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As per title really. Looking for some sessions and no idea where to start. A quick google tells me there are thousands of therapists out there, but how do i know which ones are any good.
I'd probably be looking at online initially, so location not so important.
This sounds trite but the best one is the one that’s qualified and experienced to deal with whatever’s it is you need and most importantly that you get on with. I’ve had 3 - one excellent, 1 ok but very functional and one I didn’t like and didn’t get anything out of the sessions at all - I canned them.
So - qualifications and experience first then probably personal recommendations or at least read their testimonies? Maybe book an into session with a 2 or 3 to see who you get with best?
Good luck!
I agree with the above and would also suggest having a chat with a couple, explaining what you want help with and see what they say. They all have specialisms or things they focus on, try and find one who deals with what you want.
Just FYI, they are all pretty busy where I am (fall out from covid and lockdowns I guess) and have circa 10 week waiting lists. Not sure what the rest of the country is like
I got access to some online CBT a couple of years ago. It wasn't as good as a real person but I found it helped. I can't remember the name but I was registered with the site for 12 months from my local NHS mental health team. So it didn't cost me anything. Because it's an online service the wait between referral and starting was a few days not the weeks / months you could wait for NHS face-to-face CBT.
As per tartanscarf. Sometimes you do need to find someone you are comfortable / can click with and that may take some experimentation.
You can look on the organisations website for a list of therapists that are accredited with them. e.g. https://BCP.org.uk / https://nationalcounsellingsociety.org/ . That will at least make sure the therapist has passed the org's criteria for being a therapist (appropriate training etc.)
As per tartanscarf. Sometimes you do need to find someone you are comfortable / can click with and that may take some experimentation.
I think this is the most important thing. I've seen two, one I really clicked with and the other just couldn't get on with, so stopped.
I was referred to a local specialist by my GP - I was suffering from anxiety after being diagnosed with Coeliac disease.
Didn't cost me anything and was a mixture of online learning material and a weekly one2one session over the phone - there was the opportunity to do it face to face, but didn't feel the need.
I was very very skeptical at first, but it worked for me and still use the tools/practices I learnt today.
Whereabouts are you? My wife does some CBT (occupational therapist with the NHS) so can probably point you in the right direction - there may well be an NHS provision depending where you are.
Based up in Scotland honeybadger...fife to be precise
tpbiker,
I've just read your other thread too. It's interesting that you have already identified CBT as a possible treatment. Do you already have a working knowledge of CBT?
If not, then you may find that just learning the mechanics of how CBT works will be enough to help you; or at least, to get you started. Those unhelpful thoughts that pop into your head are outside of your control... "A thoughty isn't a naughty". It's about learning what you do with those thoughts: try and think of a worse one (don't, it's never-ending), act on it (probably not) or recognise it as harmless and let it go (without resorting to a safety behaviour that is likely to become very unhelpful).
The key point here will be in you identifying these thoughts, labelling them, and letting them go. What happened just before the thought arrived? Is the thought useful? You do have the ability to decide what to do WITH the thought.
From my personal experience, and professional experience of providing interventions for others*, I believe that you should aim for the least invasive treatment. Making a "big deal" of this is likely to make it worse. Maybe studying how CBT works would be a good start... just understanding the basics allowed me to fix myself after years of torment. Of course, there are loads of other evidence based approaches too.
You've got a good insight already; you'll get this sorted real soon.
*OT who uses a CBT based approach fairly regularly
Just to give a different approach to what stanley has said... It may be that that approach will work for you but for me, it wouldn't.
To me, CBT always felt not much more than 'look on the bright side'. This made me feel worse as it felt like my issues/past/pain wasn't being acknowledged. It may be that I've had poor quality CBT or that CBT wasn't what I needed.
You might want to think about starting with CBT therapy but keeping an open mind as to where it might lead. I mean, it might be that you need to address what has caused/is causing the OCD and anxiety in the first place.
Don't be scared to ditch a therapist either. Often times the first, second, third therapist is not right for you and you have to keep looking. It can be a long process. Sorry I don't mean to sound so negative, just trying to be realistic. Hopefully it will be a simple fix for you.
This website below might give you a starting point:
https://www.ocduk.org/overcoming-ocd/accessing-ocd-treatment/accessing-ocd-treatment-privately/finding-a-private-therapist/
@tpbiker - will PM you, her previous job was with a mental health charity in Fife so should be able to help!
Bcp.org.uk link up there should be https://www.bacp.co.uk/about-therapy/information-about-counselling/
BACP is the accreditation body for counselling/psychotherapy in the UK.
I started to see a therapist in January. If you can pick a therapist you can see face to face. Online is good but face to face is much better.