Trying to get help.........GP not interested.

[dori2o]

I have depression which has been brought on due to me sufferring from chronic Neuropathic Pain in my right knee.

I have been receiving counselling for the past 6 weeks that is being provided by my employer, but I only have a maximum of 8 sessions.

I believe that this counselling has been very good for me. My wife, Mum and close friends have all commented on how different my mood is recently.

However, as I only have 2 sessions left I am worried that after this I will go back to how I was.

I spoke to my GP about it when I saw him 2 weeks ago, and whilst he agrees that my mood has improved, he cannot do anything more than prescribe anti depressants. Nobody had mentioned to me about CBT or any othet therapy and what I do know now I have researched on my own.

My counsellor has advised that my GP should at least be making some kind of referral as the NICE guidelines suggest medication should be a last resort.

My GP's exact words were, 'it's a waste of my time referring you to the mental health department as they will simply refuse you any further treatment'.

Now I don't know what to do.

I have spoken with my employer and I cannot have any extra sessions at their expense until January next year and I cannot afford to pay for them myself.

Does anyone have any suggestions.

Thanks.

[junior]

Hi dori2o

Have you looked at www.mindfulhelp.org.uk they do online and face to face therapy all free of charge soyou dont need to worry about the cost.
Hope that helps
Junior

[Friartuck]

ref counselling it depends on what part of the country you are in but if you are in the midlands google lighthouse trust counselling they can help you...

[dori2o]

Thanks for the replies so far, very helpful.

I live in Oldham, Greater Manchester, but I am willing to travel if I have to.

I have been looking into various therapies online and have discovered that I can be referred to a CBT group at our local library, so when I go to the GP's next week I'll mention this. it's run by Oldham NHS and is free so may be worth a look. Hopefully the GP will be more forthcoming than the last time I saw him.