ESA - can private therapist provide evidence?

earthbound_misfit

After a very, very long battle to try and get mental health help from the NHS... well more like several battles over 7 years, the first of which caused significant trauma (still get flashbacks/nightmares of it) I am totally ready to cut my ties with them. Well, there aren't really any ties to cut but I realise I will not be getting the help I need and must seek it privately.
I have tried complaints routes etc, but cannot cope with massive correspondence at present. The final straw was this week speaking to a doctor (one of three at my surgery, mine is on holiday) who didn't know what the Community Mental Health Team was, let alone agreeing to refer me. :eek:
Please understand I am really at the end of the road with the NHS on this, and the only positive way forward is to stop trying to pursue things with them - it's like leaving a damaging relationship.

However, I am concerned that when my ESA reassessment comes through I will not be able to use a private therapist's report as supporting medical evidence. I have been on ESA for two years. My last ESA reassessment went through without needing an Atos medical (incredibly) as I scored so many points on appeal the previous time. At the time I had a psychiatric nurse (cpn) allocated to me who provided a very supportive letter for my appeal, and applied for DLA for me, again she did very well at showing where I fit the criteria and I was awarded DLA (mid-care, low-mobility).

I am expecting a new ESA50 form any time from January 2013, and my DLA award finishes around April 2013 (I do not expect to get PIP and don't know if I'll even apply).

I have been offered some financial help with therapy from my parents - about £20 a week towards a session that'll be around £50 per week. At present, I can pay the rest myself but only because of my benefits! If I was on JSA I wouldn't be able to manage it. I am unable to work at present because of my problems - for me personally work is the first thing to go when things are bad, I've always had trouble sticking at jobs without breaking down, so I want to make sure I am able to cope before I attempt employment again or it'll just be a vicious cycle.

Also, I kind of see private therapy as a 'worried well', middle-class thing and as such wonder if a therapist could write a supportive evidence letter in such a way as to tick the right boxes, if they are not used to doing so? (ie. used to working clients)
Can they write a letter at all or is this not allowed by Atos as anyone could see a private therapist if they wanted?
Will my lack of NHS care mean Atos disregard my problems (more than usual!)
Would it be better to have a private psychiatrist assess me and provide evidence? (though expensive!!)
Any other tips/advice?!

pickpocketlocket

Yes, it is possible to submit evidence from a private practitioner, and the DWP has to give it as much weighting as that from an NHS practitioner.

Given that you seem at a crossroads with regard to your treatment, it might be worth seeing a psychiatrist who can help you work out the best way forward. As part of that assessment they will write a full report, which in itself could be used as evidence for your ESA.

Muttleythefrog

Giving up regarding the NHS... I understand what you mean by 'damaged relationship' I think. But yes to the thrust of your question... there's no reason why any medical professional's opinion couldn't be used. Advise sending it with ESA50 so that it can be considered with aim to hopefully avoid need for face to face medical.

DomRavioli

Firstly, 'private' therapists are usually a little more expensive than £50.00 per week (you will be lucky to find someone for that per hour). If the therapist is a fully registered psychiatrist (highly unlikely), then they MAY take on board their reports, but this will only be after they have seen you for some time - a private therapist cannot write about a person they do not know.

Have you tried in-patient therapy, even on a voluntary basis?

Also, you do not mention what your MH problem is, so I cannot advise further on it.

whitewing

I think there are private therapists in our area that also work for the NHS, so you may be able to get the best of both worlds.

pickpocketlocket

DomRavioli wrote: »

Firstly, 'private' therapists are usually a little more expensive than £50.00 per week (you will be lucky to find someone for that per hour). If the therapist is a fully registered psychiatrist (highly unlikely), then they MAY take on board their reports, but this will only be after they have seen you for some time - a private therapist cannot write about a person they do not know.

Have you tried in-patient therapy, even on a voluntary basis?

Also, you do not mention what your MH problem is, so I cannot advise further on it.

A therapist would not normally be a psychiatrist - you will note that the OP differentiates between the two in their post. Depending on where you are in the country it may be possible to get a therapist for £50 per session, you certainly can where I live. Also, some offer lower rates for those on benefits - although you may have to go on a waiting list, you can get sessions for as little as £15.

A psychiatrist can give a report after an initial assessment, I know that from personal experience. Also think about OH reports, and those done for the courts - those are often written based on just one meeting.

FBaby

I don't understand. Surely if you are going to be paying for private therapy it is with some expectation that it will make you feel better and able to get on with some kind of normality otherwise why pay? If that is the case why are you assuming 8 months in advance that you will need to renew your benefits?

pickpocketlocket

FBaby wrote: »

I don't understand. Surely if you are going to be paying for private therapy it is with some expectation that it will make you feel better and able to get on with some kind of normality otherwise why pay? If that is the case why are you assuming 8 months in advance that you will need to renew your benefits?

Because therapy doesn't work overnight? I don't know the OP, but some people can be in therapy for years before they are well enough to work. Some people in therapy will never be well enough to do so, but the therapy helps them maintain some sort of existence.

Muttleythefrog

FBaby wrote: »

I don't understand. Surely if you are going to be paying for private therapy it is with some expectation that it will make you feel better and able to get on with some kind of normality otherwise why pay? If that is the case why are you assuming 8 months in advance that you will need to renew your benefits?

More like 4 months... but I would think they've got pretty low expectations of any swift 'recovery'.. if any at all after many years of seeking help. But as above.. in the event therapy does work it won't likely be overnight. The only sensible thing in their situation surely is to assume that they will require benefits next year and to try to reduce the anxieties in relation to such... at least until a therapist or the like can help change any thinking around this area if they feel it appropriate.

earthbound_misfit

DomRavioli wrote: »

Firstly, 'private' therapists are usually a little more expensive than £50.00 per week (you will be lucky to find someone for that per hour).

I have found several for around this price... I live in the North, if that makes any difference? There are also several who have concessionary type rates, and one place that I think is registered as a charity and works on a pay-what-you-can type basis (as little as £25 a session but if it's a charity I will pay more if I can. Have a feeling this place will be overbooked at present!)

DomRavioli wrote: »

If the therapist is a fully registered psychiatrist (highly unlikely), then they MAY take on board their reports, but this will only be after they have seen you for some time - a private therapist cannot write about a person they do not know.

I guess it'll involve an expensive in-depth psychiatric assessment then...
I was recently assessed for therapy on the NHS but it will be at least a year on the waiting list - thing is they told me that 18 months ago and then took me off the damn list! I suppose I could stay on the waiting list though and hopefully have access to the report from my assessment, as well as GP letter making sure they state I am eligible for NHS therapy (although perhaps the GP would take me off the waiting list if getting it privately?!)

DomRavioli wrote: »

Have you tried in-patient therapy, even on a voluntary basis?

Not sure what you mean here. Do you mean inpatient in private hospital at thousands of pounds a week?! Or in an NHS hospital? If the latter, there is no such thing as a 'voluntary' admission as such; 'voluntary' just means the person is not there forcibly under section. You can't just walk in and admit yourself. In fact you can't admit yourself even if your doctor/nurse/support worker/therapist/police who dragged you to hospital think you should be there. Mental Health beds are controlled (what is the past tense of 'gatekeep'?!) by the 'crisis team' who's jobs were invented with intention of keeping people out of hospital if at all possible (yes this leads to family & friends picking up the pieces and suicides yet hard to prosecute for neglect).

DomRavioli wrote: »

Also, you do not mention what your MH problem is, so I cannot advise further on it.

Severe depression is my primary diagnosis according to my (useful) doctor, although it seems generally agreed that is due to life experiences and I recognise myself in the description of 'complex PTSD'.

earthbound_misfit

FBaby wrote: »

I don't understand. Surely if you are going to be paying for private therapy it is with some expectation that it will make you feel better and able to get on with some kind of normality otherwise why pay? If that is the case why are you assuming 8 months in advance that you will need to renew your benefits?

As pickpocketlocket says, it can take a long time. You won't feel better the moment you start therapy - in fact it can often make you feel worse due to unpicking traumatic events etc.
I have never been able to hold down a job more than a couple of months, with the exception of one job (I am 27 and left school at 18). However my last job was in the same field yet I was fired due to MH problems as they have got much worse. Like I said, I want to make sure when I go back to work it will last and not be another knock-back and failure by getting fired.
I am looking into ways to get back to work and suitable career ideas, especially interested in setting up a small business but at the moment I can't manage basic tasks consistently or reliably so it is baby steps sadly.
Many times I have told myself I am fine only to break down a couple of weeks/months later after struggling on trying to keep up the pretence. So I want to be prepared and learn from past mistakes and not rush into things, and know what the score is if they don't work out as planned.
Also, it is just over 4 months until January, not 8. If you mean until the DLA runs out - Atos have a habit of cancelling DLA claims based on a failed ESA medical so I would likely lose both at once.
I would LOVE to think I'd be better by January, but I have been hoping the same for 2 yrs solid now hence wanting to get on with some treatment!