ESA WRAG for depression - can the job centre force you to go for counseling?

Morlock

The Jobcentre adviser should not be diagnosing her illness and recommending treatment such as counselling, which may not be an appropriate type of treatment for her. It is up to a doctor to decide the best form of treatment depending on her symptoms, not a JC adviser, counselling could actually have a detrimental effect on her condition.

She should write a formal letter of complaint to the Jobcentre along these lines.

NYM

Morlock wrote: »

The Jobcentre adviser should not be diagnosing her illness and recommending treatment such as counselling, which may not be an appropriate type of treatment for her. It is up to a doctor to decide the best form of treatment depending on her symptoms, not a JC adviser, counselling could actually have a detrimental effect on her condition.

She should write a formal letter of complaint to the Jobcentre along these lines.

Where does it mention that the JC Advisor diagnosed the claimant...?
Are the people working there not now allowed to show concern and make suggestions that might help someone that is clearly distressed ?

If you (general) have depression or an anxiety disorder, you can’t just ’snap out of it’ or ‘pull yourself together’....

qubic

Hmmm, as far as I'm aware, her doctor hasn't told her to get counselling. From what I know, when she had counselling before, it was because she had asked for it but, then the counselor left and she was put back "on the list" although it seems this didn't happen. She has a new doctor at the surgery who, I've seen as well and he's much better than any of the doctors who used to work there. He has tried changing her medication and as she had the appointment yesterday, he did change it again, with a review in a months time.

Had she not mentioned counselling though, I get the impression, he wouldn't have. Perhaps because he's trying to get her on to some sort of medication, so that she could tackle a counselling appointment which as it stands at the minute, she couldnt do week in week out, so would be detrimental at this stage. In our area now though, you have to self refer which involves a lengthy telephone call with a 10 week wait anyway.

Spose trying to get medication that works, so that telephone calls and appointments is viable is working towards getting back to work but, at baby steps?

Morlock

NYM wrote: »

Where does it mention that the JC Advisor diagnosed the claimant...?

It was suggested the JC adviser stated that if the claimant went to counselling, she would be excused from some work focused interviews. I doubt the JC adviser has sufficient medical knowledge to suggest counselling to alleviate a claimant's condition.

rochja

Morlock you extrapolate too much. Firstly, all reportage here has been anecdotal. Secondly the verbatim account from the friend will inevitably have been distorted by an emotional imbalance which was so severe as to cause early termination of an interview. This means that you are assuming it was the JC adviser who raised counselling when it is as likely that he or she was responding to input from the OP's friend. You should not be so hasty in judging the actions of another during an event you did not witness. Neither should you be recommending a course of action which will load additional stress on to somebody who is already struggling to cope. I suggest you keep your big spoon for stirring the Christmas pudding.

Morlock

rochja wrote: »

I suggest you keep your big spoon for stirring the Christmas pudding.

Reading the thread title and subsequent post suggests that pressure has been placed on a claimant to attend counselling by a JC adviser. In which case an official complaint would be justified.

lukieboy96

To receive counselling is not easy as there are long waiting lists. Maybe the Job Center should check this out before causing stress. I am lucky that I have a CPN and can access other treatments.