Talking therapy and counselling

Explains what talking therapies are, what happens during therapy, how to get the most from therapy and how to find a therapist.

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Useful contacts

Mind's services

Mind's helplines provide information and support by phone and email.
Local Minds offer face-to-face services across England and Wales. These services include talking therapies, peer support and advocacy.
Side by Side is our supportive online community for anyone experiencing a mental health problem.

Other organisations

Association for Cognitive Analytic Therapists (ACAT)

acat.me.uk
Information about cognitive analytic therapy, including a list of accredited therapists.

Association for Dance Movement Psychotherapy UK (ADMP UK)

admp.org.uk
Professional body for dance movement therapists. Provides information and a list of accredited therapists.

Behavioral Tech

behavioraltech.org
Official DBT website. Provides information and resources aimed at professionals.

British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP)

babcp.com
Information about cognitive behavioural therapy and related treatments, including details of accredited therapists.

British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)

bacp.co.uk
Professional body for talking therapy and counselling. Provides information and a list of accredited therapists.

British Association for Music Therapy (BAMT)

020 7837 6100
bamt.org
Professional body for music therapists. Provides information about music therapy and a register of accredited therapists.

British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT)

baat.org
Professional body for visual art therapists. Provides information about art therapy and a register of accredited therapists.

British Association of Dramatherapists (BADth)

badth.org.uk
Professional body for dramatherapists. Provides information about dramatherapy and a register of accredited therapists.

British Association of Play Therapists (BAPT)

bapt.info
Professional body for play therapists. Provides information and details of accredited therapists.

British Psychological Society (BPS)

bps.org.uk
Information about psychology, including a list of chartered psychologists.

The Clinic for Boundaries Studies

professionalboundaries.org.uk
Support services for those harmed by a professional in a position of trust.

Counselling Directory

counselling-directory.org.uk
Online directory of professionally registered counsellors and psychotherapists.

Cruse Bereavement Support

0808 808 1677
cruse.org.uk
Information and support after a bereavement.

DBT Self Help

dbtselfhelp.com
User-led website. Provides DBT information and resources.

EMDR Association UK

emdrassociation.org.uk
Professional association of EMDR clinicians and researchers in the UK and Ireland. Provides lots of information about EMDR. Includes a search tool to find EMDR-accredited therapists.

Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

hcpc-uk.co.uk
Regulates some types of health, psychology and social work professionals.

Hub of Hope

hubofhope.co.uk
UK-wide mental health service database. Lets you search for local, national, peer, community, charity, private and NHS mental health support. You can filter results to find specific kinds of support.

Mental Health Matters (MHM)

mentalhealthmatters.com
Provides helplines and talking therapies in some areas of the UK.

NHS Services Finder

nhs.uk/service-search (England)
111.wales.nhs.uk/localservices (Wales)
Searchable database of NHS services.

NHS talking therapies self-referral

nhs.uk/service-search/mental-health/find-an-nhs-talking-therapies-service
Information about local NHS therapy services for certain mental health problems. You can self-refer (England only) but you must be registered with a GP.

Rape Crisis England & Wales

0808 802 9999
rapecrisis.org.uk
Support for women and girls affected by rape, sexual abuse or any form of sexual violence. Provides details of local centres.

Relate

relate.org.uk
Provides help and support with relationships, including counselling and telephone support.

Turning Point

turning-point.co.uk
Health and social care services in England for people with a learning disability. Also supports people with mental health problems, drug and alcohol abuse or unemployment.

UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)

psychotherapy.org.uk
Professional body for the education, training and accreditation of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors. Provides online register of psychotherapists offering different talking treatments privately.

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This information was published in June 2018.

This page is currently under review. All content was accurate when published.

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