[JWALKER327]

Hello everyone

I have been looking all over for a family couns. but no one is taking on new patents? I have called around and everyone refers me here there and everywhere. My need isn't like we are gonna divorce but I know our marriage needs some help and I have my own issues I need help with same with Hubby.
I have Aetna insurance, and I am Florida? I don't know if anyone has like a search engine to help?

Any help will be great =D
Thanks,
Jessica

[mcmama]

Family counseling is a pretty broad area. Aetna may have a provider directory online.

Insurance benefits for mental health and preventive mental health counseling are usually pretty slim, unless you are ready for the mental hospital or rehab. I found the best thing for my family was to contact a local university which ran a clinic for family counseling, and set things up with them on a sliding scale. Often you will get student interns, but many of them can be quite good. Sometimes they have group therapy for certain problems. This is in NJ.

In my situation, the department chairman took on our family because we were such a mess. My ex kept challenging my decision to take the kids and me to therapy, was very intimidating demanding reports and so on. The department chairman, a very experienced psychologist and administrator, knew how to protect us and the clinic from bullying, students would probably not have done such an effective job. The previous counselor in private practice had dropped us, since it was just too much trouble.

Unfortunately, insurance usually wants counseling to settle whatever issues there are in only a few sessions when it is covered. And even with psychiatrists, who are medical doctors, we found that insurance only would cover the initial evaluation and medication management - so for counseling we still needed the clinic. It really stinks.

[mcmama]

You know, early this morning, I didn't quite pick up on the words "no one is taking new patients". I had some experience with this.

When I was looking for a child psychiatrist for my son (anxiety, OCD, cutting) and my ex was giving us all sorts of problems, I went to my pediatrician who made some reccommendations. Then I went to the insurance company. Only one doctor she had recommended was on the list.

I called that doctor, who was well known and had at one time been president of the local medical society. He was not taking new patients. I called several others. I began to understand why my pediatrician had not recommended them. I called her and gave her their names and she actually told me who NOT to go to. I documented every bit of unprofessionalism I encountered from their offices.

I called the insurance company again, and complained, giving them specific reasons why their people were unacceptable. They doled out a few more names. (no online directories at that time). I called the first psychiatrist again and begged for an appointment. He declined again, but recommended two other doctors, both of whom were on the insurance company list. One had availability.

When my ex decided to challenge the diagnosis, with expensive court appointed hacks, I asked if he would accept a second opinion by a well known psychiatrist who had been recommended by our pediatrician, and had been recognized by the local medical association for excellence. My ex said yes, and then I called the first doctor and BEGGED for an evaluation, not expecting insurance to cover it. Since we could limit it to two or three sessions, he said yes. He also told me who to call at the insurance company to get it covered.

We got two very thorough independent and indisputable evaluations of my son which confirmed the OCD and need for certain meds. And insurance paid.

Just recently I had to find a gynocological oncologist for myself. The doctors on my insurance were few and far between, (within a 50 mile radius) and some did not even answer their phones. No one could see me immediately, and my need was immediate. I wound up going to the oncologist at the local hospital, and my primary care physician's office staff spent all day on the phone justifying why I needed to see that particular doctor HERE AND NOW.

Not everything was covered, but they did get most of it approved. And I am alive and well, and getting better every day.

It can seem very daunting to have to argue with an insurance company when you are depressed, but sometimes that is what you have to do. Call Aetna, tell them that you need help NOW and no one is giving you the time of day, what next? Make it their problem. Also, get your regular doctor to bug them. The people who submit insurance claims from doctors offices often know the right person to talk to.

Good luck!