My counselling has been sought

This morning for a final attempt of knowing where I stand, I emailed the NHS provider to see how long their waiting list is. Also, as my assessment would be face to face because I can’t hear on the phone and they not doing it any other way, (compared to elsewhere), would my counselling follow immediately after assessment, or would I have a further wait?

I also emailed, again, via the work provider asking for an update, today, so I know whether they are going to look for a counsellor, or not.

Last night, I emailed a private counsellor, out of curiosity to see what her waiting time was, should I choose to have counselling with her.

Finally, I know where I stand, as my counselling has now been sought and I now have a date. The ones provided via a work programme got back to me with one, checking with me first to see if this one would be ok before booking it and it was, because it was local this time. So in under 2 weeks, I will be going to my first counselling appointment.
My work place only pay for up to 6 sessions I was told at the start of asking more about the counselling service originally. But if more was needed, they could ask the employer. If it comes to this, I won’t get them to ask work, as I don’t expect work to pay for further and so should I be happy with this counsellor, I would continue and pay myself.
I have looked up this counsellor already, so I know who she is, where to go, qualifications and fees. The fees are less than a counsellor I would have gone for elsewhere. So if I do continue, I know I will have already saved money by using this counsellor, than originally the other.
I plan to have a bus ride and walk up to the street where this counsellor is based, just to be sure I know I will find it ok, before my appointment day.

Should counselling not feel right with this counsellor, I still all being well, will have the other one I queried myself, as a back up and I would make an appointment with, should I hear from that one. But I have a feeling it won’t come to that.

 

© Elizabeth Fisher and My Wellbeing and Learning Journey.

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Has anyone arranged their own private counselling because of waiting so long on NHS?

I know there has been people that have waited much longer than 3 months in the past for counselling, when I have heard in 3 months.

I’m feeling more desperate for counselling than all the times I have felt desperate before. But then, I did not have suicidal thoughts.

Currently, I have been waiting over 2 months for counselling on the NHS and that would be a face to face assessment appointment, because of them doing it no other way than over phone. So I don’t even know if my counselling would start straight after this, or I’d be  waiting further and after this post, Counselling- I thought it be too be true, I am debating whether I should sort out counselling myself. I have looked and see there are counsellors practically on my doorstep, or a bit further in walking. But still local. I see their prices and for me to afford I would have to make sure my counselling was either at least fortnightly, or a monthly basis.

Has anyone else gone the private route, because waiting on the NHS route took too long?

 

© Elizabeth Fisher and My Wellbeing and Learning Journey.

Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to My Wellbeing and Learning Journey with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. But Guest Posts that feature on my blog are not allowed at all to be duplicated.

Counselling- I thought it be too good to be true

I have just heard from a counselling appointment and now, I have emailed to cancel it.
This was because it wasn’t local and although from Googling to see how far and not long as I thought it would be, I still don’t know where I be getting off, on bus. I would also have to time it right by getting on a bus that by the time I have got off to walk to it, I don’t make myself late. It’s bad enough what I am going for, but the anxiety to get to it.

Also, it was at a time I’d still be at work. Mum has disrupted my life enough. I’m not going to distrupt it further, by having to have time off for counselling when a more suitable time can be fixed. But that’s to think about and sort, when the counselling is more local.

 

© Elizabeth Fisher and My Wellbeing and Learning Journey.

Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to My Wellbeing and Learning Journey with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. But Guest Posts that feature on my blog are not allowed at all to be duplicated.

Counselling

So as you know, I am waiting for counselling on the NHS after my difficulties of this year, messing with my own mental health. I have already been waiting over 2 months for my assessment. (I thought it was getting on 3 months.)

Via a programme that I automatically have access to, as part of me being an employee with my evening job, counselling services is one of them.
I started wondering that if I contacted them, would I possibly get in quicker? So I queried. It turns out I would, because as soon as I have filled in my assesment form, they will source a counsellor within 10 working days.
So I have filled in my form and sent it back in an email today.

 

© Elizabeth Fisher and My Wellbeing and Learning Journey.

Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to My Wellbeing and Learning Journey with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. But Guest Posts that feature on my blog are not allowed at all to be duplicated.

My very personal posts of 2016, that started off this blog.

If it wasn’t for offloading and using this blog as part of my therapy to accept what happened to me, then I probably would not have started this blog. Writing this blog has helped me to move forward and some things that were really troubling me, to let go of the guilt that I should not have had to start with.
Most of these following posts all have a trigger warning of some kind, stated at the beginning of the post.

• Hello world
• My counselling sessions – Part 1 of 2
• My counselling sessions – Part 2 of 2
• Learning to have a “can-do” attitude
• I needed to face it
• Childhood: Why did I not take the opportunity to leave?
• My escape from the world, as a child

 

© Elizabeth Fisher and My Wellbeing and Learning Journey.

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Talking therapies

As you know from reading this blog, I have had counselling in the past, the last two sets of sessions being very helpful for me.
This was because after the counsellor who I had for my first of theses two sessions, identifying my childhood past being the cause of how I was now.
Since these sessions have ended, I have been writing this blog as my continuing therapeutic way of dealing with things, as well as other things, like learning something new, remembering to give self-love.

I recommend talking therapy to anyone who is struggling. Talking therapy can work alone, or alongside antidepressants from your doctor, depending on the individual.

I recently learnt that someone closer to me was not doing well as I thought. After this person asked for advice, which I gave, I could see there was a bit more to it then the person was letting on, so I asked further. The person wouldn’t answer this question, as was concerned how I would feel ashamed of them, of their response.
I reassured that person, that I am sure you have done nothing to be ashamed of and that the advice I gave before would not help alone, as I could see whatever this issue was needed to be addressed. This would mean if they felt they could not be open with me, then to speak to a counsellor where you will not need to feel worried about being judged, because they are there to listen.
On answering further questions about what to expect in counselling sessions to reassure this person, because they have never seen a counsellor before, I printed off the necessary information, so they could self-refer. I hope this person does follow it through, because I know this person would benefit from it so much.

If you are feeling the need to talk to someone and have no one, or not confident in speaking to a friend, or family member, then please do speak to a counsellor. They are not there to judge, they are there to help.

I do recommend talking therapy, because you are in a neutral place where you do not need to worry about upsetting, or worrying a friend or relative, so you can unburden yourself. A place where you also won’t feel judged.

For more information on talking therapies, please visit this page at Mental Health Foundation.

 

© Elizabeth Fisher and My Wellbeing and Learning Journey.

Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to My Wellbeing and Learning Journey with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. (But Guest Posts that feature on my blog are not allowed at all to be duplicated, as that is their copyright.)

The Run.Rabbit.Run. PTSD award

I have been nominated “The Run.Rabbit.Run. PTSD Award,” by Courage Coaching. This has been a lovely surprise to receive with this blog not even a year old yet. Thank you Courage Coaching. (This award was previously known as the Blogger Recognition Award).

The rules:

• Thank the blog who nominated you, share the link and award on your blog.

• Write a brief story on how you started blogging and any advice you would give to a new blogger.

• Select nominees (max 15)

• Advise nominees.

 

Why I started blogging

I started blogging as a releasing outlet for what I was feeling, which has now turned out to help others, or be an inspiration. My blog has reflected as I change accordingly, which I hope to keep my blog positive, but like anyone with depression, it could change on my down days etc…

Blogging became therapeutic for me and continues to do so and I have come across many lovely followers here since bringing my blog to WordPress.

Advice to any new bloggers

Advice I would give to a new blogger is to just be you, as this will reflect in your post.

I would like to nominate the following for The Run.Rabbit.Run. PTSD Award

These are just some of many, I have picked, that I love to follow for different reasons. I know some already have this award, so I don’t expect them to do it again and others that I have nominated I don’t know if they have. But enjoy the award either way.

• Courage Coaching
• Nichi Health
• A Kinder Way
• Make It Ultra
• Rhio’s Comics

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

I have had Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and I have found it to be very helpful. Rather than me explain how it works, I am just going to share a link where you can read more about it.
You can find the information here at NHS Choices.

Protected: My counselling sessions – Part 2 of 2

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I needed to face it

Yesterday via Facebook, I seen the following words that Tiny Buddha shared.

“Whatever pain from your past you’ve tried to outrun, you can’t avoid it forever. It will follow you until you face it and work through it.” ~Celina Murillo

(See more in this link at Tiny Buddha, for the above.)

This is so true. The minute I left school, I always said I’d never look back and I didn’t. I wanted to forget the bullies at school, as well as things from home.

I have had quite a few different counselling sessions for different reasons in my adult life. But it was from the counselling sessions before last Christmas where things really got uncovered. Things that were affecting me now, from my childhood. Some things blocked, until the stone was turned and I realised that how I was in some way now, was my past affecting me.

During and since my counselling has finished, I have seen and felt how calm I am now. How I don’t let things bother me as I did before. This has been my best I have ever been.

Although my counselling has finished, there are things I still have to do. But these, I can only do myself, using the tools my counsellor gave me.

Small steps, but I am still moving forward.

 

© Elizabeth Fisher and My Wellbeing and Learning Journey.

Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to My Wellbeing and Learning Journey with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. But Guest Posts that feature on my blog are not allowed at all to be duplicated.