If you’re searching privately for a therapist or counsellor, you might be a little stuck about who to seek support from. There are so many choices out there, and how do you know is best? If you’re feeling stuck about this, have a read of our five tips below to help you make the decision.
Therapist values
First and foremost, it’s important that the therapist has the values and qualities you’re looking for in your therapist. Most clients are seeking someone non-judgemental and kind. Some therapists are more softly spoken and gentle, whereas some are more direct. There’s no right or wrong, provided they are being helpful and professional, so it does come down to personal choice.
Be sure to check out the therapist’s information on their website to see if they might be a good fit for you. It can also be worth dropping them an email or a quick phone call if you have any questions.
Training and accreditations
Training is really important, and it’s totally acceptable for you to check this with your therapist.
If you’re after a CBT Therapist, you want to ensure they’ve done a 1-2 year postgraduate diploma or masters in CBT (on top of at least 4 years experience or core training) and are ideally accredited with the governing body: the BABCP. You can use the BABCP accreditation check here. All of Brighter Life Therapy’s CBT therapists are appropriately trained and accredited with the BABCP.
Some psychologists also use CBT as their main therapy. To ensure the best outcomes, be sure that the psychologists are Clinical Psychologists or Counselling Psychologists and have completed a three-year doctorate course in clinical or counselling psychology. They would also need to be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
Finally, if you’re after a counsellor or psychotherapist, you need to ensure they have at least a level 3 and 4 in the diploma of psychotherapeutic counselling practice, which usually takes 3 years in total. Ideally they will also be registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) or the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS).
Note, the terms psychologist, psychotherapist, CBT therapist and counsellor are not protected titles, so anyone can call themselves this. Therefore, it’s best to check they have the qualifications and accreditations to go with the title!
Location
Before the pandemic, private therapy was usually conducted via face to face sessions in the same room, so you had to be sure your therapist was local and accessible.
Now, after the pandemic, many therapists found that remote, videocall therapy works better for them and their clients, and have kept this going. Research shows that virtual sessions are as effective at helping clients, as face to face sessions. Telephone therapy can also be effective.
Remote therapy is great because you can now access a therapist anywhere in the country, which no longer limits your pool to choose from. It also works really well with other commitments like childcare, work or school, making therapy more accessible.
Some people are not so keen on these methods, but it’s worth a go if you like the therapist and want to get started with sessions. Your therapist will likely encourage you to try 1-2 sessions like this, and then stop if you don’t like it after all.
At Brighter Life Therapy, all sessions are virtual except for the work we do in specific schools, and this works really well for our clients and therapists.
Additional skills and experience
Many therapists have some additional skills, e.g. perhaps they lecture at universities, supervise staff who are qualified and/or training or have conducted research. You might really value these additional skills in your therapist, as it shows another string to their bow and suggests they have a wide range of experience and skills.
At Brighter Life Therapy, we have all these additional skills within our team, and feels this brings more experience and diversity to our team.
Affordability
Unfortunately, private therapy comes with a cost. There is no minimum or maximum amount a therapist can charge, and it is up to them, based on what they think their service is worth.
It also depends on the area, as some areas will incur higher costs. For example, in Reading, the going rate for adult’s therapy is £100-110 and for children is £125. Our rates are around this too.
Some services offer a discount if you pre-pay in bulk for some sessions. For example, we offer a 10% discount if you pre-pay for 6 treatment sessions in one go (subject to having an assessment first).
Get in touch
Get in touch with us if you’d like to try psychotherapy or CBT, as we have therapists who can offer both. Use the form below to get in touch.
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and find the right therapist for you
Please fill in the details below, then press ‘submit the form’. Our Clinic Manager, Rhianna, will review the form and be in touch via email within 1 working day to discuss her recommendations. If we can help, we will provide you with a link to book an assessment with the most appropriate therapist.