Chicagoist: "I Can't Afford Therapy" Not A Valid Excuse

dave

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 14:16:20 -0600

E, Good question, and in 6-8 years, maybe I'll have an answer (and then I'll be broke, but that's a different story). The only way I think you can do it without seeing every psychologist and psychiatrist in the yellow pages is to do some research. Look up the different forms of therapy on Wikipedia (I know, not the ultimate source for information, but it's pretty easy to understand), and see which one just sounds like a good fit. Are you interested in seeing what your unconscious mind might have to say? Or are you more prone to believing your conscious thoughts and behaviors are maladaptive? Are you okay with taking meds to alleviate things, or no? That would narrow down a few choices there, I'd think. That's really oversimplifying, and I'm no doctor (yet ...). But I think it's fair to treat psychology or psychiatry like finding any other doctor. I don't think it's out of the question to speak to a potential doctor about his/her school of thought before committing to therapy.

Mycubehas3sides

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 12:32:54 -0600

@ E: I agree with you. I wonder if this would be a good Ask Chicagoist question/long post feature story for them to do? I think many readers in need (me too) would benefit from this type of story; especially around the holiday season (a little late suggestion, I realize).

Mycubehas3sides

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 12:31:49 -0600

E

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 11:05:51 -0600

Here's a question that comes to mind when reading happygrl and dave's comments. What is the best way to find a good fit? How should one know what type of the therapies dave listed may be right for them? How does one go about vetting a therapist?

spookhatespuppies

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 00:52:56 -0600

Oh man, NOW you tell me! And right after I mailed that pipe bomb as a "cry for help", too. C'est La Vie!

smussy

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 15:57:29 -0600

they helped me out when i had no money for meds, and thus saved my life as well, mycube, but after long term treatment there (and getting better and healthier through other means as well), i found that their psychiatrists tend to suffer from burnout. either that, or they sort of are cold and unfeeling at times. your mileage, of course, may vary.

Mycubehas3sides

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 13:40:22 -0600

C4, understaffed and underfunded like ALL community centers in this area, work their asses off (and saved my life). FYI

dave

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 11:56:44 -0600

Very good--and you seem well-adjusted, so there. I think what most people fail to realize is that there are so many different types of therapy-- psychodynamic (what we all tend to think of when we think of shrinks), cognitive, humanistic, behavioral, CBT, and so on ... And that's not even factoring the individual differences among psychologists. It seems like people go see a therapist once or twice, and then feel like it's not working, and quit, when there could be a great fit out there for their needs, personalities, learning styles, tolerance for mysticism or medication, etc.

happygrl

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 11:50:20 -0600

Thanks Dave. Ya know, I can look back on it and laugh now. It's kinda funny to me. I wouldn't wish it on anyone and it had the potential to really mess me up, but luckily it didn't. Needless to say, my mother raised some hell. And I didn't have to go back.

dave

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 11:44:45 -0600

Yikes, happygrl ... Unless the patient makes his/her beliefs known, god has no place on the couch ...

happygrl

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 11:37:48 -0600

In all seriousness, when my parents split up, my mom thought it would be a good idea for me to see a therapist for a little while. Everything went along ok for a little while, but the day the therapist told me that the reason I didn't have a good relationship with my dad (I was 15 at the time and my dad was all but non-existent in my life) was because I wasn't right with God was the day I walked out shrieking. Telling a teenage girl her relationship with her dad sucks is because she's not right with God - that's FUCKED UP. I still think therapy can be a good idea, but I highly recommend thoroughly vetting the therapist first.

Ferdy

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 11:30:33 -0600

Baroness - Actually, I never unload on my therapist. In fact, it's the other way around. So where do I go to get my hair cut?

baroness

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 11:26:03 -0600

As a former hairdresser, please, make an appointment with a therapist.

smussy

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 11:23:32 -0600

yeah. C4. they definitely can do some things, but they definitely have their limitations as well. "the art of healing life." hmm.

Ferdy

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 11:18:17 -0600

Be careful, though. A bad therapist can do more harm than good. I'd rather talk to my hairdresser than a bad therapist.

matty

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 11:14:12 -0600

I thought you meant going on a homicidal rampage or something. Anyway, good to know.

Margaret Lyons

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 11:06:04 -0600

For not getting therapy.

matty

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 11:02:26 -0600

Not an excuse for what exactly?