Lived Experience Forum

[Christofuuu]

Tiny background which has led me to now.... 

I have scarily strong dissociative disorders that absolutely cripple and control every part of my life.... Because of my avoidant behaviours.... I'm now only finally trying to see a specialist psych. This person I know will be the one for me.... But it's $110 per week (after MC).... I get paid JobSeeker which is not a liveable income.

The psych can't reduce or bulk bill so was wondering if anyone has some suggestion.

Thanks

[JoeTheLion]

Hi @Christofuuu 

Sorry to hear you've been struggling so much with it all. But you've also shown a lot of courage reaching out.

Yep it can be a bit of a jumble with psychs. This link has a search that may help:

https://psychology.org.au/find-a-psychologist

Some other links that might be useful where you can link in with services:

https://www.emhprac.org.au/directory/

and this one also has some eTherapy sites as well as a bit of directory:

https://www.headtohealth.gov.au/

All the best 

[Christofuuu]

Thanks... I'll have a look.

[Eve7]

Hi @Christofuuu  I hope today is going ok for you.

I understand the cost for seeing a good therapist as I’ve just cut back my visits for the same reason and now I’ve reached the threshold so I should get more back each visit.

Maybe go less than weekly or keep searching. I’m sorry it’s so expensive to get help.

Take care

[Christofuuu]

Thanks... I'll get there

[PossumSocks]

Hi @Christofuuu 

Just wanted to let you know that I really feel where you're coming from, trying to access psychologists. I think it's a major problem in our society (and likely overseas too - and worse in the united states, I guess), so much money and messaging and campaigning about "just ask for help" but in reality that help is really only accessible to the most privileged amongst us. Many years ago, I had a psychologist who did a "sliding scale" and only charged me a $20 gap after Medicare rebate, but I feel like that is unheard of these days, especially for those with specialist skills, like you mentioned.

I wish I had a solution I could offer you, but the only experience of my own that i can reference is that I got a NILS loan to access some psychiatrist appointments a few years ago. I was on Newstart/Jobseeker and paid it back over 24 months in instalments I could afford.

https://www.vinnies.org.au/page/Find_Help/NSW/Finances/No_Interest_Loan_Scheme_NILS/?gclid=CjwKCAjw6...

That link is for Vinnies but there are lots of different providers for NILS all over the country.

Other readers of this thread might be interested in the Australian Association of Psychologists Pre Budget Submisson, where they are advocating for re-think and changes to the current model of Medicare rebates (Better Access, haha) which would actually increase access for low income earners. I really hope there can be a political shift in addressing this some time soon, because there are so many people being left behind.

https://www.aapi.org.au/common/Uploaded%20files/2022-23%20Pre%20Budget%20submission%20AAPi-%20Final....