NHS Therapist - advice needed urgently

[PsychicPaper]

Ok so I seem to have got myself into a bit of a hole

started seeing a new therapist last week, want overly impressed, seemed very keen to pigeon hole me, but it was only one week

Went back today, was asked to do some homework, which I have done before for previous therapist, hated and did not find helpful. I explained this she said I didn't have to do it if i didn't want to , but still kept pushing it.

I hate the whole NHS set up anyway, you have to have CBT, no other sort of therapy, you have to turn up exactly when they say, do exactly what you want or you are discharged back to your GP. I feel like they have you over a barrel.

I was so angry I didn't trust myself to speak (perhaps not rationally, but I am seeing a therapist for a reason). She thought I was at risk of harming myself as I didn't want to talk, I told her, verbally, I wasn't, and she surely knows from my notes that is not part of my history. Eventually I left and told her I would see her next week.

Now i have had a phone call from my GP surgery insisting I come in tomorrow. I have an appointment now with a GP I have never met. Am i mad to think this is related? What do they want? Will i have to explain myself to a whole new person?

Sorry for all typos but I am feeling so stressed about the whole thing and cant stop worrying that I am in trouble, and have failed at therapy

anyone?

Why not look at private counselling if you do not like the NHS system? The NHS has to have set rules and boundaries to ensure they get as many people seen in the day of an NHS person. Hence set times for appointments (private options may have more flexibility for appointment times). NHS therapy has to be shown to be working, they have lots of forms to fill in, criteria to fill - if it cannot be assessed then it is not usually provided, hence CBT is the common option. Research shows it is an option that can help people as well. They refer back to GP because they have a duty of care when set number of session have finished. It is the same with any physical health condition - if treatment finished (say physiotherapy due to stroke) then they refer back to gp care. It is not a perfect model - the problem the NHS with allowing anyone to access free talking therapy (whether severe mental health issues, or more minor issues that would never ever have entitled patients to any help at all - does not mean they can't be helped or do not benefit from support) is that it is limited, with queues and not necessarily what people want. I am not saying the old system was bad, when needed to have a serious diagnosis and wait 9-18mths for any help, but there were issues with that as well. Before it was medication or nothing for most people.

A few years ago you would not have even got CBT on the NHS - it was private or nothing sadly, unless having a serious mental health diagnosis or inpatient for treatment. If you do not think this type of treatment suits you and you have had it before unsuccessfully why not tell the therapist you met next session that it does not work. See what they suggest/

Also you could try charities like Mind or Rethink that may offer free or subsidised talking treatments instead of NHS CBT?

Regarding your Gp slot - all NHS therapists have to risk assess and if they are concerned that you or your children are at risk then they have a duty of care (safeguarding) to refer onto your Gp/Social Services at any time. This does not mean there is an issue but they have to make the referral. They can do this at any point in NHS treatments, but do not tell people - nor do they legally have to inform the patient if they think there is a reason for not doing so.

Hope you can explain to your Gp your frustrations with the situation and that you are safe and well. That should be the end of it.

It seems to depend a lot on where you live too, what therapy is available and how much of it. If one form doesn't suit you, it really doesn't mean that you've failed at it! If the therapist is unable to consider anything but their own pigeon holes and cookie cutter method, it's them who are failing you.

I was very lucky and had four years' worth of psychodynamic therapy on the NHS, which I really felt was a good match for me, and was really helpful. So it does vary.