Cost of counselling

LegacyUser

Hi Folks,

I really feel like I need to talk to someone but I have heard a counsellor can cost about €60 a session. There is no way I could afford €60 a week. Are there any other options out there?

I'm based in Dublin if that makes any difference.

DawnMc

A lot of counsellors do a 'sliding scale' where they charge based on what you can afford. Check out IACP for more details, ring them and they'll tell you.

www.irish-counselling.ie

Best of luck

LegacyUser

Thanks for the reply Dawn.

I have contacted them already and they were not very helpful in this regard tbh. They said they could provide me with a list of counsellors in my area but could not comment on specific charges.

This is a huge step for me finally admitting that I need help. Making the call to make an appointment is gonna take a lot of psyching myself up. I don't think I could face ringing round a whole list of people feeling like a beggar asking about rates so I was hoping some of you good folks might have a bit of experience and know what the charges generally are etc.

LegacyUser

Hiya!!..If you are in Dublin you can try St. Catherine's counselling in Tallaght, they're very cheap and very very good!

LegacyUser

Thanks MP2, I will look into that one.

Tallaght is quite a bit away from me so if anyone has any suggestions for the northside or the city centre that would be a great help.

As an aside - when it comes to something like this I know you cannot put a price on it and money shouldn't be a factor but in the real world, with bills to pay, it is!

You would think with all of these 'look after your mental health' ads there would be better access to counselling services at a reduced cost. [/RANT!]

muppetkiller

If you have VHI with your Job they offer free counselling if it's part of your plan ?

Girrrrseach

And if you are in college, usually they have free counsellors in there. I know there is one in Trinity that I used, completely free.

kayos

muppetkiller wrote: »

If you have VHI with your Job they offer free counselling if it's part of your plan ?

Counselling is not covered by VHI the last time I checked. If you ask a counseller about this you'll get a long story about it. Total BS to be honest that health insurance will cover some alternative treatments but wont cover counselling. Some employers will pay for a number of sessions, some wont. And people wonder why mental/emotional health problems are a big issue in Ireland.

LegacyUser

kayos wrote: »

And people wonder why mental/emotional health problems are a big issue in Ireland.

Thats exactly what I mean. I really think I need help but my employer doesn't offer it and I'm not a student so I just have to find a way to pay.

I don't expect a free ride in life but quite often anxiety and depression can be exacerbated by money worries. Services that help treat these issues being so expensive just doesn't seem to make sense!

JuliusCaesar

get your GP to refer you to the HSE psychologists or mental health dept where you'll get free counselling/therapy.
Also check out Irish Council for PSychotherapy and their cbt section, most;y in the HSE

ve

JuliusCaesar wrote: »

get your GP to refer you to the HSE psychologists or mental health dept where you'll get free counselling/therapy.
Also check out Irish Council for PSychotherapy and their cbt section, most;y in the HSE

How good is this?, and how quickly could somebody receive treatment? I know many people that could definately benefit from this service. I also know someone that paid €90 per hour for CBT and talk therapy, and in the end had to stop going because they simply could not afford it. What they did receive however did help, but it wasn't enough.

I have to agree completely with you OP, and several others on this thread that raise the issue of mental health adverts, awareness and initiatives, yet people are often still judged when they voice their need for help. Don't get me wrong, it's improving, but this country has still a very long way to go.

Best of luck OP, and I'd shake your hand and give you a big pat on the back for taking the step to seek help.

If I needed help, I'd try and get it too.

Collie D

ve wrote: »

How good is this?, and how quickly could somebody receive treatment? I know many people that could definately benefit from this service. I also know someone that paid €90 per hour for CBT and talk therapy, and in the end had to stop going because they simply could not afford it. What they did receive however did help, but it wasn't enough.

I have to agree completely with you OP, and several others on this thread that raise the issue of mental health adverts, awareness and initiatives, yet people are often still judged when they voice their need for help. Don't get me wrong, it's improving, but this country has still a very long way to go.

Best of luck OP, and I'd shake your hand and give you a big pat on the back for taking the step to seek help.

If I needed help, I'd try and get it too.

It's quite quick to get a place. I assume they probably have some kind of priority waiting list but as mentioned GP should be able to refer you. Don't be afraid/too proud to use public health care, you pay your taxes.

promethius

good luck to the OP it must be daunting to realise you need to undergo some help then have to worry about the cost

LegacyUser

Thanks for all the info and support folks. Looks like a visit to the GP is in order.

SarahMc

There are many charities that provide low cost counselling.

Aware will let you know of any in your area www.aware.ie

estar

phone accord i think they allow people to pay what they can

promethius

promethius wrote: »

good luck to the OP it must be daunting to realise you need to undergo some help then have to worry about the cost

I've been there. It was costing me €65 per session. I didn't keep it on, not because of the cost but because the timing didn't suit me, I was taking time off work and that couldn't continue. But I know I need it at times.

Nevyn

Don't forget that you can calim the tax back on your medical expenses and counseling is considered that. So get your med1 forums.

Crannog

Completely understand that €60pw is beyond your means and it is really important that you see someone as soon as possible to give yourself the best chance of getting the most out of it.

Counselling is only allowed on the MED1 if you are referred by your GP and not if you self refer which is crazy but there you go.

Counsellors who are still in training may be free or nearly free. Check out the colleges that train counsellors

http://www.pcicollege.ie/index.cfm?area=content&action=contentselect&menuid=254&ancestorlist1=0&MainNavigationMenuID=1

the coordinator will match you with a suitable person in your area with a choice of man or woman.

Best of luck

Moss

I have to throw in a warning here about counselling. If you have anxiety and depression then you should see a qualified psychologist - some who can deliver evidence based treatments for these conditions. Most counsellors do NOT deliver evidence based treatments. They just sit and listen and make the odd comment or observation which is fine if there is nothing really wrong with you, i.e. you want to talk about a bereavement or recent stress in your life. But if you have mental health problems you should be talking to someone who is qualified to deal with these problems.

It will cost you more to see a psychologist. However I would much rather pay €100 an hour and actually get better than pay €60 an hour and get no result. Paying money for counselling if you have mental health problems is money down the drain in my opinion. Furthermore, the counselling profession is totally unregulated in Ireland and there are a lot of charlatans out there, so be warned. I know of plenty of counsellors who keep people coming back to them week after week even though its blatantly doing no good.

Its your life - pay the extra money to see someone really good and you will never look back. Personally I would take out a loan if I had to, give up drink and cigarettes, whatever because there is nothing worse than been chronically depressed and anxious.

-aboutagirl-

Moss wrote: »

I have to throw in a warning here about counselling. If you have anxiety and depression then you should see a qualified psychologist - some who can deliver evidence based treatments for these conditions. Most counsellors do NOT deliver evidence based treatments. They just sit and listen and make the odd comment or observation which is fine if there is nothing really wrong with you, i.e. you want to talk about a bereavement or recent stress in your life. But if you have mental health problems you should be talking to someone who is qualified to deal with these problems.

It will cost you more to see a psychologist. However I would much rather pay €100 an hour and actually get better than pay €60 an hour and get no result. Paying money for counselling if you have mental health problems is money down the drain in my opinion. Furthermore, the counselling profession is totally unregulated in Ireland and there are a lot of charlatans out there, so be warned. I know of plenty of counsellors who keep people coming back to them week after week even though its blatantly doing no good.

Its your life - pay the extra money to see someone really good and you will never look back. Personally I would take out a loan if I had to, give up drink and cigarettes, whatever because there is nothing worse than been chronically depressed and anxious.

I agree totally with the above. I've you're suffering from a mental health problem like severe depression is a psychologist you need to see, not a counsellor.

tampopo

-aboutagirl- wrote: »

I agree totally with the above. I've you're suffering from a mental health problem like severe depression is a psychologist you need to see, not a counsellor.

+1 and what Moss said too.

...and/or a psychiatrist.

JuliusCaesar

ve wrote: »

How good is this?

Check out psychotherapy-ireland/cbt section & babcp.com for the qualifications needed to become an accredited therapist using an evidence-based therapy. Standards for accreditation are very high. Lots of data on effectiveness also.