British Association for Counseling and Psychotherapy
You can get free psychological therapies , including counselling for depression, on the NHS . You don’t need a referral from your GP. You can refer yourself directly to a psychological therapies service. Or you can get a referral from your GP if you prefer.
The simple answer is: it varies. The cost of seeing a clinical or counselling psychologist tends to be anywhere from £120 – £180 a session (50 – 60mins) in the UK . This can depend on a number of factors such as where you live, alongside what level of training and how many years experience your psychologist has.
How do I find a therapist ? So you’re thinking of starting therapy . Ask your friends and family who are in therapy if they can recommend someone. You can also ask your doctor for a referral to a therapist . If you have health insurance, your insurance provider can help you find a therapist .
Some of the main types of psychotherapy are outlined below. Psychodynamic ( psychoanalytic) psychotherapy . Cognitive behavioural therapy . Cognitive analytical therapy. Humanistic therapies. Interpersonal psychotherapy. Family and couple (systemic) therapy.
You need to be registered with a GP to get talking therapies on the NHS , but you do not need a referral from a GP. You can refer yourself directly to an NHS psychological therapies service (IAPT) online.
If you suffer from clinical depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorders, substance abuse issues, or suicidal thoughts — yes, you should see a therapist . Even people who experience milder depression, anxiety, or low self-esteem may find therapy helpful.
Much of this is answered by taking a look at the frequency of your therapy sessions. The general rule of thumb for the frequency of sessions is once per week, especially in the beginning.
While some therapists will charge as much as $250 per hour, the average 45 to 60-minute session costs between $60 and $120 . Many health insurance providers offer high-quality coverage where therapy costs $20 to $50 per session, or that equal to your current copay.
Choosing a therapist Make sure you are clear about what you want and what the practitioner is able to offer. Ask about the time, place and duration of your sessions. If you are paying for your therapy , make sure you understand the costs and any charges for missed appointments and holidays.
In general, therapists have at least a master’s degree, and many of them can diagnose and treat mental conditions. However, they aren’t medical doctors and can’t prescribe medications. Their goal is to help people understand their feelings and thoughts, make changes to improve themselves and develop life skills.
The best place to start is with your GP, who can provide you with a Mental Health Treatment Plan and refer you to a psychologist . Your GP should know of some psychologists in your area, or may recommend that you ring a psychology clinic directly for more information about making an appointment.
Why is it so difficult ? There are a lot of reasons finding the perfect therapist can be tough . One of the primary ones is that most people aren’t blabbing about how great their counselor is all over the place. When we find a good massage therapist or acupuncturist, we feel the need to announce it to the world.
How do I choose the right therapist / therapy for me? The most important question to ask yourself is what you want to get out of therapy . That answer may be as simple as, “I want to feel better,” but being able to share that with a potential therapist will help both of you determine if it’s a good fit.
Cohen, PsyD: In your first session , your therapist will spend some time getting to know you and the issues that brought you into treatment. He or she may use a formal, structured interview, or it may just feel like a more free-flowing conversation.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT ) is the most widely-used therapy for anxiety disorders. Research has shown it to be effective in the treatment of panic disorder, phobias, social anxiety disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder, among many other conditions.