Where to find free counselling?

epicmoe

my medical card got took off me a couple years ago, god knows why as I have zero money.
Recently in the last year or so I found myself feeling really low all the time, easy to anger as well. this isn't me. this isn't normal at al for me.
Can anyone suggest where I could find free counselling, or whatever other thing I should do in this situation.

Foweva Awone

Would be going to GP first of all. They can recommend counselling if appropriate, along with medication if necessary. Would be worth trying out Aware meetings too.

TuringBot47

epicmoe wrote: »

my medical card got took off me a couple years ago, god knows why as I have zero money.
Recently in the last year or so I found myself feeling really low all the time, easy to anger as well. this isn't me. this isn't normal at al for me.
Can anyone suggest where I could find free counselling, or whatever other thing I should do in this situation.

Maybe start with your gp for referrals
But might be a long waiting list

Not a AH topic ..
I imagine Samaritans phone line too

Wesser

What part of the country are you in.

BuboBubo

Does your workplace have an Employee Assistance Scheme? That might cover the cost of a few sessions.

epicmoe

BuboBubo wrote: »

Does your workplace have an Employee Assistance Scheme? That might cover the cost of a few sessions.

Im self employed

epicmoe

Foweva Awone wrote: »

Would be going to GP first of all. They can recommend counselling if appropriate, along with medication if necessary. Would be worth trying out Aware meetings too.

But I don't have a medical card, won't I need to pay even if a get referred?
I can't afford counselling.

JohnnyFlash

Maybe the good folks at Aware might be able to offer you advice?

Foweva Awone

epicmoe wrote: »

But I don't have a medical card, won't I need to pay even if a get referred?
I can't afford counselling.

Counselling as an industry is notoriously unregulated in Ireland. While low-cost/no-cost options exist, I'd be very dubious of them unless recommended by a medical professional.

Any counselling you do should be part of an overall plan, to include medication etc as well. Counselling alone can do more harm than good in the wrong context.

Wesser

no if you are referred to the HSE services you dont have to pay.
however there is normally a waiting list which is substantial.
if you tell us where you are we might be able to suggest some services from the voluntary sector.

ILoveYourVibes

Try shine in belvedere court Op.

GalwayGrrrrrl

Well done in recognising that you need some support.

Pieta house and Suicide or Survive are both charities which offer counselling for free or low cost.
Samaritans have a free helpline 116123.

Hope you feel better soon.

Miaireland

Ask your GP to refer you to CIPC, as far as I know you do not have to pay.

The Real Ramona

There is a place called Living Life in Bray that I'm nearly sure offers it for either free or a small donation (whatever you can afford). I don't know if they have other branches, but you could look them up to see.

Nua Aristotle

GalwayGrrrrrl wrote: »

Well done in recognising that you need some support.

Pieta house and Suicide or Survive are both charities which offer counselling for free or low cost.
Samaritans have a free helpline 116123.

Hope you feel better soon.

Pieta house and SOS are great resources but they are for people in crisis or suffering from a bereavement not general mild to moderate depression, anxiety etc just FYI ðŸ‘ðŸ»

Nua Aristotle

Foweva Awone wrote: »

Counselling as an industry is notoriously unregulated in Ireland. While low-cost/no-cost options exist, I'd be very dubious of them unless recommended by a medical professional.

Any counselling you do should be part of an overall plan, to include medication etc as well. Counselling alone can do more harm than good in the wrong context.

Yes the profession is unregulated but if you check with an accreditation body website there are directories with contact info for qualified and accredited people. Also there are lots of organisations with staff profiles that you could visit, just Google counselling service near me.

I'm sorry though you are providing incorrect info when saying any counselling should be with medication, that is simply not true, in fact we have an over reliance on medication in Ireland for mental health. Just FYI.

Foweva Awone

Nua Aristotle wrote: »

Yes the profession is unregulated but if you check with an accreditation body website there are directories with contact info for qualified and accredited people. Also there are lots of organisations with staff profiles that you could visit, just Google counselling service near me.

I'm sorry though you are providing incorrect info when saying any counselling should be with medication, that is simply not true, in fact we have an over reliance on medication in Ireland for mental health. Just FYI.

Medication isn't always necessary but the need for it should be ruled out before proceeding with counselling or other psychotherapy. Some people might need to be stabilised with medication before it's safe to do counselling. If the GP doesn't think medication is necessary, fine, but they should be consulted.

Nua Aristotle

epicmoe wrote: »

my medical card got took off me a couple years ago, god knows why as I have zero money.
Recently in the last year or so I found myself feeling really low all the time, easy to anger as well. this isn't me. this isn't normal at al for me.
Can anyone suggest where I could find free counselling, or whatever other thing I should do in this situation.

Hi well done first off for seeking support. You cannot currently get CIPC (HSE) counselling without a medical card FYI. However, there are a few free/low cost counselling services available in most major cities and large towns a quick Google will find them in your area if you are in one of those places. Otherwise you can get free counselling by professionals online from Turn2Me you can also get low cost counselling online from Helplink Support Services and My Mind.

You could also go on to the accreditation websites for counsellors to find qualified counsellors in your area in their directories. IACP APCP etc.

You don't need to go to a GP first for referral all those mentioned are self referral.

Hope you get the support you're looking for.

gctest50

Nua Aristotle wrote: »

......

I'm sorry though you are providing incorrect info when saying any counselling should be with medication, that is simply not true, in fact ...

That's not what they said though, they said any conselling needs to be part of an overall plan - which is top-class advice

Foweva Awone wrote: »

........

Any counselling you do should be part of an overall plan, to include medication etc as well. Counselling alone can do more harm than good in the wrong context.

Anyone would read that and take it they mean " medication ( where needed) "

Nua Aristotle

Foweva Awone wrote: »

Medication isn't always necessary but the need for it should be ruled out before proceeding with counselling or other psychotherapy. Some people might need to be stabilised with medication before it's safe to do counselling. If the GP doesn't think medication is necessary, fine, but they should be consulted.

That's not what you said and you need to be careful with this topic. If the counsellor one goes to is qualified in their profession they will assess very quickly (should be part of first session) if the presenting person needs extra support medically and then refer the client to a GP. The person posting here has not much money so there is no point in adding extra stress around money, when the majority of people in need of counselling support do NOT need medication. Now I'm not saying don't go to your GP I'm just saying that it doesn't need to be the first stop for general depression, anxiety, stress etc.

I'm just saying be careful what you say on the topic.

Nua Aristotle

gctest50 wrote: »

That's not what they said though, they said any conselling needs to be part of an overall plan - which is top-class advice






Anyone would read that and take it they mean " medication ( where needed) "

Well I'm obvs not everyone and either are you, it was an observation on the comment that could be read many ways that's why I pointed it out but thanks for playing.