Therapy

Is there an organization that offers free therapy or at a discounted price in Nairobi? Or any good therapist in the house?

are you asking for yourself or someone else?

Myself. Why?

There’s an organization whose name evades me at the moment but they’re on mbagathi highway right next to the building which was torn down hapo roundabout ya T-mall. Just before you get to the Total petrol station which shares a fence with Akilla Estate.

A few years ago, they charged around 5 sok per session but they are always very quick to remind you that they are not licensed Psychiatrists or none of that. They’re just “counselors” and they also have a church background so be ready for lots of religious stuff at some point. When you need a cheap alternative, even KNH recommends them sometimes. If you must use free service, there’s a few who have Facebook pages or their own websites but I don’t recommend them because they usually only focus on cases which seem extreme, like people close to suicide. And unfortunately, they work within the normal office hours which means you should never feel suicidal after 5pm or on weekends and holidays. Do with that what you will.

The thing about Kenya is that not only do we have poor mental health facilities, the qualified ones we have are expensive as all hell. If you do decide to go to a licensed practitioner, jua tu you’ll have too sell a kidney just for the sessions. Woe into you if they decide to prescribe anything and you are forced to start buying meds.

Therapy aina gani?

Jaribu SEP

They have a pool of professionals. They can advise you accordingly.

This is Amani.

Hapa ni counseling pekee.

I’m trying to identify whether I have any unresolved issues from my childhood… I’ve been noticing strange behavioral patterns of late.

5soc per session sounds reasonable… Will check it out.

That information makes it very important to visit a Psychiatrist.

It would be best for you to get a proper diagnosis that would inform the type and extent of support that you may require.
A psychiatrist would be the best start, from there you will be given the next step in care provision.

Tune in to this radio I’ve seen on my friend’s WhatsApp update. They’re discuing men’s mental health and you might pick something from it. But like what Nef has told you, treatment of mental health is quite expensive here in Kenya. Wish you all the best.

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Yes @mtongwe thanks for that. It is Amani. The thing is that when you have no other options, they’re still kind of useful. I was able to refer quite a few people to them and I once volunteered there as well. Sometimes even kawaida counseling helps a little and when someone needs to talk to someone else (especially someone who has no bias because they don’t know you), a counselor will have to also do. Not to sh!t on a whole profession, but I’ve come to find that the major difference between them and licensed practitioners in Kenya and even first world countries is the fact that one can write prescriptions and the other can’t. The only other difference is probably the language they use to get you to where you need to be within specified periods of time.

@Itchy Nerdy i hope you find what you need no matter where you end up. If Amani doesn’t feel like it’s helping after 2-3 sessions, I’d suggest going to a place like KNH or Nairobi West Hospital and asking some of the staff to give you contacts za retired mental healthcare staff who still volunteer at random places alafu you go looking for them. Even if some have taken up the job as a side hustle, just being able to talk to them helps.

And always remember that as with any other health issue, you have to be 110% honest with whoever is taking care of you. If you have to, offer TMI even. It will help them to help you much faster than if you lie.

You have already taken the first big step of seeking assistance, and I believe that you will sail through the situation that you are in presently.

It does you great good by being honest. Talking helps you by identifying and coping with the specific challenges that you are facing.

Wish you the best!!

I have been battling depression for the last 7 months or more despite having experience in psychiatry practice, i could literally see everything crumbling down. You will not see anything significant in the first few weeks but you will eventually beat the demon. I hope you do get medical attention and combine it with psychotherapy to attain an effective response.

You will make it but its not going to a walk in the park.

Depression, mental health chieth and therapy is for small boys and sissies. Are you telling me that a full grown man can pay a pretty penny to a stranger just to talk about the sour cards that life has dealt him? You somehow think that will change anything?

Boss, chin up bwana. Kuna watu who are in terminal care in hospices all over the world and still find a reason to wake up with a smile.

Gathee ever wondered why i dont comment on your posts? You come across as a really retogressive individual with obsessive compulsive characteristics. You are an attention seeker with an extremely meagre IQ desperate for validation. Cheap ass subhuman

Your level of ignorance reflects on the knowledge gap that you have in matters regarding mental health.

It also reflects on attitudes that our society has towards people with mental health conditions and persons with disabilities.

A lot of community awareness-raising needs to be done to change such perceptions.

Mental health is more than the absence of mental disorders.

Anyway, some gaps exist in our society regarding mental health.

Like the knowledge gap that you have and a treatment gap.

Treatment gap:
[ul]
[li]Mental, neurological, and substance use (MNS) conditions account for 13% of the global burden of disease.[/li][li]Yet between 75–90% of individuals with MNS conditions do not receive the treatment they require although effective treatment exists.[/li][li]This represents the mental health treatment gap.[/li][/ul]

From this thread, you can see we have been recommending that @Itchy Nerdy seek appropriate care.

Some of us have been involved in care provision for people with mental health needs in various institutions across Kenya.

Mental health affects people regardless of gender, race, social class, etc.

Thank you.

Nimejiuliza, did he really have to comment if he knew he was just adding a heap of dung?

Mbona hujajinyonga? We are still waiting for your funeral so that we lower your weak-ass self to your grave and stomp on it. Weak negroes like u are a waste of space on God’s green earth

You must be talking about Amani counseling Centre. They are very professional. Helped me cope and exorcise Mombasa demons when I relocated to Nairobi.

Uuuuuuuuuum … Okaaaaaaaay