Therapy recommendations
July 27, 2021 11:29 PM Subscribe
I'd like to start seeing a regular therapist for long-term and debilitating depression. San Francisco area.
I feel like a bit of a desperate mess. After a couple of decades of fairly severe depression, anxiety, self-hate, and so on, I started regularly meeting with a couple different therapists through Kaiser, ever since a half-assed suicide attempt a few years ago. However, the appointments are every six-to-eight weeks, which doesn't seem enough, although I appreciate their efforts. Likewise, I have a Kaiser psychiatrist who is willing to prescribe medication, but the various ones I've tried seem to have had minimal effect (though fortunately the side effects seem just as minimal).
I would like to try more frequent therapy appointments. My efforts to push for it through the system haven't been fruitful, so I'm hoping to find something outside.
I'm in San Francisco, around 40 years old. My income is poverty-level, and has always been, but I have family support and am frugal to a fault, so I have some savings which I am willing to put toward this: up to $500 a month, even. I'd like something local, even in person when it becomes possible. I have a few days a week with flexible hours.
Specific recommendations would be appreciated, as would specific instructions-- I find it very easy to throw in the towel when obstacles come up. I expect I won't respond, so thank you in advance.
I feel like a bit of a desperate mess. After a couple of decades of fairly severe depression, anxiety, self-hate, and so on, I started regularly meeting with a couple different therapists through Kaiser, ever since a half-assed suicide attempt a few years ago. However, the appointments are every six-to-eight weeks, which doesn't seem enough, although I appreciate their efforts. Likewise, I have a Kaiser psychiatrist who is willing to prescribe medication, but the various ones I've tried seem to have had minimal effect (though fortunately the side effects seem just as minimal).
I would like to try more frequent therapy appointments. My efforts to push for it through the system haven't been fruitful, so I'm hoping to find something outside.
I'm in San Francisco, around 40 years old. My income is poverty-level, and has always been, but I have family support and am frugal to a fault, so I have some savings which I am willing to put toward this: up to $500 a month, even. I'd like something local, even in person when it becomes possible. I have a few days a week with flexible hours.
Specific recommendations would be appreciated, as would specific instructions-- I find it very easy to throw in the towel when obstacles come up. I expect I won't respond, so thank you in advance.
Start with your psychiatrist. My new one (I had moved) mentioned the Beacon option at our intake meeting and offered me a choice. I suspect the approvals at Kaiser go through more easily when backed by an MD like a psychiatrist.
posted by majick at 6:59 AM on July 28, 2021
posted by majick at 6:59 AM on July 28, 2021
Earlier this year, I realized that I could look for therapists licensed anywhere in CA on Psychology Today, so long as I was ok with teletherapy. Here's a list of results for teletherapy within 30 miles of 94111 for under $100 a session *or* working on a sliding scale .
You could also search in specific places where you expect to find therapists with a good vibe for you and where costs might be lower. (I have a friend who grew up in Nevada City - I didn't end up with someone there, but if hippies who love science are your jam, it might be a good spot to check! I also looked through Sacramento.)
Wishing you luck and sending kudos your way for taking action to help yourself.
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 2:51 PM on July 28, 2021 [1 favorite]
You could also search in specific places where you expect to find therapists with a good vibe for you and where costs might be lower. (I have a friend who grew up in Nevada City - I didn't end up with someone there, but if hippies who love science are your jam, it might be a good spot to check! I also looked through Sacramento.)
Wishing you luck and sending kudos your way for taking action to help yourself.
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 2:51 PM on July 28, 2021 [1 favorite]
I got normal weekly sessions via Kaiser for far less severe symptoms, so escalating seems very appropriate. What I learned is that they don't pay much at all, so some of the therapists I initially met with suckkkkked and were, like, on their first week on the job. But I kept calling and "switching my authorization" from one person to another (totally annoying), but on person #4, I found someone with a lot of experience who had taken time off and was just trying to ramp their practice back up, so she was excellent. Good luck!
posted by slidell at 5:41 PM on July 28, 2021
posted by slidell at 5:41 PM on July 28, 2021
The Liberation Institute has a sliding scale and their therapists are very good.
posted by blnkfrnk at 7:09 PM on July 28, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by blnkfrnk at 7:09 PM on July 28, 2021 [1 favorite]
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Send a message via the kaiser website to your therapist and psychiatrist, tell them sporadic sessions aren't enough, and request authorization for a Beacon Health referral. If that doesn't work, escalate. Call the main behavioral health number and ask to speak to the manager of the day. Repeat your concerns. If they deny, ask to speak to the chief. If they deny, ask who is above them. I only had to ask the manager of the day to speak to the chief and suddenly the manager approved me. This was after a solid month of almost daily phone calls, messages, and escalations. It took ALL of my energy and effort for a solid month, after a similar attempt last year fizzled because I just couldn't keep up the effort. I will completely understand if you don't have the energy for it now. I only mention it because you mention being at poverty level, and this will be covered by kaiser. Hopefully others will come along with easier options.
posted by Nickel at 11:54 PM on July 27, 2021 [3 favorites]