Talking therapies
Discussion
I was recently referred to speak to NHS talking therapies, a kind of counselling service for people with mental health problems whether that's depression, anxiety and so on and was looking for anyone else's opinion who may have had experience with this service.
I had my first 45 minute assessment recently and if i am honest i have mixed feelings about it, I was asked all the usual things of have i ever thought about taking my own life and other tick box questions, I was also asked my children's names and date of births which i wasn't overly keen on answering as i saw that as nothing more than them wanting to know incase i gave answers to their questions that meant they'd involve social services (not that there is any worry with any of that) but still all the same felt uncomfortable, the therapist was also checking her watch multiple times as if to give the impression i was banging on a bit and like i could explain my life story as to the reason of my anxiety and depression in 45 minutes, it was very focused on one aspect of it all rather than trying to get a broader picture of where this all started and why it persists today.
I came away deflated and as if i am meant to feel like this for the rest of my life, they are calling me back at some point to discuss my options based on the information they already have, I just don't know whether it's my already low mood that's making me think negative about it all or not but just looking for others that may have been in this position on this service offered by the NHS, sorry for the waffling on, just looking for some help or advice.
I had my first 45 minute assessment recently and if i am honest i have mixed feelings about it, I was asked all the usual things of have i ever thought about taking my own life and other tick box questions, I was also asked my children's names and date of births which i wasn't overly keen on answering as i saw that as nothing more than them wanting to know incase i gave answers to their questions that meant they'd involve social services (not that there is any worry with any of that) but still all the same felt uncomfortable, the therapist was also checking her watch multiple times as if to give the impression i was banging on a bit and like i could explain my life story as to the reason of my anxiety and depression in 45 minutes, it was very focused on one aspect of it all rather than trying to get a broader picture of where this all started and why it persists today.
I came away deflated and as if i am meant to feel like this for the rest of my life, they are calling me back at some point to discuss my options based on the information they already have, I just don't know whether it's my already low mood that's making me think negative about it all or not but just looking for others that may have been in this position on this service offered by the NHS, sorry for the waffling on, just looking for some help or advice.
I had some sessions via NHS many years ago and thought they were useless - disinterested, repeating most of the same questions over the 4 sessions I had, etc. Put me off for years.
However, a few years ago I went to see a private therapist and saw him over a long period of time. It was a totally different experience in that he explained that the sessions were 50 minutes instead of an hour because he would use the other 10 minutes to make/read notes etc to avoid asking the same things. In terms of info about children etc, unless there's a specific safeguarding concern then I's suggest that perhaps it was just information gathering for context?
However, a few years ago I went to see a private therapist and saw him over a long period of time. It was a totally different experience in that he explained that the sessions were 50 minutes instead of an hour because he would use the other 10 minutes to make/read notes etc to avoid asking the same things. In terms of info about children etc, unless there's a specific safeguarding concern then I's suggest that perhaps it was just information gathering for context?
Animal said:
I had some sessions via NHS many years ago and thought they were useless - disinterested, repeating most of the same questions over the 4 sessions I had, etc. Put me off for years.
However, a few years ago I went to see a private therapist and saw him over a long period of time. It was a totally different experience in that he explained that the sessions were 50 minutes instead of an hour because he would use the other 10 minutes to make/read notes etc to avoid asking the same things. In terms of info about children etc, unless there's a specific safeguarding concern then I's suggest that perhaps it was just information gathering for context?
I wish i could afford private sessions but unfortunately I'm not currently in that position to do so, I just found the entire session very rushed and again the constant looking at her watch put me off altogether, there is absolutely safeguarding concerns in my case at least, I just found the reason for asking for my childrens names and date of births when the entire reason i was there had nothing to do with them at all a concern for me and i simply saw that as something to use against me if i gave concerning answers further down the line, maybe I'm looking too much into it?However, a few years ago I went to see a private therapist and saw him over a long period of time. It was a totally different experience in that he explained that the sessions were 50 minutes instead of an hour because he would use the other 10 minutes to make/read notes etc to avoid asking the same things. In terms of info about children etc, unless there's a specific safeguarding concern then I's suggest that perhaps it was just information gathering for context?
I used the Talking Therapy service last year. Its a good quick way to access counselling without the silly long waiting lists for other mental health treatments.
However, it is set up with a limited scope and limited timeframe. So it is best for generalised MH issues or "single" problems. More complex issues, you will run out of sessions or they won't have the full experience needed.
Its mostly modelled on the CBT approach with workbooks and some homework tasks to do.
The assessment is just to get the scope of your issues not the actual counselling side of things.
However, it is set up with a limited scope and limited timeframe. So it is best for generalised MH issues or "single" problems. More complex issues, you will run out of sessions or they won't have the full experience needed.
Its mostly modelled on the CBT approach with workbooks and some homework tasks to do.
The assessment is just to get the scope of your issues not the actual counselling side of things.
I had 10 sessions last year, they were ace. A lot of cbt and self help techniques. The first session and questionnaire I did, were just about identifying things and checking what and where you are at.
The reason they ask about family, kids etc, is to see if there is also a dementia issue. They may also ask you the same question several times to sew if you give the same answer. Another dementia identifyer.
It didn't 'cure' me, but it certainly helped.
The reason they ask about family, kids etc, is to see if there is also a dementia issue. They may also ask you the same question several times to sew if you give the same answer. Another dementia identifyer.
It didn't 'cure' me, but it certainly helped.
I tried this a couple of years ago after being reffered by my GP.
For me it was completely pointless as they were asking questions about why i was feeling like i did, to which i replied the issue behind my mental health is my physical health issues and no amount of talking about it will repair my knackered joints or other physical issues.
We went around the houses a few times and pretty much agreed they couldnt really do anything for me.
For me it was completely pointless as they were asking questions about why i was feeling like i did, to which i replied the issue behind my mental health is my physical health issues and no amount of talking about it will repair my knackered joints or other physical issues.
We went around the houses a few times and pretty much agreed they couldnt really do anything for me.
Important to keep in mind that Talking Therapies is a primary care service, not a secondary, specialist mental health therapy intervention. Doesn't reduce the value and the benefit that some can take from a course but triaging those likely to benefit takes a bit of time before treatment proper starts - no point in offering the treatment to someone unlikely to benefit.
Family composition matters as there is a duty to consider the impact, if any, of parental ill health on the child. Recording those details provides some of the information which would be required should a Safeguarding Alert be indicated. Note - very few "cases" are referred.
Answering the same questions winds people up - i know this because people tell me so. But, if the practitioner wants to gauge efficacy of intervention then symptoms/progress (or otherwise) have to be revisited. Some practitioners are more skilled at weaving those questions into a discussion than others and i guess it can be feel a bit clumsy and tick-box at times.
CBT in long term health conditions is out there for sure. However, it's a much more specialised treatment which focuses on the relationship that an individual has with their long term health condition(s) and it usually sits within secondary services ( mainly psychology) provision.
Family composition matters as there is a duty to consider the impact, if any, of parental ill health on the child. Recording those details provides some of the information which would be required should a Safeguarding Alert be indicated. Note - very few "cases" are referred.
Answering the same questions winds people up - i know this because people tell me so. But, if the practitioner wants to gauge efficacy of intervention then symptoms/progress (or otherwise) have to be revisited. Some practitioners are more skilled at weaving those questions into a discussion than others and i guess it can be feel a bit clumsy and tick-box at times.
CBT in long term health conditions is out there for sure. However, it's a much more specialised treatment which focuses on the relationship that an individual has with their long term health condition(s) and it usually sits within secondary services ( mainly psychology) provision.
Apparently I'm not eligible for talking therapies as I have Bipolar Disorder. This amused me immensely.
As blokes, it's hard to talk, especially in a formal setting. A few folks I've mentored have found organisations like Andy's Man Club to be far better therapy than their GP prescribed talking therapies. While complex trauma definitely benefits from a professional input, I think many issues in life benefit from the pov of life experience. An old boy missing a leg who's wife had died at a young age from cancer asked me what was holding me back not so long ago....that simple question posited by that particular person really helped; had it been an MHT type I doubt it would have resonated quite so much. If you can't afford a therapist (I can't), don't discount real world interaction.
As blokes, it's hard to talk, especially in a formal setting. A few folks I've mentored have found organisations like Andy's Man Club to be far better therapy than their GP prescribed talking therapies. While complex trauma definitely benefits from a professional input, I think many issues in life benefit from the pov of life experience. An old boy missing a leg who's wife had died at a young age from cancer asked me what was holding me back not so long ago....that simple question posited by that particular person really helped; had it been an MHT type I doubt it would have resonated quite so much. If you can't afford a therapist (I can't), don't discount real world interaction.
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