Posted by Dinah on October 26, 2004, at 8:29:15
In reply to Re: What is your T's fee?, posted by alexandra_k on October 25, 2004, at 23:24:09
By some standards I might be considered wealthy. By prevailing local standards, I'm middle class. Our cars last 8-12 years. Our furniture is decidedly ratty. I still wear clothing I had before I was pregnant with my 8 year old son. (Some clothing have amazing abilities to fit different sizes.) We almost never vacation. I sometimes think I work for therapy money. :) But that's not altogether true. I also contribute to household expenses.
Therapy cost is also relative. Sometimes when I go more often, I get scared of the cost. But if I compare it to the direct cost of one hospitalization, it's cost effective. If I factor in the indirect costs of one hospitalization, it's really cost effective. If I factor in the fact that it keeps me up and working (usually), paying my taxes, raising a hopefully healthier than I am son it becomes so cost effective it's not even funny.
Same thing with the meds I take. Not only the financial costs, but I was complaining that I wasn't able to put in the hours I'd like at work, and I'm not feeling as sharp as I like, since starting my new med. But before that I was considering suicide and not working at all hardly.
And therapy may not be proven under some standards, but it's proven for my life. My therapist is gone often enough that I have opportunity to tell how I do with or without.
I understand how frustrated you are with the difficulty in finding non-CBT mental health care where you are, with efficacy studies driving therapy, etc. I'd be frustrated too.
I also am sorry that not everyone is as lucky as I am to be married to a man that can meet many of the household expenses, allowing me to use so much of my own salary for therapy.
But you're up and off to college! Perhaps one day you too will be stuck in the loop of being fortunate enough to be able to work in a way to enable you to pay for the therapy which enables you to work.
Sigh. Now I want to quit work, which would probably enable me to quit the therapy that enables me to work. But then I might be the sort of mom my parents were to me. :(
poster:Dinah
thread:406220
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20041026/msgs/407359.html