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Advice on how to seek mental health support for goddaughter 23

6 replies

Ilikeskinnyjeans · 11/07/2022 21:45

Posting on behalf of amazing goddaughter ( with her permission ) who lost her mother in her early teens, then her father died 2 years following years of struggle with alcoholism.
Her relationship with her father was complex.. they were not in contact when he died.

On the surface she has it “ very much up together “ pretty much got herself through university , just got a well deserved promotion in her charity sector profession , great friendships and a loving supportive relationship with her partner .

However after some time of saying she feels she needs therapy but “ it isn’t that bad yet “ she confided in me this weekend her anxiety is becoming very difficult .

There are a number of “ issues “ … bereavement , guilt , having spent much of her childhood and teens as a carer for one and then the other parent. There are also some “ repressed “ memories of sexual abuse as a child .

She is going to start with a visit to her gp .. whom she has only met once … who may be fantastic but it may or may not be easy for her to confide in.

Is anybody able to sign post us where to start looking please . Are there organisations that provide “ lower cost “ counselling. ( if I were in a position I would pay for the best I could for her , sadly I would only be able to make a willing contribution but am sure her grandparents would help also )
Counselling isn’t available through her employer.

I need to take this very seriously I feel.

She lives in South West London , works central but online counselling would also be an option.

I really appreciate any advice .
thankyou

OP posts:
PoppyDrug · 11/07/2022 21:54

It doesn’t have to be “bad” to seek help. She needs to go to her GP firstly and be honest with how things are and how she feels

Schmz · 11/07/2022 21:57

www.swlstg.nhs.uk/our-services/find-a-service/service/talk-wandsworth

self refer to talking therapy

nhs

they can refer to secondary mental health care if her needs are assessed as more complex

PrancerandDancer · 11/07/2022 21:58

It could be worth seeing if there are any local training counsellors. In my area there are some at the end of their training and you just pay the room fees, so I used to pay £7.50 a session. I used the service twice and they were brilliant.

What a lovely godmother you sound and your goddaughter sounds amazing too! Hope she gets some closure or peace. Anxiety is a horrible thing x

Cinderella88 · 11/07/2022 22:02

I'm so sorry to hear your god daughter is going through this,, I am a mental health nurse and I would say first point of contact would be the gp who should point her in the direction of mental health services. I also find a great online help which she may find useful is a site called mind which has lots of personal stories etc and self help. Hope she gets the help she needs soon Smile

feellikemyselfagain · 11/07/2022 22:16

I've been having online counselling for over a year and it's utterly changed my life. I had crippling anxiety and depression and it really helped. I understand some people would prefer in person therapy but I honestly can't recommend it enough and it's so convenient to fit around my work schedule without any travel time. Best wishes to you both

Theoscargoesto · 11/07/2022 22:44

There is a website called docready.org.uk
which helps you build a plan of what to speak to a doctor about re mental health issues. I highly recommend that she takes a look. If she finds it all too much to explain she can show the doctor what she’s worked through on the website. Best of luck to her and to you to

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