Thanks lastchance. I've just never been a group-joiner, hated it. And my experience with AA beyond that has also been prettyy negative, for other reasons, from the first time I reached out to the last meeting I went to. And really, I'd still be willing to go to meetings, but as a "system" it's not going to work for me. It'll never be more than a way to spend an hour productively, which, hey, there's nothing wrong with that.
I know I'll have to pay for some sort of mental health care, I'm just wondering how to zero in on what I need without a bunch of "introductory appointments" at $75 each. Like, there are CBT groups which are cheaper, CACs, counselors, psychiatrist for meds probably...and, whatever else. I just need a plan.