Who took the charity part out of Catholic Charities?!

[matrixrefugee]

Now the co-pay for my therapy has gone up, due to funding cuts at Catholic Charities. Looks like I can only afford to go in for counselling once a month. I'm tired of the financial hassles over everything, and I frankly feel like the end of my rope isn't very far away. I took my 5-HTP, but I feel like I need something more. I need a bright patch in this rash of darkness I've had.

Of course there's always the option of going to another therapist, but I really don't want to go to the hassle of starting all over again, and I'm having visions of a repeat of the incident with the nurse practitioner who was blaming all my problems on the fact that I was home-taught. Unlike my dad's therapist who said that teaching me at home was probably the most humane and ethical thing you can do with a kid with Asperger's Syndrome. It prevents them from hurting themselves or doing a John Odgren -- oh yeah, and it turns out my dad's therapist was working with one of John Odgren's teachers at one point. Small, scary world.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Dear Matrix Refugee,

Though I may not be able to give you a patch of light, I will try with some words of comfort. Even when you might feel you have reached "the end of your rope", please cling to this rope! there will always be someone who will take the other end and drag you out of whatever pit of despair you were ascending into. And yet, that someone might even have to be yourself. Life IS unfair, with cutting fundings etc. However, try not to rely completely on help from the outside, but do also seek help from within. You are unique. You are a wonderful person. You are WORTH to be treated nicely. Take comfort in your belief (I always admire people who reallly have found something to believe in!). And do also belief in yourself. Let no one convince you otherwise ("Homeschooling is the source of your problem" etc...) For good or ill, it is a very important part of what you are today (and IMHO, I think it was for the better).
Sorry for my ranting, but I always could throttle so-called therapists who try to convince people that something in their life went wrong. Do not try to fix where nothing's broken...
Hold your head up high and make juice of life's lemons. And make enough to share with others ;-)

Blessed be!

Samira

[(Anonymous)]

Honestly, this is what I would do if I were in your position and felt I needed therapy more than once a month: find a new therapist, and if they start to hark on the home-schooling thing, tell them something like, "THAT was my past, and unless you have a time machine to go back and change it, we're way past it. What I need to know is how to deal with my PRESENT so I can best deal with the FUTURE."
People seem to forget, in my experience with therapy, is that THEY (the patient) are, essentially, the ones in charge. You (the patient) are paying the therapist to make you feel better! Would you pay a house-painter to only have him criticise the fact that you painted your siding 10 years ago? No, of course not, that's silly.
So, long story short, find a new therapist, but don't forget you're the one calling the shots. A person can only get help if they WANT to be helped, and I think you do.

~Ruby

[matrixrefugee.livejournal.com]

Fortunately, the therapist I'm working with now is incredibley open-minded about homeschoolers; it was her predecessor at Catholic Charities who was bashing the way I was educated. I guess in my depressed state when I made this post, I didn't make that clear. Sorry!

[matrixrefugee.livejournal.com]

Hee, thanks for the words of encouragement: they mean a lot, believe me. :: Smiles, grateful::