Reading and reference
Every page on this site in one list, typed by what it is for.
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Guide
What therapy is
Plain-language explanation of what a talking therapy is and how a course works.
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Guide
Preparing for a first session
What usually happens in a first meeting and how to get ready for it.
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Reference
Talking therapies
Side-by-side description of the approaches a reader is most likely to meet by name.
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Reference
Who provides care
The four professional roles and the training route behind each one.
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Checklist
Questions to ask in a first session
A short list of practical questions worth asking before agreeing to continue.
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Reference
About this guide
Identity, access facts and the full scope statement.
Looking for services near you
This site does not hold a directory and does not recommend particular practitioners or organisations. What it can offer is the shape of a sensible search.
- Start with the health service or system you are already registered with. In many places a referral through it is the shortest route and costs least.
- Where you approach someone directly, check which professional body they are registered with and confirm that registration with the body itself rather than with the practitioner.
- Ask what the approach is and why it fits what you have described. A clear answer is a good sign; so is an honest one that says another professional would suit better.
- Settle the practical terms in writing before starting: length, frequency, cost, missed sessions and how the work will be reviewed.
- Employers, universities and unions sometimes fund a limited number of sessions. It is worth asking before paying privately.