Counseling

[JohnnyMags]

I often see counseling suggested to help in dealing with this curse. I have been seeing a therapist for close to a year now. She is pleasant, easy to talk to and I like her however I've come to realize that's about all I do. A typical session is me venting about what transpired in the last week and then times up. She doesn't offer a lot in return. I've asked her how to cope with the events that are upsetting me but she doesn't really have a way to make me feel better. Am I expecting too much, is venting all I get with counseling? If the answer is no how do I proceed to find someone capable that takes my insurance? I found not all therapists take Medicare (with Aetna Supplement) which is what we have.

 

[ShiftKicker]

You do have every right to find someone who can provide you the kind of support you need. Sometimes it can take a few different kicks at the can to find what you're looking for and it's not at all unreasonable to expect more than a vent session. Have you spoken directly about your need for more proactive therapy? Not just asking "How do I feel better?" but more a "Here are my needs with this therapeutic relationship. How can we work on this?"

If you've spoken to the therapist directly about what you need and what you hope for from sessions and she says she's unable to provide that for you, she may have recommendations for a colleague more suitable to your needs. I can't speak for the insurance coverage aspect, but I expect someone here will be able to weigh in on that shortly.

 

[lgelb]

As one example of available databases, I saw at least one seemingly good candidate here -- the language to use when calling to verify whether they take Medicare is "traditional Medicare," which differentiates you from people who have a Medicare Advantage plan.

And yes, your expectation seems pretty reasonable to me.

Find Medicare Therapists and Psychologists in Langhorne, PA - Psychology Today

Find the Right Medicare Therapist in Langhorne, PA - Deb Kossmann, PsyD; Paulette Banford, PsyD; Leonard Silk, PsyD; Emily Bray, MA, LPC; Lynne J Freeman, PsyD; Newtown Psychotherapy Center; Maris Chavenson, LCSW; Shelley Joseph, PsyD

www.psychologytoday.com

The Medicare database may also help:

Find Healthcare Providers: Compare Care Near You | Medicare

Find Medicare-approved providers near you & compare care quality for nursing homes, doctors, hospitals, hospice centers, more. Official Medicare site.

www.medicare.gov

 

[joemz200]

M counselor helps me to cope with what's going on, and more importantly prepares me for understanding what to expect and the various ways for me to adjust/handle it lovingly. If I'm particularly frustrated I can vent for a little bit, but then the discussion is about how to resolve the frustration. AND, always remembering I hate the disease, not the PALS