Your Guide to Counselling and Psychotherapy in the UK: 5

This book received an honourable mention at the 2026 Paris Book FestivalConsidering therapy in the UK? Understand your options before making an appointment.We Brits grow up with a simple map of our health system: see the GP when it isn't too bad, A&E when it's very bad, and 111 when you're not sure if you need an ambulance or just an early night. That map gets less useful when it comes to mental health. Should you start with the GP or contact a private therapist directly? What's the difference between a counsellor, a psychotherapist and a psychologist? And how are you meant to know whether the practitioner is even qualified to provide therapy? Your Guide to Counselling and Psychotherapy in the UK is for anyone considering therapy in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland who wants to understand where to start. This workbook explains NHS, private and low-cost options, what sessions may look like and how to assess the practitioners you're considering. Whether you're planning to speak to your GP or browsing therapist profiles, this book helps you decide whom to contact, what to ask, and what to expect.Inside, you'll find:Step-by-step guidance on accessing therapy across the UKA comparison of NHS, private and low-cost therapy optionsClear explanations of professional titles, qualifications and regulationWalkthroughs of what to expect in your first and final sessionsReflection questions to help you clarify what you need and prepare for therapyAvailable in additional languagesSpanish (eBook only) : Tu guía de consejería y psicoterapia en el Reino UnidoGerman (eBook only) : Ihr Leitfaden für Beratung und Psychotherapie in Großbritannien