Has anyone ever been to see a theropist?

[IcingOnTheCake]

If you have then what was it like? Did it help and was it expensive?

hi there IOTC - yes. I've had CBT (brief therapy) which was just 8-9 sessions and is more useful for a specific thing (like a fear of socialising, grief etc? I guess), in my case, a new boyfriend moving in prompted flashbacks and nightmares re: last bf I lived with in an abusive relationship. Really helped. Was expensive but don't remember how much.

More recently I started having "proper" psychotherapy just as I becamse pg. with DS over 2 years ago, because of my reaction to a previous m/c and other issues, which left me, in hindsight in an extreme reaction, in bits. I was referred by the early pg. unit at our hospital.
Until DS was a year old it was on the NHS. i've been pyaing for the last 8 months because I think it has made such a difference to my life. I had several times where I felt as if I was gonig in circles, that I didn't really want to face the issues discussed, that I didn't agree with the way the therapy was goign etc etc etc.. but that seems now to have been part of the whole process, and now I am positively evangelical about how great it is.
Soon after I started the process, I remember describing it very clearly "as like seeing a personal trainer. It costs a fortune, you really don't want to go each time, whilst you're there you can't quite see how it will help, but afterwards you feel really pleased with yourself, and your progress.To start with you come out feeling completely drained, and it can take a while to get past it.. but eventually you leave with a bounce in your step because you keep "getting it" and things that seemed like insurmountable obstacles just sort of fade away. After a while everyone starts to tell you how great you look ( or seem, in this case)". I'd still say that was the best way to put it.
I pay £50 for a 50 minute session once a week (at my worst, I was seeing her 2/3 x a week), and have taken on extra hours to help cover it, it's that impt. to me. Having said that my therapist has her rooms in possibly the most expensive building in London (next to Harley St), and is pretty unique in the area she's known for... so I wonder if it would be less with someone else. Probably not much.

Any use? Please feel free to ask me specific questions, and I'll answer as honestly as I can as long as I feel comfortable doing so!

Hi, yes I've seen a therapist 4 lots of times over the past 15 years. It was very very helpful.

There are various sorts and different styles. On each occasion I have had subsidised in some way, provided by voluntary services or my gps. Usually about 50 pounds per hour - I paid about 10 per hour last time based on income for 30 sessions. If you have long standing issues or problems it can be very useful.

Thanks for your story. That is very expensive though, i don't think i could afford it though. It sounds very interesting, i just wanna resolve stuff in my head from the past but it is so hard to try and do this on ya own.

Yes I did, and would really recommend it. I started because I was putting up all sorts of barriers to other people, and came out the other end in just the kind of relationship I'd always dreamt of.

But don't let the cost put you off too much, many therapists will reduce their fees if you don't have the money (mine did this for me for a time when I wasn't working). Or you could find a therapist in their last year of training - they will be supervised, and will charge a nominal fee.

Yes - I had it twice, the first time when I was anorexic, my parents paid and that caused problems as I didn't feel I was allowed to benefit from it iyswim...complicated stuff. Stopped after a year and a half, I didn't seem to get any better but who knows, it could have helped lay the foundations for my eventual recovery...
Second time when my DS was little, for 6 months on the NHS. It was going great but I had been refused an answer when I'd asked how long I'd have, so I fell apart when it suddenly finished after 6 months. Felt worse than when I started it, mainly because 1) it wasn't nearly enough time, and 2) I hadn't had a chance to structure it to a time frame that I knew about - ie I felt I'd gone too far into the depths, and didn't have time to get back out before I had to stop.
That was awful. If I could afford it I'd keep going privately but I can't, so I still struggle with everything I struggled with before.
Worth it if you can find someone cheapish though, try to get a reduced fee, it's quite usual.

I've seen a lot of people over the years, mostly through the NHS. The private councellors usually have a sliding scale of charges. At the moment I'm seeing someone as part of a study group, so it's free. Group therapy is becoming more common on the NHS since it's a bit cheaper and they say it's effective. I've had horrible experiences of group therapy, but I know people who have found it very helpful. There's often a long waiting list for psychotherapy unless you don't mind if your doctor refers you as an urgent case. It is worthwhile, and I have found it makes a real difference that there is someone to listen to you.