If you want to try a talking therapy, ask your GP. They will know what's available locally and can help you decide which treatment is best for you.

Lots of GP surgeries provide counselling or therapy services on the NHS. If counselling or therapy isn't available at the surgery, your GP may refer you to a local psychological therapies service.

You may also be able to self-refer for counselling or therapy. This means you contact the psychological therapies service directly yourself. You may want to discuss it with your GP first.

Talking Therapies Barking & Dagenham (IAPT)

Talking Therapies Barking & Dagenham (IAPT) is a free NHS service which offers help to learn new ways to cope with everyday pressures or unexpected events which leave you feeling a little or very low in mood or anxious.    

We offer talking therapies including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Counselling for Depression, Couples Therapy, Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy, EMDR, and Interpersonal therapy. We also offer groups and courses to learn ways to cope with low mood, anxiety and more.

If you would like to find out more about our service and how we can help please visit our talking therapies website.

If you are aged over 18 years, then why not give us a call on 0300 300 1554 Option 3, alternatively, you can self-refer online using our self-referral form.



Our office is open between the hours of 9am to 5pm and we will book you in for a short telephone assessment. If the service is right for you we can offer appointments up to 8pm Monday to Thursday, if we can’t help we may be able to find a service that can.

Outside of office hours there is an answerphone. Please leave your name and contact details and we will phone you back as soon as we can.

Who to contact and more information:

• call 0300 300 1554, option 3
• self-refer online
• email bdtalkingtherapies@nhs.net

Further information on the talking therapies website

Psychological therapies on the NHS

NHS  - Free therapy or counselling

Other places that offer therapy

Some charities offer cheap or free talking therapies or group support. These include:

• Cruse for bereavement care
• Mind for mental health problems
• Relate for relationship counselling

Some employers provide counselling for their employees and lots of colleges and universities offer free therapy to students who need it.

Paying for private therapy

If you can afford it, you can choose to pay for your therapy privately. The cost of talking therapy varies and a one-hour session can cost between £50 and £100. Your GP may be able to suggest a local private therapist or you can find a therapist online.

It's essential to check that the therapist is listed on one of the registers of approved practitioners.

The following organisations have approved therapists:

• British Psychological Society: psychologists
• British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP): cognitive behavioural therapists
• Association for Family Therapy (AFT): family therapists
• British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP): counsellors and therapists
• British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC): psychoanalytic psychotherapists
• UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP): psychotherapists
• The Health and Care Professions Council: practitioner psychologists and art therapists
• Association for Cognitive Analytic Therapy: cognitive analytic practitioners and psychotherapists

It's a good idea to talk to several therapists before you decide which one is right for you.