Counselling on medical card

Kitty-kitty

Hi, I have a medical card and I was wondering whether I was entitled to counselling through it at all? I read up on citizen's information but could only guess at "personal and social care services."

Victor

They may be slow to approave it as it can be open-ended and therefore an openended cost.

But if its short-term and / or a real crisis they might be willing. Start with your GP.

There are some groups that provide low cost counselling, whether group or individually, e.g. www.aware.ie

Kitty-kitty

Okay, thanks very much for the pointers!

Elessar

http://www.hse-ncs.ie/en/

That is the website of the HSE national counselling service. You don't need a medical card to avail of it afaik. It's free. They don't work on referals so give them a call. There will probably be quite a long waiting list though.

EDIT: It may only be for survivors of child abuse though. Ring them and find out.

nofi

It is available on the medical card, you need to get referred by a GP, it depends on the area you live as to how quick you'd be seen.if you attend college, most have a free service in the college.

Pink_Glits&pups

Hi,

I have been in counselling since August once per week which has amounted to quite a sum of money, i was wondering if anyone knows whether i am entitled to claim any of this back on my prsi? Or how would i go about claiming??

Thanks!!

Victor

If the counselling is doctor recommended, you may be able to write it off as a medical expense against tax, but the HSE is slow to finance counselling.

Olduvai

Another avenue is have a look at the Family Support Agency website www.fsa.ie and the list of organisations and family resource centres that may be in your area that receive funding to provide counselling.

This counselling would be of a short term nature and is provided by qualified counsellors, psychologists and other persons who are accumulating practice hours. The range of counselling is bereavement, marital, relationship, adult and child counselling.

Depending on the centre, the counselling can be free of charge or their may be a nominal charge applied depending on your means.

jenmc1

hello kitty-kitty,

I have the medical card and googled the same question. In my area there is a counseling center named Advocate Family Care Network and accept the medical card. Def do a little more researching. There is also another Counseling center named Outreach Community Center and they do a sliding scale, a friend of mine payed $4.00 for an hour counseling. So check you're area and there could be a place you will be able to pay very low or get covered. Good luck and I hope this helps!


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