How often to see a therapist?

[Scruffy1]

Hi all new here. Firstly can I share my story?

For most of my life I have had anxiety and OCD I have always been able to deal with it myself but I have found things have been getting worse over the last 18 months when after many years of no one knowing what it was I was finally diagnosed with a rare incurable medical condition (not life threatening but debilitating). After a separate health scare associated with this condition I finally had major surgery 5 months ago.

since I had this surgery I have been getting more and more depressed and lacking any form of motivation to even do the things I enjoy. I have never suffered depression before.

i finally worked up the courage to ask a GP for help and have had a mental health care plan drawn up and have been referred to a psychologist but as I have used up all my sick leave and annual leave when I had surgery I am restricted to making appointments for after work but these are hard to come by (first one was 6 weeks after getting mental health care plan and next one is almost 2 months away)

my question is how often do you need to see a psychologist for it to be beneficial and is 2 months between appointments making the whole exercise a waste of time?

[Mathy]

Hey Scruffy1 and welcome to the BB forums 🙂 I like your name, it reminds me of a terrier that I used to know - please take that as a compliment 🙂

Given what you have written, and that you are quite in charge of your physical issues, if it was me, I would want the Psych appointments to be progressing quicker. It seems that your medical condition has kind of over whelmed you natural ability to deal with you MH issues. The sooner that’s nipped in the bud, the better.

To answer your question directly, I would normally call a 2 month gap in an appointment with a Psychologist, in the early stages of counselling, completely unacceptable. However, you’ve been through the 1st appointment, so the Psych has the details. To change counsellors is going to cost another appt to get up to speed again. You have to weight up the pros and cons. Did you LIKE the psychologist that you went to see> Because, that’s important.

Do you live in a regional area? Because this can obviously cause delays in getting an appointment.

Sorry, probably not what you wanted to hear.

However, the people on this forum are great, and there’s a lot of experience. So I would encourage you to keep posting questions and thoughts, perhaps we can help bridge the gap, all the best, cheers M 🙂

[blondguy]

Hi Scruffy1

Thanks for posting! Mathy has provided sound advice on frequency/visits above

Im sorry that you have been going through such a dark time scruffy with depression knocking on your door after your surgery...

Just my experience with depression if thats okay. I started to suffer from depression after being in the family court.....in the late '90's and I was a dill and didnt see a therapist enough. I am like yourself and had anxiety (chronic) since 1983 when I was 23 but I wasnt ready for depression...like yourself.

Just for me....I had to call a mental health worker (through my local council) who was a gem and came to see me at home (for free) and helped me correct my thinking within an hour or so. He did say that if I wanted to heal that I see him every week for a minimum of 6 months. I just thought....ugh!

After 3 weeks he had me talking and took my barriers down....I burst into tears and was so scared and embarrassed at the time. 24 hours later he called me and asked how I was. I told him I was a lot better but he still wanted to see me every week....so I did

This mental health worker was one of the best counselors I have ever had. He was a psychiatric nurse who really cared about peoples mental health...I saw him every week for 7 months and I still see my GP every 4-8 weeks for a 'fine tune'.

In your situation having had anxiety and OCD for years I wouldnt be too hard on yourself feeling like this after surgery Scruffy. Surgery is a big deal for anyone and can be a bigger issue to someone that has had anxiety prior to surgery

Every 2 months is okay....but not really effective....but every two/three weeks is ideal....Even super regular visits to your GP would be a huge help right now especially having had surgery recently.

There are many gentle people that can be here for you Scruffy

I hope you can post back when you can

My Best

Paul

[Scruffy1]

Thank you for the replies. I am concerned that 2 months is a long time between sessions and that it will be just a waste of time. I could get in sooner but that would mean taking time off work and as I have had so much time off over the last 18 months I don’t want to upset the apple cart at work any more than I have to. My employer has been very supportive.

I was just wanting to know what was an optimal time period between visits and hopefully next visit I can lock in a few that are closer together.

in the meantime I think I may utilise this forum

thanks again

[blondguy]

Hi Scruffy1

The optimal time period between visits depends on the severity of the anxiety/depression we are going through

You have been through a rough time and you mentioned. Your health is paramount and just from my experience having chronic anxiety/depression seeing a therapist every week or every two weeks would be a huge help. Even monthly would be a bonus for your health

I hope you can post back and let us know how you are traveling

My Kind thoughts for you

Paul