Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Is counselling for depression, anxiety and issues for you past available on NHS?

14 replies

pepsi · 12/10/2007 15:01

My SIl is in, I think, desparate need of counselling, she said the dr offers it to her every time she goes but she turns it down becasue she cannot afford the £60.00/£70.00 per session that it costs! Is this right. Id be very disappointed if it were and that such help was only avaialble to the well off. She has issues from teh past...her Mum died at 52, her brother is severely disabled and is now in a home, although she never visits, she is almost estranged from her Dad and cannot tell us the reasons why as she is scared as to what we would think...hasnt even told her dh. She doesnt go out alone, doesnt drive and doesnt have a social life....she very much depends on her girls 9 and 11 for her company. I think she really needs some help. Her situation is affecting her children and I worry for them. So is it available on the NHS.

OP posts:
saggarmakersbottomknocker · 12/10/2007 15:03

I don't have a clue pepsi but have just noticed a thread in Health about Social Anxiety. Might be worth a look.

VoluptuaGoodshag · 12/10/2007 15:04

I believe it is but the waiting list is long. My friend got hers through the NHS but this was a while ago. I was on the waiting list for a while but got fed up waiting and went private - it was £35 a session though so a lot less. £70 is a heck of a lot IMO

IgglePiggleWoo · 12/10/2007 15:05

I;m sure it is available free on NHS - but you prob have to wait - but she should get on the list ! I know my doc said I could pay to go immediately or wait to go NHS - I haven't done either so far !

curlywurlycremeegg · 12/10/2007 15:06

I think it depends on where you are, my old GP's was in a city centre and had their own CPN as the depression rates were so high in their catchment area

StaryNightSky · 12/10/2007 15:07

Hi Pepsi

It does sound like your SIL is in a sorry state and in desperate need of somne professionaly help.

Ican only tell you of my own experience some time ago. I recieved both councilling etc on the NHS. I can't see that it would have changed at all.

SOunds a little to me that she is trying to make an excuse not to go. which is understandable as I am sure that she is very nervous about going.

Could you go to the doctors with her? Would she let you? May be she would then have to get some help. She will also probably need someone to go to the first few appointments with her. Not in with her but actually take her to councilors office and wait for her to be seen and then bring her home.

If she is that deperate she could call the samaritains. They are great and will answer the phone 24h a day and will listen to her talk.

Don't give up and try to make her see that she has to do something.

MysteryPerson · 12/10/2007 19:12

Would it be group therapy or one to one therapy?

loopylou6 · 12/10/2007 19:18

yes one 2 one therapy is available on the nhs for definite, i know coz ive been referred 3 times there is a bit of a waiting list, but not huge, i waited about 5 weeks

pointydog · 12/10/2007 19:32

Have you looked into services offered by charities like MIND?

fullmoonfiend · 12/10/2007 19:41

Counselling is available on NHS. Her GP should refer her to the GP counselling service.
However, In our area, there is an enormous waiting list (9months to 12 months and you are only allowed 6 sessions, which is seldom adequate for in-depth issues. Have a look and see if there are any charities/orgnaisations offering 'affordable counselling in the community'. This usually means it's donations-based (ie can be free) or on a sliding scale. (I work for a charity which offers this in my town)

She could also aske her GP about Beating The Blues which is a prescription-only online Cognitive Behaviour Therapy course. The GP could assess whether this CBT might be helpful to her (It is not suitable for everyone)

BadKitten · 12/10/2007 19:54

When I needed it, it was a 4-6 month wait and only 6 sessions were offered after that it was a go private thing which I could not afford even at the charitable rate I was offered of £30/hour Its pretty disgusting really.

toomanygraves · 12/10/2007 19:56

If she goes through the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) then she can get cheaper counselling with someone in training. Many counsellors also have a discount for low/unwaged. 70 is a fick of a lot - even if she is in London. NHS normally offers only 6 or 12 sessions of CBT and is wildly overburdened.

pepsi · 12/10/2007 22:38

Ive got a feeling she might have said 60/70 to get put me off. I dont think she recognises that she has a big problem, I will try and discuss it again and offer to go along with her. 6 sessons would be better than nothing and then we could take it from there.

OP posts:
magnolia74 · 12/10/2007 22:45

Yes it is, my sister has just started sessions. She was originally told 22 week waiting list but it actually ended up being about 6.

fullmoonfiend · 13/10/2007 11:39

But 6 sessions is not enough for someone with 'big' issues. it can take a couple of weeks for someone to get into their 'stride'. And it is common for people to hold back their 'big ' issue til session 5 or 6. Then the support comes to an end and they are left with nothing and all those big issues stirred up (like a can of worms being opened). Seriously, google affordable counselling in your area and look for someone who doesn't have a time limit of number of sessions offered. I don't suppose you're in North Yorks by any chance?

New posts on this thread. Refresh page