"Where to get free therapy?" someone messaged me recently. "Would you recommend?" The short answer is yes, but with caveats.
If you can't afford to pay and the government hospitals have super long waiting lists, you might look to a charity or non-profit group.
However, before you pick up the phone to schedule an appointment, you should ask two questions.
Must Ask Question #1 Are They Selling Or Promoting Something?
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| "Deception of woman, with self-portrait" Witkiewicz, 1927 |
You'll have heard of cults that focus on lost, depressed or upset people because they are vulnerable. They sell psychological services in order to engage, convert and exploit.
While those are extreme cases, there's a subtler problem that comes with some groups.
For example, suppose you're in an unhappy marriage. You look to someone to discuss this and you find an NGO (non-governmental organisation) that will talk to you for free.
So you pop along and then the conversation runs along the lines of, "How can we help you save your marriage?" because the centre is run by people who don't believe in divorce or who want to keep divorce rates down. Whatever you say, they'll tell you to stay in the marriage, even if it hurts you.
Or the conversation runs along the lines of, "How shall we get you that divorce?" because the group believes marriage is an institution that legalises domestic slavery of women. Whatever you say, they'll advise you to break up, even if it hurts you.
Either way, that's not good.
When you seek help, you should have someone work with you to formulate goals that make you happy.
(Note: I'm talking about voluntary contexts here. I'm not covering situations like court directed anger management or talking terrorists into stopping bombing people!)
A proper session should start with, "What is the issue you want help with?" and then the conversation should map out all your options, just to make sure you know what they are. Then you formulate your goal and you get help making a plan for you to reach that.
So, how do you spot groups with agendas? Read their promo pamphlets to see what their ideals are. Also check their social media feeds to see what kind of comments they make. Ask your circle of friends if they have personal experiences. Put it all together and if you don't get a good vibe, try somewhere else.
Of course, if you have a particular belief system that you want to work with, you might want to look for a group that agree with you. That's entirely up to you.
Must Ask Question #2 How Professional Are They?
Sometimes all you need is a nice person who listens to you and who is sensible. There are loads of charities who offer this service and they're awesome.
Some specialise in particular issues, and over the years their volunteers become experts in their field. You can have a wonderful experience with such people and it's truly valuable.
However, therapy is more than listening. Therapy is the treatment of mental or psychological disorders by psychological means.
What does that mean? Well, it involves understanding the principles of human development and psychology as well as assessing mental health issues, and being able to apply the various treatment strategies that are known to create change effectively.
That kind of training is not something you pick up over a two day workshop or by watching a YouTube video. It's also not something you can pick up just by listening to people for many years. It requires formal training.
I've written about safe ways to find professionals in developing countries before. But when you're searching through free services, you can get a grip on what's what by asking the simple question, "What are your formal qualifications?" A pro has a suitable degree from a college or university as well as practical experience.
I'm Ellen Whyte, BSc Psych (Hons), MCouns (Dist) which means I have a Bachelor's with Honours in Psychology and a Master's with Distinction in Counselling. I'm a level 7 psychotherapist with 10 years of experience helping clients across 20+ countries navigate life's challenges and thrive.
Ready to heal and turbocharge change so you can be your best you?
Message me today via email ellen.whyte@gmail.com or WhatsApp: +44 7514 408143 for your free 15-minute consultation.
Have a great weekend!
