How can I get access to different talking treatments?

You should be able to access talking therapies for free on the NHS. Other options are through a local charity or paying for a private practitioner.

How Do I Access Therapy?

Therapy on the NHS

The first step is to discuss how you are feeling with your GP, social worker, community psychiatric nurse (CPN) or other healthcare worker. He or she will then be able to refer you to the most appropriate treatment. When asking for therapy it may be helpful to read what the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends for your condition. Information about this can be found in our Talking Therapies Factsheet

You may express a preference for the type of talking therapy that you would like to receive. This will be taken into account when a referral is made, however there may be times when the talking therapy that you would like is not available or not the right one for the problems you are experiencing. You will be given the opportunity to discuss the options with the therapist. If you feel you need a talking treatment but are having problems getting a referral, advice about what to do can be found in our Talking Therapies Factsheet

Private Therapy

You can choose to pay to see a therapist privately. The benefits of private therapy are increased choice; faster access to therapy and the flexibility to ‘shop around’ if you are dissatisfied with your therapist.

However the cost as the average price of a session is £40-£50. Some therapists operate a sliding scale and offer a reduction for people on low incomes. For more information on finding a private practitioner please see our Talking Therapies Factsheet