During a recent clinic, Susan (not her real name) stopped by Walk-In Counseling Center to express gratitude for Walk-In’s services. She offered to share her story in writing, and we gratefully accepted. Here is Susan’s story:
A little over three years ago, I was in a crisis. My divorce had just been finalized, and I’d spent the better part of the prior year focused on helping my kids navigate a complete upheaval of their lives. I was barely keeping my head above the proverbial water.
When things got bad, I headed home to Minneapolis where my family lives and where I’m from. I’d been seeing a counselor weekly in Missoula, Montana, where I had been living. The sessions were expensive and, because of my divorce, the insurance policy that was helping me pay for the sessions would soon end.
While in Minneapolis, my sister was worried about me. She took me to a free counseling session at the St. Paul location of the Walk-in Counseling Center. Because I was so despondent, the idea of calling around looking for a counselor in a new city, with no insurance, was daunting. I’d had two previous experiences searching for mental health services for two of my kids after life-threatening accidents – four years apart. Both experiences had been negative and my search for someone to help my struggling kids ended in vain. I did not have a good attitude about mental health counseling.
Walk-In Counseling Center’s policies were such a welcome change to what I’d come to expect when first searching for help in the mental health world. I was not told umpteen times that counselors were full and not taking new patients. I was not grilled about insurance coverage; I was not told I needed to wait six weeks to see someone. I was welcomed immediately, no insurance needed.
You might think, because of all this, “well, you get what you pay for.” Before going, I was worried such a service would be crowded with people waiting for hours only to be seen by an overworked social worker ready with a referral to a private practice. My experience was nothing like that.
The center was in a residential neighborhood on the quiet grounds of an old house, and it was not crowded. I immediately loved the simplicity and elegance of this system and was put at ease knowing I could gain access to a mental health professional so easily. The barriers of doctor referrals, insurance forms and high fees were gone.
Within minutes of arriving, I was led to a small private room, nicely decorated with a peaceful print on the wall, a lamp in the corner softly lighting the cozy room. Literature about the center was available for me to read on a coffee table, a box of tissues at the ready.
There is a lot of shame that is associated with mental distress. I’m not sure why. But to be treated with such respect was an instant lift. It gave me some validation that what I was going through was okay, it was nothing to be ashamed of. I felt instantly comfortable, welcome and cared for.
Within minutes a young man came in and introduced himself. He was a recent graduate of the University of Minnesota’s Psychology Department with a master’s degree in counseling. He assured me he’d had hundreds of hours of counseling experience and was familiar with a range of therapies. He also told me ongoing sessions were available and again, completely free of charge. There was no catch. This was the real deal.
I left my first appointment with scads of notes I’d taken during my one-hour visit. I’d been told about cognitive behavioral therapy and that it could help me. My counselor told me he thought I was strong after I’d shared with him some of what I’d recently endured. I was given a glimmer of hope that I could get better. I eagerly asked if I could come back and was told that yes, of course I could come back. For free. I couldn’t believe it! I continued sessions with another counselor and learned much about cognitive behavioral therapy and how to implement it in my life. It helped me tremendously.
Today, I am happy and healthy and thriving. I’m able to help my kids through their ups and downs as well. I credit Walk-In Counseling Center for providing such a welcoming, no-cost experience at the time I needed it most. People in crisis can’t wait six weeks. They need someone to listen and to give them hope in their darkest hour.
I’d like to thank all the volunteers at Walk-In for making a tremendous difference in my life.