Where to find a Councillor/Psychotherapist on medical card

CurtisPadd

Sorry if this is a common question.
I have not been feeling well for some time and feel I need to visit a councillor/psychotherapist. I have a medical card so I went to my GP but my regular doctor's replacement gave me the number of a fee paying counciller(I forgot to tell him I have a medical card) .The female counciller seemed lovely and compassionate on the phone but I simply cant afford to begin a session with her. Could you recommend a counciller/Psychotherapist that would assess me for free on the medical card.
thank you,
PC

Millicent

CurtisPadd wrote: »

Sorry if this is a common question.
I have not been feeling well for some time and feel I need to visit a councillor/psychotherapist. I have a medical card so I went to my GP but my regular doctor's replacement gave me the number of a fee paying counciller(I forgot to tell him I have a medical card) .The female counciller seemed lovely and compassionate on the phone but I simply cant afford to begin a session with her. Could you recommend a counciller/Psychotherapist that would assess me for free on the medical card.
thank you,
PC

Hey Curtis, as far as I can remember from being in the same situation, your GP has to refer to one, usually in your local Health Board. It's probably the easiest way to go about it.

Reeni

Hi CurtisPadd, I can't afford to pay for a psychiatrist but what my GP did was refer me to the psychiatric outpatients in Beaumont Hospital. They assess you on your first appointment (now you'll be waiting at least a couple of months for the letter, i waited 3) and decide whether to take you on. If they do its completely free. Obviously I don't know if that hospital would work for you but you should mention this to your GP as I'm sure others have psychiatric outpatients clinics. Also, another thing you can do is have the same referral letter from your GP and bring it to your local health clinic (where your community welfare officer would be). Many have free psychiatric/counselling there although I can't say for SURE that all do, but it would be something to check out.

Victor

You don't say what your issue is (you don't have to, but feel free to start an anonymous thread if you want), but various organisations do provide free or low cost counselling. Some individual counsellors will also do free or low cost counselling. Can I suggest you talk to your GP again and explain the situation? I realise that may be difficult.

www.aware.ie
www.samaritans.ie (Phone, e-mail, face to face)

This link lists more organisations that provide specalist counselling: http://www.local.ie/Ireland_Health___Science/Voluntary_Organisations_Working_in_Ireland/index.html

GeckoOnTheWall

To CurtisPadd,

where are you located? I know an excellent senior psychologist who works for the Northern Dublin Health Board. If you have a referral from your GP, you can see her free of charge.

Hi, a referal from your GP is the first step. Though I warn you that in some areas, it can have a massive waiting list. They will always see someone in an emergency situation though. Make sure that you are completely honest with your doctor about all aspects of how you are feeling, they will be able to assess your situation and write this in your referal. Different areas have different length of waiting lists though! There are affordable counselling agencies, that will discuss with you the amount you feel you can pay per session. These too, have waiting lists.