Hey, I need to talk. My parents finally allowed me to go to a therapist and i was so happy because I've been waiting for years and was looking forward to have someone to talk to about everything. I have been looking and I wrote two douzend therapists and said "If you'll have a place for me in the next 9 months, I want a spot on your waiting list" and all answered me, that they don't even have a waiting list anymore. I had my fair share on bad therapists in the past so I was conflicted, not just happy about it. And now i am only depressed. All my enthusiasm collapsed. What am I supposed to do? I want help now, even the 9 months are very long for me, I finally want to improve and break free from my issues. And from that all my negative experiences with therapists came back into my mind and now I don't even feel good about this whole idea anymore. Idk, I was so hopeful and now not anymore. I fear I'll never find a therapist..
I’d like to start by commending you on your self awareness and the efforts it takes to not only embrace healing and growth, but seeking the help we all deserve on that journey. It’s more than many people are willing to acknowledge, much less do anything about, and here you are going for it.
And sadly, then comes the other part, where the wait lists are long, or insurance issues, or time/transportation are a factor (and even more complex concerns when you've had to endure prior bad experiences, too! I'm so sorry that happened) - just one road block after another that (understandably) discourages you.
And while I can’t make a wait list shorter, I’d like to propose some alternatives in the interim (while encouraging you to call these therapist offices on a monthly basis until they’re open to accepting people on a wait list) - but what about:
Are you comfortable with online/text based therapy? Perhaps you might be interested in browsing our resource page to find therapists?
How do you feel about support groups? Led by trained staff? Mental Health America has a directory that might be helpful (and I’d imagine a directory might be available per international country as well if you’re not in the US) - you can browse it by state/region, and further down, there’s also several different specialized categories of support groups listed with their own directories as well.
Though it’s imperative to develop and have an emotional toolbox of healthy coping skills/resources at hand before diving into some of these (because depending on triggers or feelings stirred during the emotional labor, you, I, anyone, might need the safe space of a therapy room to help process and guide us through it vs. trying to ‘handle it all our own’ with no tools or previously healthy emotional regulation modeled) - but if comfortable exploring some parts on your own: perhaps some shadow work prompts/guides (one, two, three) and/or self help books (12 books recced by therapists)?
Of course, having private, one on one, in person therapy to create a tailored plan with a medical professional is the ultimate goal - but I’m hoping some interim options in the meantime might be helpful, too?
- Mod Kat
