Free Therapy Sessions in LA/Gaia?

[Seneca-ERRAREHUMANUMEST]

Gaia is a PG-13 site, so even though this is the Life Issues section, I'm really not sure how much would be appropriate to say about my personal issues. So, long story short:

I was until recently involved with organized crime and am now trying to become a "functional" member of society. My boyfriend, who is the only person truly left to me now whom I loved and by whom I am loved, and I live together and alone now, with a few friends nearby, friends who aren't at all connected to that world I was in- and I enjoy this very much. He knows what I have done, however, and it is with his help that I have started to turn around. He's supporting me while I desperately try to find an honest job in a state that has the lowest unemployment rate in seventy years.

So, now then. Now that I've begun the road to recovery, there's one more thing- I've been a bit depressed lately, and my boyfriend has certainly noticed. And I know that when one person is depressed, it affects those around them. I'd always been independent before, so, maybe the fact that he is supporting me and the fact that I feel so helpless now has done this. Or maybe it's the fact that I feel guilty. I know things will get better, and I know that at least within myself I am an independent and worthy woman in my own right, but in the meantime, he wants me to get therapy. Of course, I haven't got any money left, so it would have to be free. Of whatEVER kind- though I wouldn't be too keen on going to an AA meeting for South Parky reasons. Plus, I'm not alcoholic. If there were something similar though, I might consider it. Anyway, my boyfriend has insisted that we can find some kind of free therapy, so, I thought it couldn't hurt to take a poke in this site's life issues forum. I've tried a couple of other forums, also related to mental health, and next I'll be trying to find some psych students or something.

So how about it? I know this site at least has large numbers, so I hope... well... have any suggestions for someone in the L.A. area? smile Any would be appreciated. And maybe I can even get some help here, if there's anyone I could trust to talk with me over pms. Thanks and have a nice day! smile

[sethzack]

Damn I thought you were offering therapy, sorry I don't have any experience with anything like that.

[Seneca-ERRAREHUMANUMEST]

sethzack

Damn I thought you were offering therapy, sorry I don't have any experience with anything like that.

I wish! Everyone I've tried to contact won't talk to me without money unless it's just a friendly ear on an internet forum. One of them was an actual psychotherapist, but he got real snippy with me the second I mentioned having done a ritual related to Aleister Crowley. He just so happened to ALSO have been a Freemason and, well, they aren't fans of him.

[Seneca-ERRAREHUMANUMEST]

Hmm. I guess I should bump this in case someone with something to say might see it.

[The Great Death Spiral]

How were you involved with organized crime?

[angel_259236102]

Look around, a lot of these topics are not really pg 13. Sex and masturbation and what not.

Free and therapy do not go together. You could join some group that is like AA where you all talk bout your problems, but therapists go through YEARS of work. They are not really going to give out their services for free.

[Seneca-ERRAREHUMANUMEST]

The Great Death Spiral

How were you involved with organized crime?

Take some guesses and a couple of them will probably be right. Why do you ask?

[Seneca-ERRAREHUMANUMEST]

angel_259236102

Look around, a lot of these topics are not really pg 13. Sex and masturbation and what not.

Free and therapy do not go together. You could join some group that is like AA where you all talk bout your problems, but therapists go through YEARS of work. They are not really going to give out their services for free.

I'm not necessarily looking for a fully licensed therapist, you see.

[The Great Death Spiral]

Seneca-ERRAREHUMANUMEST

The Great Death Spiral

How were you involved with organized crime?

Take some guesses and a couple of them will probably be right. Why do you ask?

Knowing what you used to do might help people understand the context of your ongoing emotional/psychological state, enabling them to give better advice or recommend a more appropriate course of action in regards to what type of therapy you ought to go for. Also I am from the F.B.I.

[Seneca-ERRAREHUMANUMEST]

The Great Death Spiral

Seneca-ERRAREHUMANUMEST

The Great Death Spiral

How were you involved with organized crime?

Take some guesses and a couple of them will probably be right. Why do you ask?

Knowing what you used to do might help people understand the context of your ongoing emotional/psychological state, enabling them to give better advice or recommend a more appropriate course of action in regards to what type of therapy you ought to go for. Also I am from the F.B.I.

Lol. So is my uncle wink

[Seneca-ERRAREHUMANUMEST]

Anyway, I don't think there's anything I'd get out of being specific in public on Gaia. Like I said, take some guesses and a couple of them will probably be right. No need to get into every detail. I have no desire to get more specific about something that is over and done and in the past- all that remains of that former world is my frustration and depression in trying to become a FUNCTIONAL member of society.

I'd rather focus on moving on than on the past.

[Satil]

I'm on the other side of the country, so I can't help you much in terms of free counseling unless you live in Tennessee!

Almost nowhere will offer totally free counseling unless you are willing to go for religious counseling. Ministers often offer free counseling, specially in larger cities with heavy gang activity, such a L.A. Churches are pretty major in the rehabilitation of former gang members and I think that it's a good avenue for you to explore.

Community mental health centers offer counseling ALMOST free. They go on a sliding scale based on income, and you can be charged a very small fee, and even that they do not always expect to be paid. I worked for a year at a community mental health center and we only collected on 60% of our cases. We saw 26k people in less than a year, and this was in very rural Tennessee. Community mental health centers will not turn you into collections either, so it won't damage the credit you're trying to build.

I don't think you're really quite "depressed". I think you have what is known as an adjustment disorder with depressed mood. You went through a drastic life change and you don't really know how to cope. All of your old coping skills are useless. In this case, just anyone willing to listen would work for you.

Oh! In major cities (especially L.A.) there are a few gang member rehabilitation programs that you could look into. Try calling your local Human Services department, or look under the social services section of your phone book and just start dialing.

[Seneca-ERRAREHUMANUMEST]

Satil

I'm on the other side of the country, so I can't help you much in terms of free counseling unless you live in Tennessee!

Almost nowhere will offer totally free counseling unless you are willing to go for religious counseling. Ministers often offer free counseling, specially in larger cities with heavy gang activity, such a L.A. Churches are pretty major in the rehabilitation of former gang members and I think that it's a good avenue for you to explore.

Community mental health centers offer counseling ALMOST free. They go on a sliding scale based on income, and you can be charged a very small fee, and even that they do not always expect to be paid. I worked for a year at a community mental health center and we only collected on 60% of our cases. We saw 26k people in less than a year, and this was in very rural Tennessee. Community mental health centers will not turn you into collections either, so it won't damage the credit you're trying to build.

I don't think you're really quite "depressed". I think you have what is known as an adjustment disorder with depressed mood. You went through a drastic life change and you don't really know how to cope. All of your old coping skills are useless. In this case, just anyone willing to listen would work for you.

Oh! In major cities (especially L.A.) there are a few gang member rehabilitation programs that you could look into. Try calling your local Human Services department, or look under the social services section of your phone book and just start dialing.

Thank you so much! On the other forums, it looks like all they could narrow it down to was a religious figure as well.

I'll look into community mental health centers next. Considering I just applied for unemployment, I'm not sure how it would work out, but it couldn't hurt to try. And Human Services.

Plus, it feels weird when you know you've done stuff that's illegal and you're trying to talk to other people about it. It's like they tend to think you're less of a person- even my boyfriend.

[Rowan Gallagher]

To absent friends, may god watch over them while they are away from us

I live in Tenn. and I know that where I am I can get counseling free....then again I am in the army and live near post.

I'm studying phsychology in college though and all that so if you want a listening ear I can have one.

As organized crime goes, my boyfriend was in the FBI before he went army. I don't know s**t about it though he doesn't talk about it.

and bring them safe to us in the end

[Satil]

Seneca-ERRAREHUMANUMEST

Satil

I'm on the other side of the country, so I can't help you much in terms of free counseling unless you live in Tennessee!

Almost nowhere will offer totally free counseling unless you are willing to go for religious counseling. Ministers often offer free counseling, specially in larger cities with heavy gang activity, such a L.A. Churches are pretty major in the rehabilitation of former gang members and I think that it's a good avenue for you to explore.

Community mental health centers offer counseling ALMOST free. They go on a sliding scale based on income, and you can be charged a very small fee, and even that they do not always expect to be paid. I worked for a year at a community mental health center and we only collected on 60% of our cases. We saw 26k people in less than a year, and this was in very rural Tennessee. Community mental health centers will not turn you into collections either, so it won't damage the credit you're trying to build.

I don't think you're really quite "depressed". I think you have what is known as an adjustment disorder with depressed mood. You went through a drastic life change and you don't really know how to cope. All of your old coping skills are useless. In this case, just anyone willing to listen would work for you.

Oh! In major cities (especially L.A.) there are a few gang member rehabilitation programs that you could look into. Try calling your local Human Services department, or look under the social services section of your phone book and just start dialing.

Thank you so much! On the other forums, it looks like all they could narrow it down to was a religious figure as well.

I'll look into community mental health centers next. Considering I just applied for unemployment, I'm not sure how it would work out, but it couldn't hurt to try. And Human Services.

Plus, it feels weird when you know you've done stuff that's illegal and you're trying to talk to other people about it. It's like they tend to think you're less of a person- even my boyfriend.

You bring in your stubs for unemployment and they adjust to that, or you sign a contract that you have no employment.

And no problem. I actually am a therapist and while I do like to get paid, I consider it very unfair that there is such a barrier to mental health treatment. Mental health treatment is still considered a luxury in the United States and it makes me very sad.

And it does suck, and many counselors do feel that way. To go to Grad school you either have to work your a** off (me) or have someone pay your way. People who have their parents paying for them tend to be a little more sheltered and usually go through a bit of culture shock when they learn what people go through or have resulted through to survive. Not all of them of course, but a lot of them exist. That is usually worked out of them in a few years.

It's one of the reason gang member rehabilitation groups are so successful. They have a lot of peer counselors, which means they are people going through the same things in life, or did go through them at some point.