I hope this is the right thread to post this, but I'm at a dead end.
After several weks of frustration, tears at times and reading loads of advice on your posts, I've realised the best way forward for me is counselling and in particular CBT.
My problem is I don't know how to go about getting it. I went to see a GP at my surgery this morning I asked to be referred to the local CMHT (Community Mental Health Team) and was basically told no. I got told the same thing I was told a couple of years ago: my local health trust does not offer either conselling or CBT. In fact the Anxiety Management course I attended last year has stopped too (or so the doctor said). All she did was give me a phone number for a conselling and training centre in a town about 10 miles away. She said it used to be free but now they charge because people were abusing the service and not attending sessions they had booked. I have phoned the Centre and have left a message on their answer phone. Now I have to wait.
In the meantime, I am looking for advice:
Do I believe the GP when she says there is no counselling avilable in my area?
Do I have right to be referred to the CMHT or a local CPN, or is the GP right to refuse me?
I must point out that when I rang for the appointment this morning and asked to see someone who specialises in mental health or anxiety, the receptionist told me that would be the CPN (Community Psychiatric Nurse), but the GP would have to refer me. That leads me to wonder:
Would I have a better response if I had arrive in a right state like I was yesterday when I was having a bad spell and couldn't stop crying?
So if my local health board won't help:
Is there anywhere else I can go?
My husband has private medical insurance for the whole family through work:
Does anyone know if I can get private counselling through medical insurance?
This is all so frustrating. I want to get better. A lot of you on the forum agree counselling and CBT is one of the best forms of therapy. The GP hersefl said the best way forward was conselling. so my final question is:
Can anyone give me suggestions how I can get CBT/counselling as quickly as possible, while I'm still sane enough to know I need it?
Thank you