Using insurance for therapy - Harmful?

[strawberrysweetie]

I thought I should probably create a new thread for this.

Aug 9, 2009 9:28:53 GMT -5 gaia said:

Aug 8, 2009 23:10:56 GMT -5 @strawberrysweetie said:

Anyway, I heard something new (well, something I'd never heard before) about using insurance for therapy....how it's not so confidential and can impact you down the road...like for applying for a job or applying for private insurance, etc because it's on record. Really pisses me off that it can have such an effect.

Really? That's awful if it's true.

Yeah. I had no idea of this, until I talked with one of therapists I contacted over the phone. She told me she didn't take insurance, because, being through lots of therapy in the past herself, she had apparently had lots of trouble with it. Even contacted people to see if it could be removed from her record, and said that she found out it stays there for a very long time. She said she didn't want her clients to have to go through the added stress of that.

I have no idea how it works for you over there, but apparently it can have a negative impact here. I did some brief internet searches to double check and came across some of the same problems that she mentioned.

"What are the concerns about using health insurance for therapy?"

Some personal stories

Basically, employers or potential employers are usually allowed access to such records....and they are able to see the "diagnosis." The thing about "records audits" really bothers me, too.

Which, I don't know about others, but really worries me. I mean, like it's not hard enough to be dealing with the shit that we have and being worried about potential jobs already. It's just so not fair.

Also, if you need to get privately insured...it sounds pretty darn impossible to do so with any mental health history, since you're considered a high risk or whatever. And this kind of scares me because, if I have trouble getting a job with benefits after college, I know my dad said I may have to get private insurance, since I'll be getting kicked off of his plan in about a year. :S


Another thing about insurance, is that some insurance companies only let you go to certain people or are allowed to dictate exactly how many sessions you're able to attend (well, how many they'll cover), which is pretty ridiculous if you ask me. How would they know how many are necessary to be beneficial?

For example, I did try therapy a little over three years ago now. I was 18...my dad took me and dealt with all this crap. I remember him saying I'd have 6 "free sessions," something that had already pissed me off from the offset, 'cause I felt as though he'd expect me to be cured by then and it'd be over. I knew that wouldn't be enough to change me. Plus, the therapist pretty much acted in the same way....in such a rush to get me to do things before even really talking to me or getting to know me really. It was stupid. I only went to 2 sessions. YET, I think after the first initial one she already had to give me a 'diagnosis.' She even told me that it was necessary so that insurance would be able to cover it and then just jotted down "Generalized Anxiety Disorder." That was it.

So now, who knows, that's on my record for life now? I'm pretty pissed if it is, because I only went to 2 stupid, pointless sessions. Though, come to think of it, maybe in a way I should be grateful that's all she jotted down.

Aug 9, 2009 9:28:53 GMT -5 gaia said:

You shouldn't let it put you off getting help though. I know you felt better enough to cancel an appointment, but it takes a while to get yourself in to therapy because of waiting list time (or at least that's how it is here) and by that time you might need it again.
I dunno. I'm not picking on you and trying to persuade you to do something you're not happy with, but it's always good to build up a network of support for the times when you really need it.

I've read that some still say the pros outweigh the cons in using insurance for therapy, but it still concerns me. It seems significant enough to me anyway. Plus, they're still allowed to say how many sessions they will cover.

I know I could probably really benefit from it, but it's just so damn expensive. I really don't think just a handful of sessions would do me much good. Hell, I don't know. :S

Oh but, for where I'm at, I've never ran into someone who said there was a "wait list" for therapy. Not that I've talked to many, but I just haven't come across that. Probably because it's sucky here. Seriously. Can't really seem to find exactly what I'm looking for anyway.


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Anyway....anyone have any other comments or stories regarding this? Anyone who's used insurance to help pay for therapy....have you experienced any problems with it?

I figured I might as well share what I learned, as I never even heard of this before and was shocked. I think everyone should at least be informed of the potential repercussions.

[gaia]

The 'system' is different here in the UK, what with the NHS, so I can't really comment on this whole insurance thing. I hope some U.S. people come forward though if they've used insurance for therapy.
It's just such a pain in the ass that all these barriers seem to be in the way for you (and anyone else in your position). God, imagine if someone suffered from paranoid thoughts and all this record keeping was going on? Wouldn't do much for their recovery, I bet.

One more idea - are you in college this next academic year? Do they have a counsellor you can see? It's a bit of a long shot I know, but perhaps it won't affect things like seeing someone in the 'outside world' would?

[strawberrysweetie]

Aug 10, 2009 13:57:53 GMT -5 gaia said:

The 'system' is different here in the UK, what with the NHS, so I can't really comment on this whole insurance thing.

That's okay.

Aug 10, 2009 13:57:53 GMT -5 gaia said:

God, imagine if someone suffered from paranoid thoughts and all this record keeping was going on? Wouldn't do much for their recovery, I bet.

I know... :S

Aug 10, 2009 13:57:53 GMT -5 gaia said:

One more idea - are you in college this next academic year? Do they have a counsellor you can see? It's a bit of a long shot I know, but perhaps it won't affect things like seeing someone in the 'outside world' would?

Thanks for the suggestion.

I actually visited with a psychologist at my school once. I think it was last fall, after I went and got my thyroid levels tested to rule out any possible physical reasons for how crap I feel, and then after they said things were alright, they set it up for me with him, to discuss depression.

I brought up the social anxiety bit, and I don't know...it was just weird talking about it. He said I could come in and talk again, but then after that would have to pay a small fee to keep visiting with him. I sort of felt there'd be no point.

Additionally, being a 'psychology major,' I sort of feel weird going in for the counseling there. I don't know. I'm really strange about stuff, probably. Maybe I'm just making up a shit ton of excuses for no reason.

Money-wise, I was just going to put some of the money from my student loans toward therapy, which I feel at this point would be my only option and possibly last option for awhile. And now, well, I guess I've just decided to go at it on my own again.

I really get on my own worst nerves.

[HybridMoment]

I would personally avoid any mental health care after seeing three generations of my family with severe depression/anxiety failed by it time after time.

Also I wouldn't want any of my records to prevent me from buying guns (with the current laws going to therapy will not prevent you from doing so, but it may in the future).

[Naptaq]

Aug 10, 2009 1:52:12 GMT -5 @strawberrysweetie said:

Oh but, for where I'm at, I've never ran into someone who said there was a "wait list" for therapy.

It's common in countries with universal healthcare. Usually there's one trick: Pay and you get in front of the line.

Personally I'd advise you to sacrifice some money for your own good and get therapy.

Also you could aslo do meditation and/or the 12 steps, which are way cheeper.

[strawberrysweetie]

Thanks for the comments, HybridMoment and Naptaq.

Aug 12, 2009 21:40:41 GMT -5 HybridMoment said:

I would personally avoid any mental health care after seeing three generations of my family with severe depression/anxiety failed by it time after time.

If you don't mind my asking, when you say "failed by it," do you basically mean that they didn't improve at all? Or that they got worse? Or did they have problems with the whole insurance thing?

[gaia]

Aug 14, 2009 0:32:15 GMT -5 @strawberrysweetie said:

If you don't mind my asking, when you say "failed by it," do you basically mean that they didn't improve at all? Or that they got worse? Or did they have problems with the whole insurance thing?

I can't speak for Hybrid, but I have my own input.
The thing is, you have to accept mental health care is never going to be a cure. Sometimes things happen (or rather, things don't happen) that can leave you and your family feeling 'failed' by the professionals.
A therapist is really just someone to talk to, maybe suggest some new ways to cope - but ultimately any change comes from you. (I know that sounds really patronising, but I don't mean it to be. )
I've had mental health care since I was 12, and at times it's felt very disappointing. One might say I was failed by them, because in spite of all the appointments I had and the feelings I expressed, I still got to the stage on several occasions where I attempted suicide and got put into a mental health ward (sorry, I don't mean to be depressing, i'm just giving an example).
Basically, don't expect too much. Try not to have it in your head that they've got tricks up their sleeves that can fix you, because they don't. They're humans at the end of the day, not Fairy Godmothers/Fathers.

In spite of all of this though, therapy has helped me a lot. To have an 'outsider' to talk to, who doesn't get emotionally affected by what you say, to ask the right kind of questions - that's really valuable.
Sometimes I used to go to my appointment with a script in my head of all these big serious issues I wanted to talk about, and would end up discussing something completely different.. something little that I didn't even realise was bothering me as much as it was. And that was helpful too. Because even if I didn't get to talk about how scarred I was by that time I got bullied in school, I did let rip about how fucking mad my mother is driving me by going on and on about me looking for a job (for exmaple..). And it's those silly seemingly insignificant things in the present that get brought to your attention that are actually a little bit brilliant, because they are so much more changable than those big things from the past. And when you change the silly little things, it has a surprisingly profound effect.
A therapist can help you find pieces of the puzzle and facilitate you putting them in the right place, if you see what I mean.

Anyway, sorry for typing loads, i'll bring it to a close here. Just thought i'd say my bit.

[strawberrysweetie]

Aug 14, 2009 17:37:15 GMT -5 gaia said:

Aug 14, 2009 0:32:15 GMT -5 @strawberrysweetie said:

If you don't mind my asking, when you say "failed by it," do you basically mean that they didn't improve at all? Or that they got worse? Or did they have problems with the whole insurance thing?

I can't speak for Hybrid, but I have my own input.
The thing is, you have to accept mental health care is never going to be a cure. Sometimes things happen (or rather, things don't happen) that can leave you and your family feeling 'failed' by the professionals.
A therapist is really just someone to talk to, maybe suggest some new ways to cope - but ultimately any change comes from you. (I know that sounds really patronising, but I don't mean it to be. )
I've had mental health care since I was 12, and at times it's felt very disappointing. One might say I was failed by them, because in spite of all the appointments I had and the feelings I expressed, I still got to the stage on several occasions where I attempted suicide and got put into a mental health ward (sorry, I don't mean to be depressing, i'm just giving an example).
Basically, don't expect too much. Try not to have it in your head that they've got tricks up their sleeves that can fix you, because they don't. They're humans at the end of the day, not Fairy Godmothers/Fathers.

In spite of all of this though, therapy has helped me a lot. To have an 'outsider' to talk to, who doesn't get emotionally affected by what you say, to ask the right kind of questions - that's really valuable.
Sometimes I used to go to my appointment with a script in my head of all these big serious issues I wanted to talk about, and would end up discussing something completely different.. something little that I didn't even realise was bothering me as much as it was. And that was helpful too. Because even if I didn't get to talk about how scarred I was by that time I got bullied in school, I did let rip about how fucking mad my mother is driving me by going on and on about me looking for a job (for exmaple..). And it's those silly seemingly insignificant things in the present that get brought to your attention that are actually a little bit brilliant, because they are so much more changable than those big things from the past. And when you change the silly little things, it has a surprisingly profound effect.
A therapist can help you find pieces of the puzzle and facilitate you putting them in the right place, if you see what I mean.

Anyway, sorry for typing loads, i'll bring it to a close here. Just thought i'd say my bit.

^ Thanks very much for sharing all that, gaia.

It sort of puts me at ease more, actually. Part of my reluctance in going to therapy has been that thought of....well, going into it knowing I may be expecting too much, that in the end my life and how I live it will come down to me doing things differently on my own anyway, of course. They would only be able to do so much. Anyway, all of what you said makes sense.

[HybridMoment]

The problems people in my family have had with mental healthcare: finding therapists/psychiatrists willing to take on new patients, practically having to beg to be put on a waiting list, having them suddenly reschedule an appointment for several months away, prescribing medications that have side effects worse then the cure, plus the insurance doesn't pay for it. Also for some reason, several times the psychiatrists have just left the profession all of a sudden, with out even leaving a replacement or suggestion for a new doctor.

[gaia]

Aug 15, 2009 23:11:07 GMT -5 HybridMoment said:

The problems people in my family have had with mental healthcare: finding therapists/psychiatrists willing to take on new patients, practically having to beg to be put on a waiting list, having them suddenly reschedule an appointment for several months away, prescribing medications that have side effects worse then the cure, plus the insurance doesn't pay for it. Also for some reason, several times the psychiatrists have just left the profession all of a sudden, with out even leaving a replacement or suggestion for a new doctor.

I've had similar issues with 'care co-ordinators' (not so much therapists).
Two years ago I moved from adolescent services to adult services, and I explicity said "DO NOT give me a male care co-ordinator, there's no way i'll talk to him about anything. Please give me a female", and they didn't listen. Back in January I kicked up a fuss again, and i'm still on a waiting list for a female care co-ordinator. It's really just as well i'm doing alright lately, because if I felt I needed the service, i'd be f*cked.