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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Is there such thing as a free counselling service?

40 replies

SparklyMistleToes · 27/11/2022 13:42

My husband is a dick to me a lot of the time. He is passive aggressive, often muttering insults or out downs to me. If I do manage to speak up to make a point about something and he's not happy with it he will continue arguing in an aggressive manor saying "you're right, you're right that ABC results in XYZ, and JKL and OMNOP!!" And basically finds a way to twist whatever I say or feel so it's flipped around on me making me look bad and selfish. He has the incredible talent of always making himself out to be the victim. He also always picks arguments and puts me down in front of the children getting them involved and they witness it and I'm worried my son will pick up on it and find it an acceptable way to talk and treat people.

The other day my husband got angry with me in the car because he was trying to turn into a land of traffic and was hesitating and dithering about so I said for him to just signal and start to creep forward and someone will eventually let him in. He got angry with me and out me down and my son pipped up from the back and sided with me. Husband got angry at us both and turns into a big fucking baby saying that he's "never right and he's not going to drive again etc and how he tried so hard but no one in the family likes him" Just poor me type shit to make us feel bad and victimising himself like a Fucking baby.

If I do challenge him on anything - for example I said the other day that he was being passive aggressive, he flipped out at me and yelled "oh stop using this terminology! Where are you getting it from, you and all your books you read!" (I am reading a few about my ADHD) I used another term once and he accused me of speaking to someone about my problems who 'gave me the word'

I also don't like the way my husband speaks to our son. I'm sure my son also has ADHD and sometimes does things for attention or just a dopamine hit. The other day my son whacked his sleeve against his younger sisters back for no reason and she started crying. I get angry with him but try and talk it though with him while my husband yells and outs him down making him feel shame and guilt and when my son says sorry my husband throws it back in his face shouting "no you're not. If you're sorry you wouldn't have done it. You're not sorry. Your sorry's don't mean anything anymore because you keep doing it!" He just constantly yells and repeats that any time my son tries to apologise and often makes my son cry.

Leaving is not an option for me. So please don't suggest that. I am just wondering if there is a service that offers free counselling for myself that I could speak to who could help me understand and come up with some succinct points and tell me whether some of my concerns are valid, and then come up with a plan of action as to how to involve my husband in the counselling in the future. I do not have any money or savings. Basically because I don't make much but also because of my adhd which results in me vein piss poor at budgeting and saving. I only get £300 each month from my paycheque to use for my adhd medication, personal things like toiletries, any clothes needed, food when I'm out with friends etc, so it doesn't stretch far. I can't really afford to pay £100+ for a councillor 😔

OP posts:
SparklyMistleToes · 27/11/2022 13:48

Ugh some terrible typos in there. All of the 'out' = 'put' downs

OP posts:
bluejelly · 27/11/2022 13:51

Sorry to hear that sounds horrible. The NHS offers free counselling if you live in the UK. Sometimes you can self-refer.

tickticksnooze · 27/11/2022 13:53

No reputable therapist, free or otherwise, would undertake joint counselling where abuse is occurring.

And that is the case here.

You cannot fix this by staying. It is impossible.

tickticksnooze · 27/11/2022 13:55

And yes you are right to be concerned by the damaging effects on your children.

Which again is why the answer is leaving.

TheSausageKingofChicago · 27/11/2022 13:56

I’d suggest speaking to Womens Aid or one of your local DV services. They should be able to signpost you. There are organisations which can offer you free counselling, but it’s unlikely they’d re come t getting your DH in on it.

bluejelly · 27/11/2022 13:56

Just to say I totally agree don't do joint counselling, but individual counselling for you to help you process this and ideally work out an exit plan. I know you say you don't want to leave but life is far too short to spend it with someone who undermines you all the time. You deserve so much more Flowers

Applecottagetree · 27/11/2022 13:57

If its just for yourself then the NHS do offer counselling, but it tends to be for trauma or mental health issues. Not sure they cover relationship issues.

PeppermintChoc · 27/11/2022 13:58

You can do a self referral online for the NHS. There is a wait though.

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 27/11/2022 14:00

Is it just financial reasons that mean you don't feel you can leave him?

He sounds like a nasty man and I doubt very much he'll change unless he really wants to.

DisplayPurposesOnly · 27/11/2022 14:01

Agree with others that Womens Aid should be your first recourse. You seem to be in denial that you're in an abusive relationship and you seem to think you can change this. I don't think you can; only he can change and he clearly doesn't want to. Please get help and support.

FictionalCharacter · 27/11/2022 14:32

No amount of counselling will turn him into a decent person and good husband.

Lieslies · 27/11/2022 14:47

I know you are on a very tight budget but Relate counselling is £60 an hour, could be scheduled once a month, and I think they might offer discounts for low income.

I've found it a 100 times better than the free counselling I got through work.

SparklyMistleToes · 27/11/2022 21:32

Lieslies · 27/11/2022 14:47

I know you are on a very tight budget but Relate counselling is £60 an hour, could be scheduled once a month, and I think they might offer discounts for low income.

I've found it a 100 times better than the free counselling I got through work.

Thank you. This is really helpful. I've heard of Relate, so will look into this.

I received some free mental health counselling over the telephone on the NHS, and while it provided someone to talk to about my problems nothing really came if it. Felt like I kind of wasted my time 😕

OP posts:
Grimsknee · 27/11/2022 21:39

Depending on where you work, you might have access to free counselling through an Employee Assistance Program.

SparklyMistleToes · 27/11/2022 21:47

Thank you all for the replies. There are a few reasons why I'd like to speak to a councillor and don't see leaving as an option.

Mainly because I have ADHD and I know living with me can be frustrating. I don't have any kind of routine and keeping to one and keeping things tidy, on time, schedules and appointments on track etc is near impossible for me. My husband does a lot more than most in order to compensate for this. I get that. He of course constantly reminds me of this as well, telling me and the kids he does more than any other dad / husband in the world and that we'll never find anyone like him and whinges that no one cares about all that he does or appreciates him 🙄

Most recent example of him flipping things on me was this evening when I asked if I could sell the massive box of Brio trains in the front room. It's not been played with for years. He flipped out at me and said no, why do I keep asking (because he's always on at me trying to blame the mess in that room on me when the majority is his!). I said because he wants things cleared and that's been sat there for years unplayed with. He starts getting angry at me saying that our son still looks at the Brio stuff when we go to the toy section of a shop, and he would play with it if we had the space. I said he's almost 12. Then he throws it back in my face saying "you're right. He is. He's almost 12. You're right. Why are you in such a rush for him to grow up."

At this point in any argument I just give up and walk away because there is no reasoning with him.

OP posts:
SparklyMistleToes · 27/11/2022 21:49

Grimsknee · 27/11/2022 21:39

Depending on where you work, you might have access to free counselling through an Employee Assistance Program.

I do I believe. Do they have some kind of regular counselling programme they can put you on though? I just assumed it was a service I could call if I had a specific issue and needed someone to talk to. But the moment I hung up the phone it was over and wouldn't continue on to be a regular thing or all that helpful

OP posts:
TiptoeThroughTheToadstools · 27/11/2022 21:52

If you Google 'Relate' they offer free relationship counselling.

SparklyMistleToes · 27/11/2022 21:55

TiptoeThroughTheToadstools · 27/11/2022 21:52

If you Google 'Relate' they offer free relationship counselling.

Thank you!! Will do this now!

OP posts:
SparklyMistleToes · 27/11/2022 22:01

TiptoeThroughTheToadstools · 27/11/2022 21:52

If you Google 'Relate' they offer free relationship counselling.

It appears the free counselling is only if you're employed by certain sectors such as the military, etc

OP posts:
atomickitty · 27/11/2022 22:09

If you happen to work anywhere in the Civil Service, Charity for Civil Servants will fund 6 sessions with Relate. I’ve just done it and it was very worthwhile but not particularly widely advertised. If you work elsewhere in the public sector there might be a similar scheme.

foryoubyyou.org.uk/digital-tools/relationship-counselling

It could be worth looking for places with a sliding scale, I’m currently “only” paying £40 a session- wanted to continue seeing the counsellor privately though this isn’t with Relate directly.

SparklyMistleToes · 27/11/2022 22:17

atomickitty · 27/11/2022 22:09

If you happen to work anywhere in the Civil Service, Charity for Civil Servants will fund 6 sessions with Relate. I’ve just done it and it was very worthwhile but not particularly widely advertised. If you work elsewhere in the public sector there might be a similar scheme.

foryoubyyou.org.uk/digital-tools/relationship-counselling

It could be worth looking for places with a sliding scale, I’m currently “only” paying £40 a session- wanted to continue seeing the counsellor privately though this isn’t with Relate directly.

Thanks for this. I unfortunately I don't work in the public sector, but work part time making shit money (I am also constantly reminded of this 😑), so a sliding scale fee would be good.

OP posts:
autienotnaughty · 27/11/2022 22:24

Womens aid
Women's centres
Nhs
Children's centres
Local charities

MarigoldPetals · 27/11/2022 22:26

Yes - Mumsnet.

Undecidedandtorn · 27/11/2022 22:27

Our employee assistance service offers 8 sessions of free counselling so might be worth looking into. And relate do offer discounts for those on low incomes. Good luck

JanglyBeads · 27/11/2022 22:42

DO NOT go to relationship counselling with this man. He'll make it all about his "needs" and use the insight gained into what really upsets you to torment you further.