Counsellor wants to continue

[MarathonFan]

My friend has been paying for her 17yo to see a private counsellor weekly. Initially it was because of concerns that she might be developing an eating disorder.

The girl is much better now (3 months on) happier, looks better and eating properly. Her mum thinks its time to phase out the counsellor but counsellor insists they need to continue and won't put a timetable on it.

How does my friend know if she really need to carry on or if this counsellor has seen a limitless supply of fees? Once a week for 3moths plus is a fortune but worth every penny if really needed.

It is usual to reduce sessions before ending. So maybe fortnightly for a few sessions then maybe once in a month.

Private counsellors can often find things to cover, even with people with no apparent issues. It is more what the 17yr old finds helpful that matters. For some people having longer term counselling can be counter productive as can make them think they have issues when they do not, it can stop people being independent. For a guide most NHS intervention counselling is 6-8 sessions if that helps.

If the child wants to continue that is up to the parents to consider cost/benefits. But how long would they pay for? Most counselling is not longer term so worth deciding when the 17yr old would like to end.

If there is real concern the parent can ask for a referral to a psychiatrist, to CAMHS etc before the child is 18.

Yes my friend has suggested moving to fortnightly but counsellor says not yet - can't tell mum why because of confidentiality.

Daughter wants to carry on but mum is concerned she's becoming dependant on the counsellor which creates another problem

Dependency can be an issue. Definitely your friend has the right to say they will not fund therapy indefinitely and can ask the counsellor whether x amount of sessions weekly r starting fortnightly is best, if she wishes.

It is tough. The benefits of NHS care is they do bit have limited supply of sessions so they have defined ends.

Yes, she's just got her NHS referral but the NHS counsellor has practically refused to help because of the involvement of the private therapist . My friend felt they had to do something straightaway - things could be very bad indeed now if her daughter continued to deteriorate the way she was going for 3 months before being seen in the NHS

She knows she can say she wants to reduce sessions but she doesn't want to if they really are necessary. She doesn't know how to get an unbiased opinion as to whether they are still necessary at this frequency IYSWIM

If things were so bad that your friend's daughter was on the road to developing an eating disorder, it is possible that something is going wrong in their family. And this would need more than 3 months to address if it is to be sorted out properly so the daughter recovers fully and long-term.

3 months is not long really. It is unlikely that the daughter would become dependent on counselling so early on. It's good she's getting better, but the counsellor is the professional, so will know what is best.

Yes sometime NHS do not like to have 2 people involved in the care unless they can communicate - as it can be conflicting. Hoeo she continues to recover, sounds like she has made a good start.