Undecided

Hi @TheJuZShoW, I like to think of seeing my psychologist like seeing the dentist. I don't just go to the dentist when I need a filling, I also go for a check up, as an ongoing way of maintaining my health.

In my experience, Psychologists aren't just there for crisis, they're also good for empowering you and letting you know what you're doing well.

For me, it's good to stay on top of my mental health rather than wait for a low mood and then seek help, but everyone is different and you need to do what's right for you. Hope that helps 😊

I still think it's terrible that it's only 10 free sessions... but that's another issue.
It's up to you, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to start looking for someone and use one session to get to know them while you're feeling good, build goals, see if you mesh etc. So that you're not going to a stranger and starting out fresh while you're feeling so low - it might also help prevent you from getting to such a low point in the near future. Therapy is useful prophylactically as much as it is useful as a treatment.

Hi @TheJuZShoW

If you feel better, perhaps you don't need to go.

But I tend to agree with @Paperdaisy and @MDT, talking to an experienced and objective listener, with appropriate skills (and assuming you connect), is better that venting with friends and trying to cope on your own.

We all see, hear, and believe our own story(ies) and are sometimes too close to see the issues.

I have beat myself up over many years feeling that it was my fault.

Sometimes we just need reassurance from others. Sometimes we need to vent with a professional counsellor, to move on.

Hi @TheJuZShoW , I reckon therapy is always useful, even when we're not feeling low or in a crisis. There are strategies to learn about dealing with anxiety, redirecting thinking etc. Plus it's useful to be hooked in with a therapist for when we are feeling low or in crisis. It can take months to get in to see a new one when we are in crisis, as I know from experience sadly.

@Campbarry the sessions have been increased from 10 per year to 20, during Covid, which is good news.

Personally, I don't think therapy works that well, unless you have been given the right medical treatment first.. if you don't have a stable mood, you just go back into the same vicious cycle, and you don't make a lot of significant progress..

Unfortunately, there can be a difference between what you get back from Medicare and the amount charged by the psychologist. But, if you need them, you doctor can take your sessions up to 20 a year. At least, that is what I have been told. Check with your doctor.