Can you help a therapist?

SqueekyMouse

Thank you to everyone for the replies, there's a lot of good suggestions.

My DH said he'd make an account to respond to some questions more specifically than I can and I think he's going to post later today

Thanks again

MrSqueakyMouse

Good morning all, this is Mr Squeaky Mouse... I thought I'd take the time to respond as so many people have offered thoughts and suggestions.

I also thought I should clarify a few matters, touched upon already.

I am not training as a counsellor, but as a psychoanalytic psychotherapist. The training comes in two sections, the first, pre-clinical element of which I have completed, and the formal doctorate that I have yet to begin. This is where I am coming unstuck with the need for prior experience being a pre-requesite for most people in order to gain experience with them and also being neccesary for starting the training course.

Person_one wrote: »

Sorry, just have to point out, there's an awful lot more to NHS psychiatric and mental health provision than 'just' CBT!

As an out-patient, that depends entirely upon your local NHS SHA and even where they do provide more than CBT (unless you live in London) "an awful lot" is a serious overstatement. There are CAMHS services with multi-disciplinary teams in some areas, but in most it is restricted to CBT or 'family therapy' which in itself is usually just group CBT. The provisions for non-CBT adult mental heath on the NHS throughout the country is extremely limited untess you're subject to section under the MHA 1983.

Unless, of course, you are referring to non-therapeutic mental health provision, such as psychiatric nursing etc...

rachbc wrote: »

Has he talked to other psychotherapists to find out how they went about getting their expereince - no point reinventing the wheel if there is an answer form those in the know. Surely those already in practice would undertsnad form their own expereince how hard it is and offer another trainee expereince.

Several of my friends have had psychotherapy on the NHS - though that might be the area we are in.

Indeed, I have spoken to as many practicing psychotherapists as I can and their advice has mostly been the same. The main suggestion is as you said, those in practice offering an 'assistent psychotherapist' job. Unfortunately, with budget cut-backs and the resultant reduction in the 'costly' psychoanalytic psychotherapy within much of the NHS, I have yet to find a CAMHS service willing to assist in this matter. They have also suggested, as others have, mental health charities and voluntary work, but as I have not completed my training and only have the pre-clinical element, the response has been that either they have no vacancies, even for volunteers, or that their safeguarding procedure means that without further qualifications, they're unable to offer anything.

tinksy wrote: »

if he asks around he may find that many private counsellors etc are willing to give discounted therapy sessions to students. There is not really a way round this and it is suggested that counsellors continue to have counselling all the time.

Also a trainee counsellor though in my first year

I am aware of this and have tried desperately to find someone; the problem is our geographical location and the fact that there isn't a single therapist approved by either the Institute of Psychoanalyis or the ACP in the entire county area. My closest are in Leeds or Stafford, both of which a good 90 minutes away.

fairy3 wrote: »

Hi there just my twopence, I would not think that going into private practice would be 'rogue' as this is how the majority of psychoanalysts operate unless they are around the London area. Counselling is just a small part of the provision of services available as Person_one states.
Unfortunately as you point out this type of counselling is expensive, specialised and in the current financial climate is not a flourishing industry.
The NHS are influenced by work such as NICE (national institute for health and clinical excellence) who recommend CBT and DBT as effective 'talking therapies' and offer guidance on when and how these should be used.
As with all self employed work it takes a lot of commitment and uncertainty particularly financially to make such a big decision. I am sorry this is not a happier post but I work in the NHS and the financial pinch is being felt on every level including workers on the 'shop floor'.
I wish your DH every success and applaud him on his belief in his chosen field.

Fairy x

I'm sorry, I didn't explain this very well to my wife, but the issue with 'going rogue' is that I have not completed my training and while I know that there is no regulation in the field, I am acutely aware of how this could potentially look in the future when a prospective employer looks at my CV and sees that I was practicing before I had started the final part of my training.




This all said, I am greatful for all of the suggestions and there have been a number of things that I had not considered. I have had a very busy morning gathering details of private fostering agencies and charities. I had already contacted a lot of them but hadn't considered charities such as Banardo's. I also appreciate the others suggestions (particularly liked the suggestion of contacting the local bobby).

Thanks!

carolan78

Contact your local Samaritans they may know of some charities you haven't yet approached.

Woman's Aid is another one if you haven't already spoken to them.