Took The Plunge

LOL

Well I decided to make an appointment to see a counselor for my lingering self confidence issues, among others, on Wednesday. My appointment is for this Tuesday (12th) at a place that has a sliding scale fee system based on income. Seeing as how I’m unemployed I will be charged $40.00 each appointment. Compared to some counselors that’s a bargain but not “cheap” exactly when you’re not flush for cash.

What prompted me to schedule the appointment was seeing my employment counselor on Tuesday (5th) and her suggesting I might benefit. I pondered it for a moment or two and decided she was probably right since I hadn’t done the stuff I’d said I would due to lack of confidence and unrealistic expectations. So now I’m going to be seeing a woman counselor with a Masters in education and a counseling degree (I had to ask before hand since I tend to like psychologists best-but I’ll give the woman I’m seeing a chance). Hopefully we’ll like each other!

Good therapy is all about relationship, that is my opinion, but also backed up by data that purports 80% of therapy’s success is down to relationship between client/patient and counselor/therapist. From my experience I would say it’s absolutely correct since the best therapists I ever had were ones I got on well with. I always accomplished more with those I liked than any I disliked or felt indifferent to.

I’m a little bit nervous to be honest. It’s been 14 months since I’ve seen anyone for my personal problems. Last time I had a psychologist I was seeing through my university’s counseling services. Now that I’m out of school I have to see someone on my own at either a cost or go on a long wait list for someone accessible through the public health care system. Acute cases and those in crisis can usually see someone sooner but since I’m not in a desperate situation exactly, nor especially ill, I’d be waiting months and months to see anyone. Hence the choice to go to someone that is not covered by provincial health care. I’d say it’s private but they’re more of a non profit-like place, although not totally I’d say since they do charge clients for services.

Why counseling services can’t be covered by our health care system is beyond me. There are some who work within the public health care system but a great many are private or semi-private and charge for their services. It seems to me our health care system could be a lot better if government didn’t waste money on dumb things like over priced fighter jets and stupid fake lakes (G-20 meeting in Ontario a couple of years ago). Then again, part of the problem is each province handles its health care individually so that there’s a discontinuity of services across our country. The same thing happens in our education system. It’s also poorly run/managed and in need of a serious policy overhaul.

Bottom line: we should be more like Sweden, the Netherlands, Norway, or even France (and the UK?) where they actually have a well run public health and education system. Canada is a great country but we have many areas needing improvement and complete overhauls.

©Natalya, 2013.

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