Episode Summary
In yesterday’s episode I announced the end of my counselling and the long anticipated arrival of my NHS Treatment. In today’s episode I share the background to my wait, how my first session went this morning and how I feel about the future.
Episode Show Notes
00:10 – Background to getting treatment from the NHS. In episode 004 I shared how it took 48 days, 6 letters, 3 emails, 2 face to face sessions and 3 telephone consultations with 5 different health professionals (two lasting 45 minutes and one of 30 minutes) to discover it would be at least 216 days after asking for help to possibly getting to the top of a waiting list for treatment.
01:24 – After the third month I have then had impersonal and standard form monthly letters apologising for the delay.
02:12 – Yesterday I finally had a call from an NHS therapist confirming an appointment some 176 days after first going to the GP wanting to end my life.
03:38 – The telephone call I had with the therapist was positive, supportive and encouraging, even after I complained about the form letters.
03:48 – An appointment was made for this morning, she sent me the directions to the therapy centre and promised an e mail with a PHQ-9 assessment to fill out (to identify my current level of depression).
04:52 – Today I had the appointment. I found the centre, parked up, announced my arrival and waited for my therapist. Encouragingly, she turned up on time.
05:22 – At the start of the session she introduced herself and explained her career background and her clinical experience and expertise.
06:35 – She also explained what Inter-Personal Therapy was.
07:15 – I shared my story with her which summarised as having low self esteem, seeking approval form others through my work and achievements and not feeling good enough. [NOTE – now there’s a cocktail of life frustration and heartache if ever there was one!].
08:24 – It seems we will have a maximum of 12 sessions that will be reviewed ever 4 sessions.
08:39 – When asked about my objectives, I said I had a number of them:
- To become more emotionally robust to deal with life’s challenges.
- To feel better about myself (self-acceptance and self-compassion).
- To be willing to risk rejection and then deal with it if/when I am.
10:08 – My therapist recommended a book by Steven Hayes – Get Out Of Your Mind And Into Your Life.
10:56 – Overall I was very encouraged by today’s session. I felt cared for, listened to and supported even in what was essentially a fact finding session for us both.
