Skip Navigation Link

Northern Wyoming Mental Health Center Inc.

Looking for Help?
Click Here for the Office Location Nearest You

Ask Dr. Dombeck
Ask Dr. Dombeck
Psychotherapy and Mental Health Questions

Can't Afford Therapy

I am a 20 year old student at a top university who was diagnosed with General Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder this last Fall. I had always known that I had that problem, and the diagnoses didn't surprise me, but at the time I was diagnosed I was already severely depressed. The school psychologist diagnosed me and told me that all they could do was medicate me. However it was determined by my regular doctor that since I am very sensitive and allergic to many medications, that it would not be good to medicate me, since the risk of me having a severe reaction was high. So I saw the counselors at school a few times until me free visits ran out, and I could no longer go back, and I didn't feel that it necessarily helped. My agoraphobia became so bad that I could barely leave campus, and I was unable to have much of a social life. My parents don't want to face or believe the diagnosis and get angry with me if I talk to them about it and tell me that I will have to get over it myself, that its all in my head. It was decided by the school psychologist that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy would be best for me, but my health insurance won't cover the therapy. My parents won't pay for it either, and since I am working my way through school, I cannot afford it. So now I am left with not knowing what to do, I got a few books and learned some relaxation techniques, and a friend told me that yoga or meditation may help me out. My friends are very supportive and have been trying to help me out and suggest ways to make things easier for me. I am doing better now, by force of my own will, I force myself to go out, I can talk myself out of some panic attacks now. I feel that if I had CBT that I would be okay and able to handle my problem, but since I can't afford it, I do not know what other options there are available to me. Can you give me any advice? What else can I do to help myself since no one seems willing to help me?

THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION WILL NOT BE DISPLAYED UNTIL YOU HAVE INDICATED YOUR AGREEMENT WITH THE DISCLAIMER PRINTED JUST BELOW. CLICK THE 'I AGREE' BUTTON TO AGREE TO THESE TERMS AND SEE THE RESPONSE.

Disclaimer

  • Dr. Dombeck responds to questions about psychotherapy and mental health problems, from the perspective of his training in clinical psychology.
  • Dr. Dombeck intends his responses to provide general educational information to the readership of this website; answers should not be understood to be specific advice intended for any particular individual(s).
  • Questions submitted to this column are not guaranteed to receive responses.
  • No correspondence takes place.
  • No ongoing relationship of any sort (including but not limited to any form of professional relationship) is implied or offered by Dr. Dombeck to people submitting questions.
  • Dr. Dombeck, Mental Help Net and CenterSite, LLC make no warranties, express or implied, about the information presented in this column. Dr. Dombeck and Mental Help Net disclaim any and all merchantability or warranty of fitness for a particular purpose or liability in connection with the use or misuse of this service.
  • Always consult with your psychotherapist, physician, or psychiatrist first before changing any aspect of your treatment regimen. Do not stop your medication or change the dose of your medication without first consulting with your physician.

Share This

Resources