Well... there goes that idea.

Holy moly @HelloBPD I never realised DBT cost so much.

I'd love to hear from other members who have gone through DBT if it was that expensive for them @Chris @Mimm @younglawyer @BlueBay and others...

oh wow, the only DBT services that i've seen were too far away to be helpful but was going to be $80 per session, and there was minimum of two sessions per week. It really does sometimes feel like only the 'rich' can get well with the 'proper' supports. I'm not sure that i would do it though as it looks like such a huge commitment that i couldnt possibly fit it in and child care etc...

Is there any possibility of getting any of the $400 back from medicare? or other options for support in the mean time?

hope you're ok @HelloBPD

lj

Hi @HelloBPD @NikNik

I did a year of DBT therapy at a private mental health clinic. It was specifically for BPD sufferers. I had to see a mental health nurse once a week (one on one) which cost $180 for an hour and then a 2 hour group session (4-6 people) at a cost of $80 a week. I would see the nurse once a fortnight as well as group and then do group the following week.

It was a very huge commitment for me as I had to cut back a day of work so I could go to this therapy. I had to drive over an hour to get there as there is nothing close by to home.

With the public health system at local hospital there is a long long wait for DBT therapy. There are a few around but they are private and are all very expensive. I don't want to add up how much I have spent in that year but i am sure it would have been in the $$$$.

And then they told me that i need to do it for a second year so I can really understand the concept and practice. i did start the second year but all of a sudden my therapist no longer worked there and I had to stop. It was causing so much financial pressure so i stopped.

I just wish there was more cheaper therapies for BPD sufferers.

Wow! That's shocking! Here we ate trying to feel valued and people who are supposed to help us make it clear "not worth it" Actually I think DBT is over rated and over priced. Can you buy a good book and work through that with your psychologist? My psychologist is walking with me through Russ Harris's Bk "Happiness Trap" (acceptance commitment therapy - ACT) and this gives me h/w and structure for sessions etc it was my req we include this in our hour which actually fits in with her professional practise anyway. I'm lucky she's flexible.
Also, I thought a while back someone said you can do a dbt course online for free?

@Former-Member& @BlueBay, what region are you in again? Think I wanna move there lol

Hi @HelloBPD

I can only imagine how disheartening this is - but it's not the end of the road.

Navigating the MH system is tricky, but it is worth trying every avenue (as exhausting as it is).

BPD Foundation has a directory of services that you might find helpful. Hopefully there's something there you have haven't explored yet.

Nik

---

@HelloBPD wrote:
Wow. I don't even know how I'm feeling. Besides absolutely shattered.
Who can afford to have a mental illness? I have BPD along with other things and I've just found out DBT that is directed for BPD is $400 for two sessions a week. WHAT ON EARTH?!?!?!?!

How on earth am I meant to beat this illness without the help when I'm constantly on verge on suicide after every disagreement with my partner/a crap day with my kids...

---

hello

If you are in private health ring your provider.

The private clinic where I have been hospitalised has another centre where they have day programmes. That is one of the courses available.

You have to be referred by a psychiatrist attached to the clinic.

The cost is free for the patient as the private health cover pay for it.

hope that is of some help otherwise ask if you can pay over a period of time as in come up with an agreeable amount over a certain time frame within your budget. I always ask, the worst outcome being no.

are you on a disability pension, sorry dont mean to offend or insinuate that you should be. my son is on one and when he studied he was eligible for a one off payment. something that centrelink dont advertise.

i do hope that you can find some help even within mental health australia, community, just keep asking the question.

Ring Sane helpline 1800187263 to see if they can point you in the right direction.

good luck