Talking Therapy London Guide
If you’re suffering from stress, anxiety or depression, you may be thinking about talking with someone who can help you feel better.
Friends and family can be good listeners, but sometimes it’s easier to speak with a trained therapist. You’ll be able to talk about anything that’s on your mind in a safe and confidential space.
Types of talking therapies in London
There’s many types of talking therapies available in London. They range from group therapy and family therapy to one-to-one sessions, with just you and the therapist.
In all the different types of therapy, you’ll have a chance to talk about your feelings and thoughts, and look at how they’re affecting your behaviour. You’ll learn to recognise patterns in the way you think, and how that influences the way you relate to others.
Once identified, these patterns can be assessed to see if they’re accurate, or if they’re causing problems.
Within one-to-one therapy, there’s quite a few styles, each suited to a client’s particular temperament, or to different issues. Although they’re called talking therapies, they can cover much more than just talking and thoughts. Your therapist might encourage you to become aware of feelings in your body, or how to connect more fully to the present moment.
Talking therapies can be referred to as counselling, therapy, psychotherapy and other names. Have a look at the Choosing Therapy Guide for more details on each type. Every therapy should offer a safe place where you can explore what’s going on for you, without the fear of judgement.
Who is talking therapy for?
Talking therapy is for anyone who finds themselves struggling to manage or cope for any reason. You don’t have to be at a crisis point to come to therapy, it can be helpful to speak to a therapist early on to help you stay on track. It’s for people of all backgrounds, ages and life situations.
You’ll have your own reasons to come to therapy. Some common issues include:
- Problems in your relationships
- Traumatic events from the past
- Feelings of being stuck
- Depression anxiety and social anxiety
- Bereavement or loosing a job
- Sadness, anger or confusion
- Feelings of low self-esteem, shame and guilt
- Long-term health problems
Which talking therapy is right for you?
There’s a lot of talking therapies, and there’s a lot of crossover between them. A therapist might train in one approach and pick up more skills in other areas after their training.
Or they maybe integrative therapists, who have been trained in many approaches from the beginning. There’s also specialist therapists for particular issues, such as eating disorders or OCD.
As well as the sort of therapy you think might suit you, think about how long it will take and whether it works for your budget. You might also particularly want a male or female therapist, or someone from your racial background.
Choosing a talking therapist in London
The one most important aspect of therapy is your relationship to the therapist. There’s evidence to show that this is a crucial factor for success in therapy, despite the type of therapy.
You have to have a good feeling about them and trust them to be able to be open and honest in the sessions. You should feel comfortable enough to be able to speak about personal issues that you may not have spoken about before.
A good therapist will offer you a calm, safe space for you to explore your feelings. They’ll listen to you without judgement, and help you to learn about yourself so you can make better decisions about your life.
There’s also some more practical steps you can take before choosing a therapist. Check that they are qualified, and with a professional body such as BACP or UKCP. They might have other skills and experience that would be good for you – feel free to ask them about this.
Talking therapy is also available on the NHS vis the IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) service, which you can apply for directly or through your GP.
Initial consultation
Most therapists offer an initial consultation at a reduced rate. This is for you and the therapist to meet and see whether you’d be a good match. A good therapist will always have your interests at heart. If they think you’ll be better with another therapist, they’ll tell you, and refer you to someone more suitable.
The initial consultation is a chance for you to get a feel for how comfortable you feel with the therapist. Sometimes you’ll connect with them straight away, but if you don’t, it’s fine to try other therapists until you meet someone who you think you could trust and work with.
How IN Therapy London can help
If you’re experiencing anxiety, depression, or anything that’s causing you problems, don’t hesitate to get in touch to arrange an initial consultation.