you know my dad is gravely ill and i have returned from my current home (Berkshire) to my home city (Liverpool) to try and support him and be here in case he passes away.
However, my narcissistic mother has again used this as another opportunity to manipulate me, bring me down and be generally unpleasant. I have arranged an airbnb for the next week and have a therapy appointment for next week but I cant help feeling angry on behalf of my dad and disappointed that my siblings have just washed their hands of the issue.
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Yep, it’s pretty tough!
Being a decent therapist in itself isn’t cheap with training, continual personal development, along with costs of a room to rent etc.,
A lot of therapists will (and do) take one or two clients on at heavily discounted rates, but these are never actually advertised. Which then puts potential clients in a real uncomfortable position - those that need it most are most unlikely to ask a stranger for what they will see as a handout.
I hope that with a little time though @Cali_Nyx you will see some benefit from the investment you are making in yourself!
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Oh i totally get that there are costs associated for the therapist. I just wish there was more funding for it on the NHS or tbrough employment programmes. Im aware how “lucky” I am that I can “afford” therapy. Obviously it would be better if i didnt need it alas 
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Aye indeed, other issue I have with NHS is only get a limited amount of sessions (was 6) and always CBT. Nothing wrong with CBT, but it’s more a ‘here and now’ approach rather than looking deep under the covers. I appreciate there will be some that disagree strongly with that opinion of course, and with more than 6 sessions can be a lot more effective.
Need or not need, either way therapy is a positive thing that you are doing for yourself, an act of self kindness IMO.
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Oh absolutely. I did the 6 nhs sessions and one if them is an assessment so it’s 5 and 5 hours is nothing when you are trying to sort out 30 years of fucked up relationships and abuse. Furthermore, CBT did nothing for me. Thankfully i have found an - albeit expensive - therapist who understands me and my needs.
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I hope it goes well for you and you get what you need out of it.
I’ve just started a similar unpicking of some patterns I’ve observed in myself.
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I hope it helps you @Cali_Nyx. I’m thinking about seeing a counsellor for a while too. It’s helped a lot in the past but issues keep resurfacing, for long term abuse, it’s a slow but helpful journey. The best advice i can give you is to make sure you find a counsellor who you really get on with (not as friends but as someone you feel comfortable with) but it sounds like you’ve got that sorted already 
.
I tried the 6 sessions on the NHS too, it’s a joke really (i know they have restricted budgets etc and it’s not the fault of the doctors) how can you deal with 20 + years of issues in 6 sessions? It takes longer than 6 hours for me to learn to trust someone! The GP was more than happy to give me more meds but when I suggested that I would prefer to try talking therapies 1st I was shocked to find that wasn’t an option. Surely it’s best to try to deal with the problem especially if you know what’s causing you to feel low, rather than covering it up with drugs? Or at least doing both in the hope of reducing the dose if appropriate.
Anyway, rant over, i hope it goes well for you and you find it worthwhile 
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Hay there
I’m 5 years into therapy, I had the 6 sessions via the GP which they extended to 10, I was then referred for physcosexual counselling for 6 sessions, although it was good, my appointments were once a month, so such a long time inbetween.
I went back to my GP who said that’s it, it’s antidepressants that’s all I can offer. I refused and I looked locally what was on offer.
I looked at 4 different charities that offered support in the area I needed, mine was for past sexual trauma, eating disorders etc so my next problem was 18 month waiting list!!
So I waited, 18 months in all. 4 offered me a meeting to discuss what had happened and if they could support me.
All 4 told me my sexual trauma wasn’t new enough (20 years prior, took me 20 years to disclose it) or bad enough to warrant there funding!
So I was back on my own! I think the nhs are so underfunded, i felt at a loss of where to turn.
I eventually found counselling with a Charity that works with trainee counsellors, they are mentored and I have worked thro so much, still a long way to go, but finding a good counsellor is worth there weight in gold. My counselling is free, but I do pay a donation to keep the service going.
If I hadn’t of found this service my hubby would I’d def found a way to pay for it somehow. X
Sorry for the long winded reply. X
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It’s a shame that some charities were unable to provide the support you needed due to funding limitations. Mental health services are underfunded, and it’s important to advocate for more support and funding. Luckily, there are resources like providing articles on many mental health-related topics. I like reading those.
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I’ve had counselling for just under 2 years now & unfortunately I have to pay over £50 per session privately, currently I’m on my 6th counsellor, quite often after my sessions finished I felt worse than before, I don’t feel any better and feel considerably poorer (just over £3500). Sorry for being downbeat.