Private psychologist or NHS Talking Therapies?
Before 2008, fewer than one in twenty people in England with anxiety or depression received a recommended psychological therapy. The Oxford psychologist David M. Clark and the economist Richard Layard set out to change that, and the programme they championed, now called NHS Talking Therapies, has transformed access. Around 1.2 million people are assessed each year, and over half of those who complete treatment recover.
So the first thing to say is that the NHS route is a good one, and you don’t need a GP to use it. In Kent you can self-refer to Kent and Medway Talking Therapies if you are 17 and a half or over and registered with a Kent or Medway GP. Nationally, most people who finish treatment started within six weeks of referral, although there can be a further wait between assessment and regular sessions.
There are good reasons people still choose private therapy. NHS Talking Therapies is designed for common, specific problems treated in a set number of sessions, usually with whichever therapist is available. If your difficulties are complex or longstanding, if you’ve had NHS therapy before and it didn’t shift things, or if you want to choose who you see and how long you work together, a private clinical psychologist offers that flexibility.
Private therapy is also often covered by health insurers, so it is worth checking your policy. Many people also start privately while they wait for NHS support.
Whichever route you take, the important thing is starting. If you’d like to talk through which makes sense for you, I’m happy to have that conversation, including if the answer is the NHS. See my fees, or get in touch.