FAQs

How do people choose a therapist?

 

Research shows that one of the most important aspects of effective therapy is the relationship you form with your therapist. Therefore it is important to find someone who works well for you.

 

It is helpful to proceed with care, but perhaps not so much caution that you never engage with therapy. Therapy is an unregulated and unprotected industry, meaning anyone can call themselves a "therapist", "counsellor" or "psychotherapist" regardless of training or experience. It is therefore helpful to look for therapists who sign up with professional bodies, such as UKCP, BACP, NCPS, and others.

 

A lot of life advice for decision-making also applies to choosing a therapist:

• If you are having a major house renovation, it is generally recommended that you speak to at least 3 builders. Feel free to do the same with therapists. 
• If you are looking for a restaurant, most people may be sceptical if somewhere claims to be an expert in every cuisine. Likewise, you may want to be careful of therapists who claim to be experts in all people and all things.
• If you go to a physiotherapist, you might be sceptical if told that all your problems in your body will disappear with a single click of the neck! You may want to keep this in mind when browsing advertising for therapists.

 

While speaking to multiple therapists is an option, there is also nothing wrong with going with the first therapist you speak to. Especially if their services are in your price range, they are conveniently located to you, they have a time slot that works for you, their code of ethics are clear, and you get a good feeling from them in your free introduction.

 

For those who do want to invest a little more in the process of finding the right therapist for them, the book A Straight Talking Introduction to Therapy, linked in my final FAQ, is a great resource for finding out more about therapy and what may be best for you.

 

The UKCP also have a page on how to choose a therapist.

Is it better to see an independent therapist or use an online subscription-based platform that advertise better help for individuals?

 

Personally, I advise caution if friends ask about subscription-based therapy websites as I have heard many horror stories from clients and colleagues. However, I do also know several people that have used these sites and benefitted from it greatly. 

 

Channel 4 produced a documentary on subscription-based therapy websites. This can be found on YouTube here.

 

Perhaps you could have a look at both options and see what works for you? Do you want face to face, or do you want online only? Do you only want messaging through the week, or do you only want typical therapy sessions?

 

Disclaimer: It may be important to consider that private therapists (such as myself) may be biased against recommending online platforms, because online providers can take up to half of the fee from therapists, as a service charge for using the site. While online platforms may be biased against recommending independent therapy as these therapists are direct competitors to their business models.

 

 

Do public reviews matter when it comes to choosing therapists? (Google reviews etc)

 

I regularly look at Google reviews when deciding which services to use in my daily life.

 

However, item 13 in the UKCP Code of Ethics (to which I conform) states that therapists should 'not make any claims which you cannot demonstrate to be true or include testimonials from clients in any advertising'. Many other professional bodies have similar views. Given that it is almost impossible to ascertain whether online reviews are 100% genuine, many highly skilled therapists have zero public reviews and do not make any attempt to gain public reviews. On top of this, public reviews risk breaching confidentiality for the client.

 

 

What are the different therapy types of therapy? EMDR? CBT? DBT? Psychodynamic? Person-centred? Gestalt? Existential?

 

Fortunately, you won't need to learn about these words when looking for support. However, if you did want to know more, Good Therapy is an excellent source for learning more about types of therapy. On top of this, when approaching therapists, you will be able to ask what type/modality of therapy they offer, what it involves and why they think it would be a good fit for you.

 

 

How long do people have therapy for?

 

It depends. The duration of therapy varies greatly depending on individual needs. Some people may find relief and achieve their goals in a few sessions, while others may benefit from longer-term therapy lasting several months or even years. This question is likely to be discussed when meeting with a therapist for the first time.

Does therapy make you feel worse before it gets better?

 

It is a possibility but is not always the case.

 

Therapy can sometimes stir up uncomfortable feelings as a natural part of the healing process. While you may experience temporary distress, it often indicates that therapy is addressing underlying issues. Your therapist is there to support you through these moments, and they should be able to tailor their approach to avoid the difficulty going beyond a helpful level.

 

Certain types of therapy are better for immediate support, while other types of therapy are better for longer-term changes. This is something I, or any other therapist, could discuss with you if you feel that your level of difficulty is already at an unmanageable level. 

What is the difference between counselling and psychotherapy?

 

"Counselling" and "Psychotherapy" are often used interchangeably, but the consensus seems to be that counselling is generally shorter-term and is focussed on specific issues. Psychotherapy, in contrast, delves deeper into underlying emotional patterns and past experiences, aiming for long-term transformation and healing. 

 

I tend to not get caught up on the definitions and prefer to use the word "therapy" as an umbrella term. 

Is therapy for people like me?

 

Yes! There are therapists and modes of talking therapy for everyone. Some good sources to find a private therapist are:

• UKCP
• BACP
• Psychology Today

• Counselling Directory

 

If preferred, there are also a range of directories that cater for selected communities. Some examples are:

• Black, African and Asian Network

• Pink Therapy - Gender, Sex & Relationship Diversity

• Muslim Counsellor and Psychotherapist Network

What makes for effective therapy?

 

If the following is present within therapy, then it is likely that therapy will be effective:

 

• A good therapist who you feel will work for you. Does your therapist seem empathetic, non-judgemental, affirming, genuine, focused on your goals, hopeful, solution-focused and willing to acknowledge their own impact?

• Your therapeutic needs being aligned with the therapy that is on offer. For example, if you have a very specific phobia that you wish to overcome, studies show that certain types of therapy are far more effective for this than others. Your therapist should be able to provide more detail on this when you first meet.

• Your commitment to therapy, and the effort you put in.

Which type of therapy is best?

 

It depends! There is no single type of therapy that is best, just like there is no single best medication. The best type of therapy for you is where many things align, such as your needs, your characteristics, and your preferences in a therapist. 

 

This is something your therapist can discuss with you. 

Is your therapy room accessible?

 

While the building I practice from does have a lift, unfortunately, there are a limited number of steps which means the room is not wheelchair accessible.

Is therapy evidence-based?

 

Yes! My past career involved a decade of using data to help not-for-profit organisations make informed evidence-based decisions, and I would never have become a therapist if there wasn't a solid evidence base.

 

I also know from my own anecdotal experience that therapy works. Accessing therapy was one of the best decisions I have ever made. 

 

The UKCP have a good website summarising the scientific and academic research on the effectiveness of therapy. 

 

The book mentioned in the next FAQ is a fantastic resource for finding out more about the evidence of effective therapy.

Where can I find out more about therapy?

 

Below are some good sources to find out more about therapy and what it involves.

 

• The UK Council for Psychotherapy also have a list of FAQs

• A Straight Talking Introduction To Therapy book - Amazon link

• Mind have a good webpage on how to get the most out of therapy - link