Things to consider when looking for a therapist

• Make sure you know the qualifications and professional background. Check with the relevant professional body register if they are accredited. Only qualified therapists with be accredited or fully registered.
• Ask for an initial consultation before you commit to a course of therapy. See whether you feel it is a right fit.
• You may wish to meet with more than one therapist or type of therapy before you decide to commit.
• Ask about frequency, cost, length of therapy, cancellation policy, breaks in therapy.
• Private therapy costs can vary greatly. Some therapist offer a sliding scale of charges that depends on personal circumstances. If you have private health insurance your insurer may agree to cover some or all of the costs. Check if the therapist is registered with insurance companies.
• Consider whether the problem you wish to address requires you to have help from a wider range of professionals? Your private therapist and your GP can be in communication, with your permission. Or you might consider a referral to the NHS multi-professional team or service may be more appropriate. Information about local services can be found at: Adult mental health (Buckinghamshire) – Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust

National agencies & professional bodies (in no order)

Association for Cognitive Analytic Therapy www.acat.me.uk

Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice www.aft.org.uk

British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies – www.babcp.com

British Psychological Society www.bps.org.uk

British Psychoanalytic Council www.bpc.org.uk

British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy www.bacp.co.uk

Institute of Psychoanalysis https://psychoanalysis.org.uk

EMDR UK Association https://emdrassociation.org.uk/

Institute of Group Analysis www.groupanalysis.org

International Society of Schema Therapy www.schematherapysociety.org

Society for Dialectical Behavioural Therapy https://sfdbt.org

Further information about different types of therapy

Please visit the MIND website. Here you will find information about various mental health difficulties and information about other support available www.mind.org.uk/

For further information about what services and treatments are available on the NHS in Buckinghamshire please contact Buckinghamshire Talking Therapies. Call, Text or visit us online.

www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/bucks-talking-therapies/

Call   01865 901 600.

Text 07798 667 169