When you’ve decided you need help with your mental health, figuring out who to approach for that help can be difficult. If you are unsure whether your needs would be better met by a trip to the GP, a private appointment with a therapist or psychiatrist, or perhaps by calling Samaritans, this post is for you.
What are my options?
When you’re struggling emotionally, we understand that the last thing you need is to be faced with a complex list of options. We hope that the explanations below will give you clarity on how to move forward. If you’re still confused, please don’t hesitate to contact us – we’re happy to help.
Your GP
Your GP can refer you for counselling or psychiatry within the NHS. They can also prescribe medication that may help with conditions such as depression and anxiety.
A psychotherapist
A psychotherapist delivers talking therapy. In appointments that are usually 50 minutes once a week, the therapist provides a listening ear, empathy and challenge that will help you to understand and process your experiences, and feel better able to cope. Some psychotherapists provide specialist help, for example couples therapy or psychosexual therapy.
A counsellor
Some people use the words counsellor and psychotherapist interchangeably; sometimes psychotherapists have a more in-depth training. Both provide talking therapy, also known as counselling. Psychotherapists and counsellors are not qualified to diagnose mental health conditions, nor can they prescribe medication.
A psychoanalyst
Psychoanalysis is a specific field of psychotherapy focused on unconscious processes. Analysts often meet with their clients two or three times a week and therapy tends to be long-term.
A psychiatrist
Psychiatrists are medically-trained doctors who specialise in mental health. They can diagnose mental health conditions and prescribe medication for them. Psychiatrists often work in a team with other mental health professionals; they may suggest a treatment plan to be delivered by the team. Appointments with a psychiatrist tend to be less frequent than with a therapist and the focus is more on diagnosis and the treatment plan.
A counselling psychologist
Although their training may be more scientific, counselling psychologists work in a very similar way to psychotherapists. They often work in organisations such as hospitals, schools or prisons.
A helpline
Helplines offer immediate support and can be invaluable for people in crisis. They are usually staffed by volunteers who have received some training but are not qualified to the same level as the professionals above.
Mental health helplines include:
- Samaritans – call 116 123 free from any phone or email jo@samaritans.org
- Mind’s support line – 0300 102 1234
- SHOUT (a texting service for those who prefer not to talk) – 85258
Your local accident and emergency department
If you are in crisis, you can attend your local A&E department for emergency psychiatric support.
How do I decide which option is best for me?
To decide which of the options is best for you, ask yourself the following questions.
How serious is the issue?
Psychiatrists tend to deal with more serious mental health issues, such as schizophrenia, personality disorders and bipolar disorder. If you think you may suffer from one of these conditions, you can either contact a private psychiatrist directly or ask your GP for a referral to an NHS psychiatrist.
For less severe mental health conditions, such as anxiety disorders and depression, turn to your GP or a psychotherapist/counsellor. It isn’t necessary to have a diagnosis to access therapy; indeed therapists support clients with issues that most of us experience at some time or other, including low confidence, bereavement, relationship issues, anxiety and traumatic experiences.
Do you want medication or talking therapy or both?
If you want medication, you will need to see your GP or a psychiatrist. Medication helps many people to cope when they are really struggling with their mental health, but it is often insufficient on its own. Addressing the underlying issues through psychotherapy is usually the route to long-lasting change.
Do you want a diagnosis?
If you are concerned that you may have a mental health disorder and are looking for a diagnosis, you will need to see your GP or a private psychiatrist.
Can you wait?
The NHS is under a lot of pressure and waiting lists for mental health services can be very long. If you don’t want to wait, accessing a therapist or psychiatrist privately will probably suit you better.
Can you pay?
If you can’t afford to pay for private therapy, there are low- and no-cost alternatives to the NHS. Generally, the lower the fee the more likely you will have to go on a waiting list before you start. Some of these services are provided by specialist charities, such as Terrence Higgins Trust and Woman’s Trust; others are provided by counselling schools or private enterprises. Low- and no-cost services are often staffed by trainee therapists. One Therapy works with one such service: Face2Face London.
How long do you want to be in therapy?
If you are looking for longer-term therapy, your best option is probably a private psychotherapist or counsellor, such as those working at One Therapy London. Most NHS services and charities can only offer a limited number of sessions.
If you are still unsure of the best route for you, feel free to contact us. One Therapy London is owned and managed by psychotherapists. We want to help you, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
How to get started
If you are considering counselling of psychotherapy, the first step is to book an initial consultation. At One Therapy London, we have appointments available seven days a week, at times to suit you.
We offer long- and short-term counselling, psychotherapy, couples therapy and psychosexual therapy. Our therapists are experienced in many different issues and are carefully chosen for their warmth, empathy and professionalism.
One Therapy London has been providing mental health support since 2006. If you would the support of one of our professional and empathic therapists, you can book your initial consultation here.
| How to choose your therapist You will probably have your own idea of what you want your therapist to be like, and gut instinct is important. Take a look at our therapists’ profiles and see who you are drawn to. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable talking to them, which you will get a feel for at the initial consultation. We hire warm, approachable therapists, so you will probably feel comfortable with the therapist you meet at your initial consultation. If you don’t, it’s not a problem to try someone else. An advantage of booking with a group practice like One Therapy London is that you don’t have to start all over again if the first person isn’t quite right for you. All our therapists are happy to refer clients to a colleague, which includes passing on their notes from the initial consultation. For more information about choosing your therapist, read How to choose a good therapist. |
What to expect at your first session
Your initial consultation is an opportunity for you to get a feel for whether therapy is the right route for you. The therapist you meet will also be able to advise you on this.
At the initial consultation, the therapist will ask a few questions, discuss some of the circumstances that have brought you to therapy and look at how therapy might be useful to you. At One Therapy London, we also use this first meeting to determine which of our therapists is the best match for you. You will have an opportunity to ask any questions you have about counselling or psychotherapy.
There is no pressure to continue with further sessions after the initial consultation, but at One Therapy London most clients find our therapists very easy to talk to and they book further sessions. If you want further sessions but the therapist you meet isn’t quite what you are looking for, no problem. Our therapists will offer you the option of being referred to one of their colleagues.
| Online therapy It may be important to you to be able to access support remotely. We understand that some people can’t commit to in-person sessions, for example because they travel for work or because anxiety makes it hard for them to meet in person. We offer flexibility in our sessions, so you can choose whether to see your psychotherapist in person, online or a mixture of the two. You may want to start with an online initial consultation, for example, and start coming in person only once you have got to know your therapist. We are happy to do whatever works best for you. When you book an appointment, just choose the online option. |
Costs and waiting times
We have therapists available to see you this week in Oxford Circus, Bloomsbury and Kensington/Notting Hill. An initial consultation costs £100 for individuals and £160 for couples. If you choose to have your initial consultation with one of our senior therapists, the cost is £130 for individuals and £180 for couples.
For full details, please see our fees.
We hope that after reading this post, you are clearer on how to move forward. We appreciate it can feel overwhelming and daunting to access support. Those feelings usually evaporate when people meet our friendly and caring psychotherapists. We’re here to help – just contact us or book an initial consultation.
Last updated: 26 January 2026
Published: 14 August 2024