"Talking Therapies experience"

I am currently in a very difficult stage in my life, I am struggling with physical and mental health, as well as trauma and health anxiety.

I was referred to talking therapies for one-to-one phone counselling, patient centred.

I had 20 weeks, once a week, an hour's phone call .

I spoke to an amazing guy who had a lot of experience with my particular issues and was very easy to talk to. During my 20 weeks, I discovered so much about myself, through talking to him and listening to some audio books which was recommended. I found so many issues from my past that have mapped out to who I am today and everything made so much sense possibly for the first time ever.

20 weeks really wasn't enough, I know in logical general terms it is, so to allow others to get help, but I could have spoken to him forever, he helped me travel for those few weeks, to places in my head I couldn't have gone on my own, he helped me make sense of where I had been and why things had happened the way they did.

It was a struggle and wasn't easy, but I was very well supported. He has a lovely voice, explains things well, easy to understand.

So, the downside, I waited 18 months to get this therapy, which is far too long.

Secondly, there is no further treatment, no trauma therapy available, no diagnosis for what is happening to me, so although the 20 weeks helped me so much, it left a lot of questions unanswered as he is not able to treat, diagnose or continue talking to me.

I am auti8, there is no actual therapy or support for autism in this area, we have cloverleaf, but it doesn't really help much.

I feel I need a diagnosis, I know I'm autistic but there is much more going on with me as I can't cope daily.

We can't seem to access psychologist, psychiatrist or any sort of me talking health therapy beyond talking.

I will be referred back to talking therapies and hopefully at some point maybe find some sort of therapy after this.