Just a word of advice to anyone who is finishing up the program. Make 100% certain you have a counselor and doctor who see eye to eye with the program and have a good understanding of what the program entails or at least is concerned enough to ask. My first counselor’s visit lasted all of thirty minutes most of which she was trying to figure out where she could schedule me two weeks later. It was not at all what I needed and it sent me into another tailspin. I do not know how I have survived the past three weeks. I feel like I am living on the edge waiting to get in to see someone that has been recommended to me as really good. This is not the best way to spend the first three weeks after your release though.
That totally sucks!!! I know my counselor is my lifeline sometimes, and waiting to see her is complete torture!! I’m so sorry you’re struggling to find one who works for you! Don’t give up, though, and keep in touch with your friends and the staff from SAFE until you find a competent counselor who can be available to you as much as you need. I sometimes call my counselor daily for coaching!!
After I left SAFE I went to a counselors office and she refused to affirm my experience at SAFE (she suggested using rubber bands and icecubes would have prevented me needing to go inpatient) and told me that “yelling does not affect children” (um, yeah, when you’re yelled at daily and constantly have you safety threatened it does affect you!) Long story short I never returned. If you’re lucky enough to, try to find a counselor who has worked at SAFE. My group counselors were former SAFE counselors and really were my lifeline for the first year and a half after I left. Good luck finding a counselor who can work with you!