Online Counselling UK: Options For Mental Health Support

Online counselling has significantly increased in popularity across the UK in recent years. One study found that there was a 124% spike in searches for online therapy in 2020. As more and more counsellors offer their services online, it has become easier to find mental health professionals with expertise in treating a wide range of mental health challenges. Below, we’ll discuss the benefits of online counselling in the UK and how it can provide accessible care for all. 

Online counselling: UK mental health trends

According to the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists’ (BACP) Public Perceptions Survey, approximately 30% of adults in the UK sought therapy or counselling during the past 12 months. In the same survey, 35% of people had seen a therapist or counsellor at some point in their lives. 

In general, attitudes toward mental health have been changing across the UK in recent years. The following are some further counselling trends from the Public Perceptions Survey that reveal shifting attitudes toward therapy:

• Approximately 65% of people believe it’s better to talk to someone about personal challenges rather than take medication. 
• Approximately 73% of people who had seen a therapist said their experience was helpful. 
• Approximately 13% of therapy sessions took place online (compared to just 1% in 2020). 
• 72% of people state there’s less stigma surrounding counselling (compared to 67% five years prior).
• 82% of people believe that it’s important to search for a therapist on an accredited register. 

Benefits of online therapy

Online counselling can help people navigate a variety of life challenges. Some people seek therapy when going through a major life transition, such as a divorce or the birth of a child. Online therapy can also help with relationship challenges, and people can seek online therapy for relationship problems as a couple or individually. However, a person doesn’t have to have a mental health condition or relationship problem to see a therapist. Therapy can help individuals build self-esteem, achieve personal and professional growth, and enhance overall well-being. 

Online therapy for mental health conditions

Research suggests that online therapy can treat numerous mental disorders. The following are some disorders with which online therapy can help, as well as some treatment approaches for each disorder.

Depression

Online therapists often treat depression with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). During CBT, therapists typically help people identify and replace negative or untrue thoughts about themselves. This can relieve symptoms of depression, often in conjunction with medication. 

Phobias

Online therapists might treat phobias with exposure therapy. First, a therapist might ask a person to create a hierarchy of fear-inducing situations related to their phobia. For example, some people might have a fear of heights (acrophobia). They might list the fear of looking at a tall building at the bottom of their hierarchy and the fear of looking down from the roof of a building at the top of their list. Then, the therapist might gradually expose the person to these feared situations while guiding them in relaxation techniques. Eventually, the person may be able to stop avoiding situations involving heights in their everyday life.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Online therapists often treat obsessive-compulsive disorder with exposure and ritual prevention (sometimes called exposure and response prevention or ERP). First, a therapist might teach a person relaxation techniques to use during exposure exercises. Then, the therapist might gradually expose the person to anxiety-inducing situations related to their obsessions. 

For example, if a person believes they must wash their hands immediately after touching doorknobs due to an obsession with possible contamination, the therapist might first show the person a picture of a doorknob and ask them to practice relaxation techniques. Eventually, the therapist might have the person get close to a doorknob and then touch one without engaging in the ritual of handwashing. This process may lead the person to see that nothing bad happens when they don’t engage in a compulsion after touching a doorknob. 

Can online therapists treat trauma?

Online therapists can use a diverse array of approaches for people who have experienced trauma, depending on the person’s symptoms and unique characteristics. The American Psychological Association (APA strongly recommends four types of therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): cognitive behavioral therapy, cognitive processing therapy, cognitive therapy, and prolonged exposure. 

The APA also conditionally recommends three types of therapy for PTSD: brief eclectic therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), and narrative exposure therapy. Therapy may be used in conjunction with medication for PTSD. 

Where to find a therapist or counsellor

Some online therapists have their own websites listing their services. Others may be listed in an online directory that allows users to sort counsellors by specialization or conditions treated. These directories may be a good way to find someone who has experience with specific treatments that interest you. Therapists may also list information about their training and professional affiliations.

Online therapy platforms

Many therapists offer their services through online platforms, such as BetterHelp. BetterHelp allows you to be matched with a therapist according to your needs and preferences. With a network of more than 1,000 therapists in the UK, BetterHelp provides a wide range of professionals who may have experience in your specific areas of concern. You can also switch therapists at any time for no additional cost until you find the right fit for you, and you can participate in sessions from your own home via audio, video, or live chat. 

Over the last decade, many researchers have studied online therapy to assess its effectiveness for various mental disorders. In one systematic review and meta-analysis from 2020, researchers looked at the effectiveness of electronic cognitive behavioral therapy (eCBT) for depression. The researchers concluded, “Our results demonstrated that eCBT was more effective than face-to-face CBT at reducing depression symptom severity.” Note that the researchers use “face-to-face” therapy to describe in-person therapy. Remote therapy can also involve face-to-face interaction through video chat. 

Takeaway

The use of online counselling in the UK has increased significantly in recent years. Online therapy allows you to access therapists with various specializations and areas of expertise, no matter where you live, and it can be an excellent treatment for many conditions.