Tiggy Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 my friend has had a tough time for years and is considering going to CBT, its £50 for the initial session and she is not sure if its worth it. Apparently you can get counselling on the nhs but there is a really long waiting list and she's not keen for her life story to go onto her medical records. Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 I can't help too much, but can say a couple of things: -make sure your friend gets a GP recommendation for the Counsellor she is going to use; -if NHS CBT is available it might be worth a go, I think she'll find that very little of what's actually said will be noted in her medical records, but that's something she could check before going ahead; -she needs to have a clear idea what she hopes to achieve from the sessions so that she can establish with the counsellor whether it's achievable (though this is in an ideal world, it's not necessarily easy to have a clear idea). Hope she finds it useful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MammaT Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 If waiting for NHS CBT please be prepared for a long wait. I was referred in May of last year and I'm still waiting. This is partly due to a mix up their end but it's very frustrating - especially when it seems all the medical people I come into contact with describe it as something akin to a miracle cure. I know it's not as I've done my research - it can fail just because it's not the right time for you to go through it or, indeed, just because it's not the right treatment for you. Hope your friend gets sorted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 I think she should be referred by her GP. She could pay a lot (as a few sessions would probably not be enough) and also possibly not get a professional. Some nurses I know who work in the community have been trained in CBT so maybe there could be someone attached to the surgery who could help. As Bramble says not a lot would be noted in the records as the therapy deals with how to cope with the present situation. Albeit having to help the patient alter learned responses due to past events. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TutuTallulah Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 My friend has been seeing a pschologist who specialises in CBT for the last 2 months. She pays privately, sessions are £60 each (for 90 minutes) and so far she has been weekly. I asked her what she advises - she says do your research into your counsellor thoroughly. She recommends going privately - you will be seen quite quickly and everything remains between you and the therapist. No one need know you have ever seen the counsellor, let alone what was discussed. She says that therapy is already making a massive impact on her life and the money, although quite a substantial investment, is now immaterial because she is at last turning her life around. If you would like any futher info please feel free to pm me x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 I've done some training in CBT and quite often use elements of it with patients. I certainly find it to be very effective. Information divulged does not go onto medical records, only progress notes and a record of how far along in the process we are. Even then, counsellors keep their records completely seperate from GP notes/medical records. It is a very different form of therapy to traditional counselling which looks at identifying issues from the past and coming to terms with them. CBT looks at managing the current symptoms, challenging thinking errors, encouraging positive thought processes and moving forward. It often works best in conjunction with antidepressant therapy, but that is not always necessary. It depends on how much the individual is able to put the exercises learned into practice. If there is a long wait for therapy, there is a good website run by Dr Rick Norris, a practising clinical psychologist (he did my training) and a specialist in CBT. He has posted some of the core skills involved in CBT, useful to look through and start putting them into practice while waiting for a therapist. Mind Health Development Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
learnergirl Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 I have done CBT in the past and i have to say it seemed like a little bit of a waste of time.. I went privately after seeing a psychologist for depression...i was at wits end. I felt like the guy was just going through the process and lacked the empathy that i really needed at the time. This is obviously my particular experience and obviously there are many other types of CBTs out there. I was fortunate enough to see a private CBT and have it paid for through my company but the sessions cost 120... Anyway, i am now extremely happy with my life. I made a few decisions which empowered me...I saved up, went travelling and found meditation. I was so up the wall with the depression, having tried pills and CBT and nothingworked. I'd had a headache for 7 months which i had checked out and the doctor said was a chronic tension headache...chill out they said. Yeah, like it's that easy.!! Anyway, i meditated for 18 hours a day for 10 days. it was so difficult! But it gave me insight into my mind, and the mental tools that i now use to control my mind everytime i feel like i might be on the downwards slope. Now i was very lucky to be without responsibilities and i don;t know what your circumstances are but what i do know is that you can go on meditation retreats here in the UK. They are donation based so don;t cost much at all...40 quid for 10 days board, food and mind control isn't that bad i wouldn't say. Check out http://www.meditateinbrighton.com/ or just type in UK meditation retreat into google. I honestly don't know why everyone doesn't do it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
learnergirl Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 I have done CBT in the past and i have to say it seemed like a little bit of a waste of time.. I went privately after seeing a psychologist for depression...i was at wits end. I felt like the guy was just going through the process and lacked the empathy that i really needed at the time. This is obviously my particular experience and obviously there are many other types of CBTs out there. I was fortunate enough to see a private CBT and have it paid for through my company but the sessions cost 120... Anyway, i am now extremely happy with my life. I made a few decisions which empowered me...I saved up, went travelling and found meditation. I was so up the wall with the depression, having tried pills and CBT and nothingworked. I'd had a headache for 7 months which i had checked out and the doctor said was a chronic tension headache...chill out they said. Yeah, like it's that easy.!! Anyway, i meditated for 18 hours a day for 10 days. it was so difficult! But it gave me insight into my mind, and the mental tools that i now use to control my mind everytime i feel like i might be on the downwards slope. Now i was very lucky to be without responsibilities and i don;t know what your circumstances are but what i do know is that you can go on meditation retreats here in the UK. They are donation based so don;t cost much at all...40 quid for 10 days board, food and mind control isn't that bad i wouldn't say. Check out http://www.meditateinbrighton.com/ or just type in UK meditation retreat into google. I honestly don't know why everyone doesn't do it!! Sorry, should say, the website above is not based on donations, this was simply an example. ...the type of meditation i did was called Vipassana...it's all about the psycho-physical connection. This Vipassana retreat is based on donation http://www.dhamma.org/en/schedules/schdipa.htm I have not been but plan to soon as i have heard good things!! Good luck in whatever you decide to do anyway, just though i'd add my experience Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
