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RedDeerGuy1's avatar

Does the United Way give good free counseling in Canada?

Asked by RedDeerGuy1 (24454points) March 25th, 2016

I was told to save my money and ask the United Way for advice. There is a United Way that I can see from my bedroom window. What do you think? I have an appointment with a for profit psychologist from Insight Psychology Services for $190/hour. Or should I go to both? Do you get what you pay for?

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7 Answers

CWOTUS's avatar

We have a saying in the construction industry that “You can have it quickly, cheaply and done well. Choose any two.”

I get the sense from the frequency of your posts on a wide range of interests that seem to capture your full attention from time to time that you don’t have a ton of patience. And clearly you’re interested in “inexpensive”. That leaves “quality workmanship” as a potential desire from your counseling that you may have to sacrifice if you want “quick and cheap”. That’s the one attribute that I would not suggest that you give up. “Quick and cheap” has no value.

So, quality counseling is either going to take longer than you would have wanted on a limited budget, or it’s going to cost a boatload of money to work on quickly to satisfy your impatient nature. You’d have to choose which alternative is best for you.

In any case, counseling, if you haven’t done it before, does not consist of someone giving you a plug-n-play life map. You can’t just buy results, or simply wait for them, either. It’s a ton of work and deep introspection, most of the work being yours, and all of the introspection. No one else’s insights into your life and psyche won’t matter a damn if YOU can’t have them and apply them in your own life.

Good luck.

ibstubro's avatar

Go to both.
At least it will give you a range of what to expect.

Personally, I think it’s bullshit that someone doesn’t have to apply and interview for a job that pays $190 an hour.
Tell Insight Psychology Services you’d like to interview a minimum of 5 psychologists before deciding if one is “the right fit” for your needs. Each one can review your case history and present a brief outline of the course of treatment they propose. 10 minutes each should do it—we want to keep it under an hour.
;-)

Hawaii_Jake's avatar

Try it. What have you got to lose?

johnpowell's avatar

I hate to be harsh. But I don’t think you are going into counseling with the right mindset. I think you are looking for validation and not help. So paying is stupid. I think you will walk out cursing yourself for wasting the money.

So do the free thing. Get a feel for it. I doubt the difference between paid and free will be so great that it will make any difference.

janbb's avatar

You get what you work for and flailing around is getting you nowhere. Try something and stick with it for a bit.

Dutchess_III's avatar

What do you want counseling for?

RedDeerGuy1's avatar

@Dutchess_III Direction, motivation and insight. Goal setting ( should I go back to university ) . Treatment for schizophrenia.

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