Popular Beliefs About Talking Therapies, and What Is Actually Published
Talking Therapies: what people commonly get wrong, set against what published UK guidance says.
They are first-line treatment for several common conditions, and in England you can refer yourself without going through a GP.
Key takeaways
- Self-referral: available in England without a GP referral
- First-line for anxiety and less severe depression: CBT and guided self-help
- Most useful single change: Refer yourself directly rather than waiting for an appointment to ask.
- Commonest mistake: Assuming you need a GP referral first.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
What the guidance actually says
These are the numbers the corrections below are measured against.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Self-referral | available in England without a GP referral |
| First-line for anxiety and less severe depression | CBT and guided self-help |
| Typical CBT course | around 6-20 sessions |
| Delivery | in person, by phone, by video, or digitally |
| Cost on the NHS | free |
Where people go wrong
Each of these is common, and each is a mistake in the sense that the guidance says otherwise.
- Assuming you need a GP referral first
- Stopping after one difficult session
- Treating therapy and medication as mutually exclusive
What to do instead
- Refer yourself directly rather than waiting for an appointment to ask
- Do the between-session work, which is where most of the change happens
- Say early if the approach is not fitting; it can be changed
- Ask about waiting times and about digital options meanwhile
The part that is genuinely uncertain
Guidance changes, and it changes because evidence does. The figures above reflect current UK guidance from the bodies named at the foot of this page; where those bodies revise their position, theirs is the account to follow rather than this one.
Where to go next
- Making Sense of Talking Therapies
- The Talking Therapies Checklist: What to Do and What to Skip
- Talking Therapies — the reference entry
- The Evidence on Screen Time and Mood, Without the Hype
- Supporting Someone Else: What the Evidence Actually Says
When to speak to a doctor
See a GP urgently, or call NHS 111, if you feel unable to keep yourself safe, if symptoms are severe, or if you have psychotic symptoms such as hearing voices. If you have thoughts of harming yourself, contact the Samaritans free on 116 123 at any hour. In immediate danger, call 999.
Where this comes from
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.
Spotted something wrong? Report an error on this page. We correct on the page and say what changed.
