Counseling through Kaiser?

vivemote

My husband is really pushing me to talk to someone about the awesome trifecta of the unimaginably stress-filled parent losses and the miscarriage. Anyone ever done therapy or counseling through Kaiser? I'm not even sure where to start. Should I just call a nurse and see what they say? Our GP just left Kaiser, so I think we got passed on to someone else and I really need to get a GP up here in the main Sac offices anyway, so I don't know about going to the regular doc first. I guess I will just call a nurse, but any advice is appreciated. Thanks ladies!

mythreesons03

I don't have any advice since I have never used them for conseling, however I have friends who have and really had good exp. I just wanted to offer you a hug, I hope you get the answers you need and things get easier for you soon.

StefandTodd

I wish I knew and could provide some answers and/or advice for you.  Do either of you have access to EAP?  I think if I needed to talk to someone, I would probably go through my EAP before Kaiser...but that's just because I'd know who to call.  I was also thinking email/call your doctor, but sounds like you don't know who that is right now.  Who did you see for your first appt?  Can you email that doc?  Good luck, thinking of you, wish I could be more helpful.  ((hugs))

vivemote

Thank you, that's very sweet!

futrkingsley

I did.  My first attempt was unsuccessful. I called the advice nurse, explained that I felt the need to talk to a professional.  Advice nurse walked through issue with me and basically dismissed my concerns.

The second time, my appointment was set up by my OB when she saw how distraught I was at a regularly scheduled appointment.  The person I saw specialized in my particular issue and the hours she spent with me (and hubby) were so healing. 

My vote would be to try to schedule an appointment with the person who is now your GP and see if you have get a referral to the mental health department. 

The person I saw was a liscensed social worker and she worked mostly with people experiencing infertility, neonatal loss, and the life issues that surround that. Since that was our primary issue, it was a great match.

everydayeve

Counseling through Kaiser is interesting. There will be two ways to go about it for you. I've done both so I'll give you my opinions.

1. Call your OB and tell her that you need to speak to someone after your loss. There are counselors on staff in Women's Health for just this reason. They deal specifically with women's health issues, so they'll probably focus more on your m/c at first, but will help you deal with the other issues as well. From my experience, these counselors are great and it's quick and easy to get to see them.

2. Go through your GP and get referred to mental services. If you do this, you have to go to a "class" where you and about 15 other people listen to a lecture about signs of depression/different types of mental illness. You fill out some paper work and then see a random psychologist for your initial evaluation. From there, that psychologist will recommend counseling or classes for you to take. For me, this experience paled in comparison to the help and service I had gotten in women's health. I felt like the women's health counselors were a lot more compassionate. The stress management class they had me take was helpful though.

Good luck! I'm so sorry for all of your losses and I hope that you're able to start feeling like yourself again soon.

vivemote

Ok, interesting thanks. I just spoke to mental health and they said basically they book same day appointments and you fill out paperwork and then see a therapist and if they think you need medication (really don't want) then you have to see a psychiatrist. I think I will try it out on Monday, but if it seems awful I will definitely try to go throught the OB and the women's health people like you guys said. Thanks!

ZoeMay06

I've done it and had a great experience. I think I had to call their mental health services department directly to set up my appointment but I can't remember exactly. I went for two visits but my therapist would have been open to more if I felt that I needed them.

SarahCee

I went through Kaiser to be treatedc for some major depression several years ago. I forget it my primary referred me, or if I just called mental health. Either way, I thought that their mental health department was wonderful, they take you very seriously and the counselors were wonderful. Lots of luck to you. An advice nurse should be able to point you in the right direction.

dblhappiness

ZoeMay06:

I've done it and had a great experience. I think I had to call their mental health services department directly to set up my appointment but I can't remember exactly. I went for two visits but my therapist would have been open to more if I felt that I needed them.

I have just recently started some counseling thru Kaiser and this is what I did. I emailed my PCP about my concerns and she told me to call Mental Health. I did, talked to a psychiatric nurse who did a very brief intake over the phone (asked me some basic questions as to why I called). I had my first appt and filled out a bunch of paperwork and just talked to a counselor. He has helped get me started on some education classes and groups.

HUGE hugs!!