Unfortunately finding a private therapist in the UK is no easy task and the sad fact is that pretty much anyone can have minimal training (or none at all!), set themselves up in private practice and charge an hourly fee. Also many big organisations are taking over the sector, charging you the client top dollar whilst employing newly qualified therapists at low wages.
The BACP one of our main regulatory bodies in the UK have been trying really hard, along with others to create a framework, which is soon to be in place, to help guide clients in their search for a therapist. It’s caused a ruckus shall we say but I can see their reasoning although I’m not sure it’s going to help the client much. Therapists are in two minds and many are not happy as the framework places each of us, depending on our level of qualification, in a band which determines who we can work with.
The other issue is that so few paid jobs are available to newly qualified therapists who have only done their basic training that many are forced into full time private practice with (usually) only the client contact hours they left college with.
Here is a guide which I hope you find helpful:
- Make a list of the main issues you would like to work on in therapy. Are you seeking therapy for yourself, you and your partner or for a child? Be prepared to do some research. Its’ ok you don’t have to have all the answers, it is good if you have an idea of how frequently you would like to have sessions and what days and times you are available. Would you like online sessions or face to face?
- Visit the websites of the main Counselling and Psychotherapeutic membership bodies, these are BACP, BABCP, UKCP and NCS. Not all highly qualified and experienced therapist are on these registers but you can use them to cross reference with the directories below. Read as many profiles as you can. Make a list of the qualities and experience level you’d like your therapist to have. I recommend you choose a therapist who is accredited with their professional body because in order to obtain their Accreditation qualification they will have had to go through a rigorous process that takes many months. Don’t be put off if a therapist doesn’t feature on their membership body directory, it is often extremely expensive to advertise in this way and some therapists just can’t justify the cost if they don’t get much work through the site.
- Search the online Directories– Counselling Directory and Psychology Today for therapists in your area. You can either search under your post code or through the kind of issue you’re bringing to therapy. Notice which of the therapists have MBACP after their name and which have MBACP (Accred). This means they are either just a member they’ve done their basic training) or that they’ve achieved accreditation. You’ll notice fees vary a great deal but here you can compare qualification with experience.
- Make a list of those therapists you think might be contenders. Create a short list of perhaps 3 and arrange an initial call on the phone with each. Some charge for tis but most wont. So much about therapy comes down to the therapeutic relationship so be sure to choose someone that you like and you think you will be able to get along with and will feel comfortable with over time.
- Trust your gut when choosing and ask questions. Once you’ve chosen…
- Read their working agreement. How will they process your data, do you have to pay for missed sessions, what happens if you’re going on holiday? What happens if they are?
- First session. You’re bound to feel a bit nervous. Therapy probably isn’t going to be easy but you can expect to feel heard, seen and validated throughout the process.
Dialogues 