Councellors? Where do I find a cheap one?

[MissBrightside]

I think I really need to speak to someone. I feel like I'm gonna have a mental breakdown at times, I feel really overwhelmed with everything that has happened over the past month. I dont know where to turn. My family are supportive but we dont talk about things like this much and I think they would have a biased opinion anyway. So I was just wondering where do I go to see a councellor? I dont have much money. Do centrelink have councellors? Are they any good?
Thanks

[Gribel]

Hey Babe

sorry to hear that ......I pretty sure if you go to Centrelink the can refer you to a Social Worker who either will be able to help you or point you in the right direction. Not sure where else to look though.
I know it's not much help, but you have my Number and are welcome to give me a buzz anytime........:thumbsup:

Chin up, it's gotta get better soon.......:hugs: :hugs:

[Nixie]

U can also go to such places as Salvation Army who have counsellors that work at certain places on certain days and I know that their prices are scaled according to ur income, or lack their of..

[cwsmum]

Hi
What about talking to your GP? Or any GP really...they should be able to help you find someone...and they are always good at listening too :)
Hope you are feeling happier soon :hugs:

[Funkychicken]

Try your GP too. They can refer you. The Salvo's have counsellors too and I think it may be a free service. :hugs:

[Frazzled]

Try Centacare or there is the Benevolent Society - especially for women. Do you have a women's 'clinic' in your local area? Lifeline also have a freecall 24 hour number. xxx Take care :hugs:

[MissBrightside]

Thanks guys. I have my good days and bad days, I just thought maybe it would be good to get a strangers point of view. Although you guys are great and supportive:thumbsup: And your kind words help a bit but id be writing for ages before I got all my feelings off my chest, IYKWIM. And I appreciate the fact many of you have felt the same at some point.
Thanks Belinda you have been great and I'm glad we started chatting.
Is there any kind of waiting list for the salvos or centrelink?

[reAllytee]

I used a counsellor through Anglicare when i first started to seek help & they were great !
Like the Salvos they have trained counsellors who come in on certain days to help out.
When you have your first appointment they work out what they will charge with you as not everyone can afford full costs so they are very understanding.
Try them all & work out whats more suitable for you as they will also ask questions as to work out what counsellor would best suit your needs.
Remember also they if you dont like your counsellor you can change after all this is very personal private stuff you talk about so you need to be happy.
Good luck with everything my thoughts are with you. :)

[pegasus]

Anybody you can see through the public health system is free - usually all you need is a referral from your GP. Drawback is that sometimes there can be a bit of a wait.

Otherwise, Relationships Australia has a special payment plan for people who need extra support (I think it's special discounts if you're on a pension or card). Worth a call.

[zenifa]

Sarah, :hugs: thanks for sharing your feelings with us, the people on bubhub can be a great support and source of info.

I am a counsellor and would suggest the following. Firstly I would go and see your GP, if you have a good one they will listen to you and refer you to someone that can help deal with your specific issues. Secondly, mention your fiancial constraints, as this will be important in who they refer you to. There are many organisations (govenment, community & charitable orgns) that provide counselling, its a matter of finding the right one for you. Lifeline is a great resource for telephone or afterhours counselling, especially if you don't feel up to a face to face session yet. Centrelink social workers will refer you on, as its not really part of their job to counsell people. Thirdly, make sure they are qualified, belong to a professional association and that you feel comfortable with the person.

You can also access counsellors by their professional organisations - eg APS (Aust Psych Society), AASW (Aust Assoc of Social Workers), ACA (Aust Counselling Association) etc

Good luck :fingerscrossed: with it Sarah and PM me if you need some more info and advice.

[KiLLaKaZ]

i looked through the yellow pages the other day for one & the only free/ cheap ones i came across are ones already mentioned (lifeline + salvos), but there was one other - a church group. i think there are a lot of churches that offer free counselling. avoid the very traditional ones, tho, unless you are that religion/ denomination, otherwise you may get some biased counselling. there's a church that i planned on attending near(ish) me that offer this service, so i might go for counselling & find out what the church (ppl) are like b4 attending... ;)

also, once my midwofe found out that my husband & i had separated, she referred me to the social worker at the hospital. not sure how that works if you are going private, but i think most/ all public hospitals may have that service?? i haven't been though, i think going to one of my own religious background would be most beneficial for me...

[MissBrightside]

Thanks guys. I rang centrelink yesterday they said they didnt really offer councelling other than domestic violence child welfare etc. I dialled Lifeline but then hung up cos I didnt know what to say. I didnt know how to ask for help. I finally got the courage and rang Relationships Aust. But there is up to a 3 week wait list. I left my name and number and they will ring if anything comes up.
I looked in the phone book for the salvos but not sure what number to ring? Do I ring Positive Lifestyle or Melbourne Councelling which says underneath incl. gamblers helpline. Do I ring the later number?
Im so confused and scared about getting help.

[Bigtum2b]

I really understand what you are going through. It is so normal to be confused and to be scared. I too, am a counsellor. You wouldn't be normal if you weren't hesitating. Being able to speak to a total stranger is very daunting. But try to think of it this way. Being someone that dosen't know you can actually be comforting too, because you don't ever have to see them again if you don't want to. Most counsellors are very warm and inviting and won't pressure you to talk too soon about anything that you don't feel comfortable talking about. I too used to work at Lifeline on the phones. If you phone and don't know what to say, that is ok - just be honest and say that. Just try to say whatever comes to mind. You don't have to make sense of it, that is the counsellors job. Trust yourself to take the next step and ask for help.
Its great that you phoned RA and put yourself on the waiting list. My advice would be to keep phoning every few days to check if there are any last minute availabilities. If clients, don't confirm their appt the day before, sometimes, they will give them to you, if you are desperate. Be honest with them about how low you are feeling and about how much you are relying on the counselling appt.
I don't live in Melb so no idea about where to refer you too. But please give Lifeline a go. You may not always like the person on the other end of the phone, and that is ok - but don't give up. Try again a few hours later, and you may just get someone else.

Look after yourself. Eat well, rest well, set some small goals for yourself to achieve each day, and nurture yourself. I am a complete stranger to you, and I care about you, so just think about that!! There are so many people in the world willing to help - you just have to reach out.
Take care.

[Refresh]

Hi:) Hugs to you:hugs: Its great that you are talking about it and thinking of changing things:)

I agree that the Salvos are great or else just pop into your nearest church,you will often find that you find a counsellor there for free:) Good luck with it.

[MissBrightside]

Thanks Bigtum2b your post put tears in my eyes, realising some people do care. I spoke to my ex this arvo and he wants to take the boys for the night on Friday. The realisation that this is all real got to me and I broke down in front of my kids childcare centre director today when I went to pick them up. She sat down with me for awhile and we had a chat. Well I did most of the talking and crying. But she was there to listen which helped. Ive never been without the boys for a night and I know in a way it will be good for me to get out but I wont enjoy myself because I'll be thinking of my boys. Its breaking my heart already and they haven't even gone yet.

[brizbabe]

Sarah, someone at FAO has given you the short end of the stick in regards to councillors-even if you don't / can't speak to a social worker, the operators (CSOs) on the phone all have access to a "service finder" which is like a search engine that can locate suitable services in your error-if not too put off-try again. hugs to you:hugs: