"I wasn't brave enough to see another psychologist for 18mths until I became really suicidal"

I was referred by my GP to a registered clinical psychologist for severe depression after having antidepressants prescribed. The psychologist seemed very nice on first impressions, was similar in age to me & proposed concentrating on the present, not digging up the painful past.

The second time I went, she seemed to have forgotten what she had told me already & that we had agreed on the mindfulness approach. She went through another type of preliminary explanation/assessment & I asked her about the 'mindfulness' & I was told that we would make the decision next time.

I decided to go along for the 3rd appointment (and I was pretty distressed by then, not having any new strategies to help me cope) even though it didn't seem promising. The third appointment started badly with her seeming to forget my story again & I left suddenly, crying, ran to my car & drove off. I was really crook & drove about 150kms away from the city before I calmed down - that's an old habit (driving in the country to feel better). No one rang to check I was Ok & I wasn't brave enough to see anyone else for 18 months until I became really suicidal. Also, under the Better Access Program, I would be counted as recovered in only 3 sessions but I was the opposite! I know several of my friends have parallel stories involving anxiety/panic disorder treatment.