Systemic Therapy and also urgently needing Advocacy in Cardiff, Wales

[Sleepless123]

Sorry i meant to post this a while ago but havent had much energy for posting recently.

i have a few questions and i hope its ok to post to ask.

Firstly although sometimes i try to shy away from believing this i think i am in quite serious need of a mental health advocate at the moment.i live in Cardiff, Wales.i have contacted a number of organisations.

i have found a number of services locally but all the ones i have tried only accept inpatients and the other i talked to was for people slightly younger than me with mental health/emotional issues living here so i did not qualify.

i am 27.

i wondered if anyone else had any ideas or knew of anything?

Please do not send me to MIND as they dont know where i should go either!i have tried them locally and they say they dont know where to send me.

Secondly providing im still alive [which i guess i will be as i have a habit of getting through things and never die.....meh], i may have a chance of doing Systemic therapy once a week for upto a year with an NHS therapist [who is an experienced Psychotherapist and also training as a Psychiatrist] if i am offered and pass an assessment in September and i wondered if anyone knew anything about this type of therapy?

i am a bit cautious as i have been turned down for NHS Psychology treatment before as an outpatient but also keen to find out about what this kind of therapy is like and any background etc on how it might work.

Thanks.

[88shelz]

have you spoken to your GP about an nhs referal. they are bound to be able to advise you
perhaps speak to the psychologist you could be seeing about other options also

[Sleepless123]

Thanks so much for the reply!

An NHS referral for Advocacy do you mean?i didnt know the NHS had advocates and i kind of think i might need someone more independent.....

Sorry if ive misunderstood what youve written and thanks for the suggestions!

i will mull them over.

[88shelz]

why do you feel you need someone more independant?
they have al been trained to do the same job.
there is no harm in asking!

[Sleepless123]

Sorry i was trying to ascertain if you were talking about the advocate with your earlier reply or something different.

Why do i want someone independent?Cos thats what i thought advocates usually were - independent of anyone you are involved with ie like if you were involved with both social services and the NHS they wouldnt be attached necessarily to either.But just be someone from neither organisation who could aid your voice on look on the situation as an outsider.

i thought that was the aim.i may be wrong.

i know most advocates may have similar training [depending perhaps on what areas of advocacy they work in though and possibly whom they work for].

im not sure if we've got a bit confused here, sorry!

And no theres certainly never any harm in asking!

i also did not know NHS had advocates who could provide potentially longer term advocacy but great if they do.

Thanks for replying!

xx xx

[Stellata]

Mind has an advocacy service.

Systemic therapy, if I understand correctly, is to do with the internal family system that you've internalised in your psyche.

[Sleepless123]

Thanks for the reply and info on the therapy service Katie.

And yes thats what i thought - Mind have an Advocacy service. Hence why i rang the local office.Apparently some Mind Centres do but not where i live.........apparently they dont offer it in Cardiff...and where they do offer it you actually have to live that area not elsewhere to use the service.

Thanks though.

xx

[Stellata]

That's kind of blah.

What about Rethink and the MHF? I'm not 100% sure what they offer.

[roiben]

Kath, have you tried contacting your local PALS (Patient Advice Liaison Service) they are attached to the NHS, but act on behalf of the patient, using their connections for example to uphold complaints. PALS has an advocacy service, which may be able to help you directly, or assist in finding someone suited to your needs. PALS contact number is almost always available on your local NHS Trusts website and it is always worth a try.

I have found PALS useful when my local services have needed a kick up the whatsit to get things done.

*cuddles* I do not know about the therapy....

Roiben x