Seeking counselling particularly for the first time, can be a daunting process. Engaging in counselling can be both supportive and challenging, so it is understandable it is often experienced as alarming, disturbing, disappointing when you are told the service is closing or the waiting list is so long the service is no longer accepting referrals.
What do you do if you find yourself in this scenario?
It can be so difficult not to give up and give in to those thoughts that perhaps tell you no one can help or there isn’t any help or support, what is the point. It has taken courage to get to the position of asking for or receiving support, this experience can be understandably disheartening.
The reality
Sadly this is happening all over the country in statutory and non-statutory services. The cost of running a therapy service has increased so much that many services find they are not viable, or they have to pass the cost on to the clients to such a degree they become unrealistic for most. Therefore, the few services that do offer true low-cost or affordable counselling or therapy become flooded with demand and quickly find themselves having to close their door and limit their services.
On the other side of all of this are services that do offer more affordable therapeutic services often rely on donations and volunteers to keep their costs down for the clients, but still remain viable. Both these resources are in scarce supply in the current climate. Why am I spelling this out? Because all too often, when someone experiences a service closing while they are in treatment, or being turned away at the door, it can feel deeply personal. It isn’t, it is the brutal reality of the world we are living in and although this also brings up difficult feeling,s it can also be helpful to keep this reality in mind.
What can you do?
There are a number of things you can do. Firstly, ask the service that is closing or has closed their waiting list, if they can recommend similar services. Speak with your GP or GP receptionist and ask them to signpost you not only to NHS services, but other local resources. Your local library will likely hold a directory of services and your local authority website will too. Many online directories have a filter you can opt for “reduced cost” “affordable” or “low cost” counsellors or therapists. Go on to the accrediting bodies websites such as BACP, BPC or UKCP and again search for therapists and counsellors who are offering low fees or affordable prices in your area or online.
Although they are very limited, affordable services do exist and if you are reading this, you have in fact found one in Highgate Counselling Centre. We actively work to have a waiting time of a maximum of 6-8 weeks from the first point of contact. We offer counselling for a contribution agreed with each individual based on their income to ensure it is sustainable.
Sustainability is the final aspect I will leave this piece on. Wherever you find yourself receiving support, if you are paying for it, ensure you can sustain paying the fees. It is not just services being suspended or closing that brings peoples’ much needed support often to an abrupt, unhelpful end. This can also happen because a client has not been realistic with themselves as to how they can really manage the fees. If you do find yourself in this position however, always talk about it with your counsellor or therapist. They will also want to find a way not to interrupt or end the work if possible don’t just assume nothing can be done.
