It can be daunting looking for a therapist. If you have been to see the GP and are referred to an NHS therapist you can assume that whoever you will see will be a good fit for your needs and that they are fully qualified and supervised in what they do.
Why private therapy?
However, you may decide that private therapy is a better route for you. This might be because you have private health insurance that covers the cost, the waiting list for NHS therapy is too long or you want to be able to have more choice about your therapy, be that in who you see or more flexibility in terms of times and locations.
Where do you begin?
It always helps if you have a good idea of the issues that you feel you need help with, some people may even know what kind of specific therapy they are looking for, but for everyone else it can be a minefield:
- Do I need a clinical psychologist? A counsellor? A psychotherapist?
- How do I know that they are fully qualified?
- How much will it cost?
- What happens if I choose the wrong person and end up feeling worse?
Private therapy can be accessed in a range of ways, more commonly:
Charities
Charities are often set up to provide therapy, this is particularly true if the issue that you are looking for help with is very specific, such as bereavement or childhood abuse.
There are charities that can provide more general talking therapies and also produce self help guides: these can be a good place to start if you are looking for guidance and feel that you would like to start by seeing if you can overcome the problems on your own.
Individual private therapists
There are many private therapists that practice on their own, usually from their home address or a hired room. They can be found on a range of on-line counselling and psychology directories with mini profiles stating what they specialise in so you can choose what is right for you.
Like any sole trader they operate alone and will be governed by their own processes and practices.
Private clinics
With long waiting lists in the NHS, more private clinics are being opened that offer a range of therapists and therapies.
These are unique in being able to offer a similar model of therapy as the NHS, with a range of specialities in one clinic and with the reassurance that all therapists are fully accredited and adhere to the guidelines of the clinic.
It may be possible to book in for a free consultation, where you can have the opportunity to talk through your needs with a professional, who will be able to guide you to the best therapist to meet your needs.
Select Psychology – our clinic
As a larger private practice we have a range of therapists that specialise in various therapies and issues.
All of our therpasits are registered with the relevant professional bodies such as:
- British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) for counsellors and therapists
- British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) for CBT practitioners
- British Psychological Society (BPS) for Clinical Psychologists.
We have a pathways co-ordinator who will carry out a free consultation with you to understand what your issues are and then be able to allocate the right therapist for you.
With strong governance we operate to an extremely high standard, delivering excellent patient care.
Things to consider when seeking private therapy
Here are some questions you might want to consider when making your enquiries for:
- Which professional body are they are member of?
- Why would the kind of therapy that they can offer be a good match for your needs?
- How often could they offer an appointment and would this be a regular slot or be varied from appointment to appointment?
- Do they have a cancellation policy?
- What is their confidentiality policy?
- What happens if I am do not feel that I am making progress?
If you are considering private therapy, book a free consultation today.