AboutPatricia A. Schafer, PCC-S, NCC, LICDC Expertise I am a Licensed Professional Clinical
Counselor in Cleveland, Ohio and a National Certified Counselor. I am presently working on my PhD at Kent State. I specialize in Seasonal Affective Disorder, and other depression problems. Also, I counsel families of alcoholics/drug addictions; social phobia; stress; anxieties; women`s issues and a variety of other issues. If I can help, let me know. Thank you.
Question There is something considerably wrong with me. I am not quite sure what it is, but problems have ranged from bulimia to self-injury, panic attacks, substance abuse, etc. I know I have to do something but I have no access to face2face therapy. How can I find an online therapist and how do I know that he/she is the right one for my problems?
Answer Hi Cathy:
You do need face2face therapy since you are dealing with so much. I do do online counseling through Mytherapynet.com and they charge by the minute. If interested you would have to sign up and for a therapist you can type in my name: Patricia A. Schafer, or look for other therapists. Mytherapynet.com gives all their qualifications and everyone is licensed because we have all been checked out.
Now, for substance abuse: Get to Alcholics Anonymous, or Marijuana Anonymous or Cocaine Anonymous - just check them on the internet for meetings near you. It is GREAT FREE therapy. For the Panic attacks you doctor may be able to prescribe an antianxiety. For bulimia you do need special help. It is not uncommon to find people with eating disorders also with a chemical dependency problem. A few bulimics and anorexics I know have actually attended Overeaters Anonymous (another 12 step program like AA) and have had help. Other bulimics have needed a very strict, in house program at a hospital to help them with their problem. Sound like you switch from one to the other, like an addict getting off of one drug and getting on to another thinking he is cured of his addiction in one area only to pick up another. Please try a 12 group (AA, MA or CA) Each meeting has its own personality, so check out a few and pick out the one or ones you like.
