What's right for you?

When you are looking at the different types of therapy available to you, there are a number of issues which can be important to consider...

• The effectiveness of all types of therapy depends on the patient and the therapist forming a good working relationship.
• The patient's age, sex, social class or ethnic group should not determine access to therapy
• In considering psychological therapies, more severe or complex mental health problems should receive secondary, specialist assessment
• Therapies of fewer than eight sessions are unlikely to be optimally effective for most moderate to severe mental health problems. Often 16 sessions are required for relief of symptoms, and more for lasting change
• Counselling is not recommended as the main intervention for severe and complex mental health problems or personality disorders
• A co-existing personality disorder may make treatment through talking therapies of most disorders more difficult and possibly less effective
• Patient preference should inform treatment choice, particularly where the research evidence does not indicate a clear choice of therapy
• Interest in self-exploration and capacity to tolerate frustration in relationships may be particularly important for success in psychoanalytic and psychodynamic therapies
• The skill and experience of the therapist should also be taken into account.
• More complex problems, and those where patients are poorly motivated, require the more skilful therapist

Finding the right therapist is an important step in starting therapy. Most therapy is offered on the NHS, however, there may be long waiting lists and therapy tends to be only short to medium term. You will usually need a referral from your GP, CPN or psychiatrist. You may be asked some initial questions to see the level of need you have and if you qualify for the therapy. You may also be asked whether you would like to work with a male or a female therapist.

Some therapies are not available equally throughout the country. If after assessment you have been recommended a therapy but are unable to get it in your area you may consider putting in an NHS complaint to your local Trust - see Complaints section for more information.

If you are not referred for therapy or cannot wait the length of time on the waiting list, you may be able to find a private therapist. Private therapists often advertise in the Yellow Pages or your local community mental health team may have a list of private therapists they can recommend. You should ask whether the therapist is accredited by any organisation.

Therapists can also be found by contacting accrediting organisations such as the United Kingdom Council of Psychotherapy or the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, which will give you added protection and a better guarantee of their abilities.

You will usually have to pay a fee for an initial assessment before you find out if you are accepted. Private therapy can range from about £20-50 a session and is by arrangement with the therapist. Sometimes the therapist has special schemes for people on a low income or for young people. Remember, you will have to pay the fee each week and your therapy may be for a number of weeks if not months.