View Full Version : I have an appointment with IAPT
Just thought I'd let you know that after 2 months, I have an appointment with IAPT. It's 23rd June. :) I know it's going to be hard, but I'm relieved I'm getting to see someone.
hi, what is an IAPT? I haven't heard of one before
Improving Access to Psychological Therapies.
http://www.iapt.nhs.uk/
ElizabethJane
11-06-11, 10:58
Are you a trainer or the one receiving the therapy? This is a new one for me too. EJ
Receiving therapy.
I am also training to be a counsellor though. I really want to help others.
I think whether people have heard of IAPT depends how helpful your GP is. My last dr's surgery was rubbish and didn't help me but my new one is great. Really understanding.
We piloted IAPT here but it's changed its name to SPA (Single Point of Access) I believe they have stupidly not called it the same name in different areas which is stupid really.
I think it's all done to confuse us and my life more complicated!:huh:
Well I got dumped by IAPT after I went back a third time they said I shouldn't be back there for a third time and had taught me all the techniques and I got sent on a 6 week course instead. They also did a group talk to promote the service and the leader said she would ring me to discuss my experiences with them... she never did.
Oh dear Steven, I'm sorry to hear that.
They do have a tendency to 'dump' people with long term problems. I went for my first session yesterday and it was strange, being a counsellor myself now, I kept thinking about what she was thinking and what techniques she was using. Also, she didn't have to tell me about CBT and the basics because I know about it.
We talked about the things I worry about, but my current score for anxiety is down to 6 from 22 at the assessment and my anxiety has gone from moderate to mild. That was just based on the last 2 weeks though. A month ago I felt pretty bad!
The therapist is lovely and was very empathetic. She seemed to 'get' how I felt. I hope that means she won't think I'm ok now because I'm having a good phase.
She's sent me some info on worry and really worry vs. hypothetical worry.
I'll keep you posted!
Hmmmmm....well I got the stuff the therapist sent me. Lots of things about core beliefs and writing down evidence for and against before re-evaluating your worries.
I'm going to have to be as honest as I can when I see her on Wednesday because I really don't think that's going to help as the things that make me depressed are 'states' like my health rather than anxiety caused by 'beliefs about myself' which I've dealt with before.
Also, I didn't tell her I have made suicide attempts after the one people know about. I've just done it at times when noone knew! I'm scared of telling her because talking to my GP after he knows will be difficult. :huh: Anyone got any advice?
Hello,
Well I went for my 2nd appointment today and the 1st thing I was asked was what I thought of the resources. I was completely honest and said I was frustrated by them because I've done them all before and use them all the time. She understood and said 'ok, so it's too basic for you.'
Apart from loneliness, a thing that keeps coming up is my relstionship with my mum. It's always been difficult and we have a lot of issues which affect us both. The therapist has suggested family counselling with her. I know it's a good idea because if we don't communicate and both change, it won't get better.
She doesn't know I'm having counselling. In fact, my parents don't know much about me anymore. I know thay's probably quite normal at 29 but it's complicated by my disability, everything they've done for me in the past and how much I rely on them still.
Anyone got any advice on how I could approach this?
Thanks x
I've been having second thoughts. In the appointment yesterday we hit on the problem that I think is causing alot of my problems and that's the fact that I didn't have a choice to move in where I am, felt alone and isolated and was in pain and took an overdose. We decided we'd look at the anxiety next week.
I've been thinking about whether to involve my mum and I don't think it would be right. In previous therapy I've dealt a lot with guilt for 'inflicting' my disability on her when she'd already had a bad life. She was neglected as a child, then her dad died shortly after I was born. Her brother is an alcoholic and uses drugs, which causes her a lot of stress. My mum has told me that she uses control to help her cope because her life was chaotic when she was younger. She knows this has had a negative effect on me, so I think that confronting her about it would make her feel worse!
Yesterday the therapist said 'generally, I find that a couple of sessions with a parent can really help', but I just worry that it would open up a huge can of worms and make things worse.
Just my thoughts...
Hi,
Just thought I'd give you an update. I saw a CBT therapist for about 3 weeks. She specialises in family and systemic therapy and was trying to persuade me to bring my mum in for family counselling, although I know that would be just make everything worse. She would feel I was attacking her, as well as open a can of worms for her that she hadn't chosen to do.
Anyway, the CBT therapist basically said she couldn't help me because I didn't have specific goals. She referred me to a counsellor who is trained in Psychodynamic counselling. I felt quite dubious about it because I didn't want a counsellor giving me her interpretation of what I feel.
I've had 2 sessions with her and she's very good. She's the first counsellor who's managed to make me cry...and I've seen a few. Basically she's said that because my family (mainly my mum and brother) haven't met my emotional needs throughout my life, I'm left feeling that something is missing...and lonely.
I'm going to see her again on Wednesday and I'm hoping that this is getting somewhere. My main worry is that counselling is only meant to be 6 weeks long and that will probably only just scratch the surface.
Sorry. I've wittered. I just wanted to give you an update.
Hi Alicat
I'm sure multiple suicide attempts won't come as any suprise to your councillor.I always make a list of all topics I want to discuss before I see mine! I'm a private patient (not many public services in Ireland), so I make sure I'm getting value...
The one thing I would say to you, is if you feel you two aren't on the same wavelenght.. you should consider changing councillor.
Bex
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