Therapy Waiting Lists

Hello. I've been wanting to know how long do people usually have to wait when they're put on the waiting list for therapy.

If anyone's interested in sharing, please list out what your GP's/psychiatrist's diagnosis was (depression, anxiety, etc), what kind of therapy were you put on (CBT, psychodynamic psychotherapy, etc) and how long did you have to wait till you start therapy and the location (London, etc you get the idea). I'm just very curious btw there's nothing serious going on here - not sure if this is going against the rules.

Reply 1

Jenx301

Waiting lists vary massively depending on urgency, location, type of treatment etc.

My GP referred me to a psychiatrist and it took approximately 4 months to be seen for a diagnosis, I was then put on a waiting list to be seen by the personality disorder team for treatment and I was waiting 10 months for that. So from my GP's referral to being seen it was approximately 1yr 2 months. I have borderline personality disorder and PTSD.

Reply 2

ODES_PDES

Original post by BWV1007

It all depends how urgent your referring doctor thinks your case is.
Mine was just 6 weeks (back in Oct 2013)

Reply 3

Rum Ham

I was seen within 2 months of my GP referring me to therapy. I was put down as urgent as my conditions were affecting my eating and I had severe low moods. I was getting therapy mainly for OCD and depression but also anxiety/panic attacks too.

My location is Scotland. I was meant to be getting ERP based CBT therapy but the therapist decided to try mindfulness based therapy. So far I haven't improved at all with therapy but that is due to the therapist, not the actual therapy.

I hope you get seen soon and you have a positive experience with therapy :smile:

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(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 4

BWV1007

Original post by Jenx301

Have you been through therapy/are you going through it now? What kind of therapy was it?

Original post by ODES_PDES

It all depends how urgent your referring doctor thinks your case is.Mine was just 6 weeks (back in Oct 2013)

Original post by Spock's Socks

I was seen within 2 months of my GP referring me to therapy. I was put down as urgent as my conditions were affecting my eating and I had severe low moods. I was getting therapy mainly for OCD and depression but also anxiety/panic attacks too.My location is Scotland. I was meant to be getting ERP based CBT therapy but the therapist decided to try mindfulness based therapy. So far I haven't improved at all with therapy but that is due to the therapist, not the actual therapy.I hope you get seen soon and you have a positive experience with therapy :smile:

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How many sessions have you been to?

I've already gone through therapy. I was just wondering what it's like for other people and how long did they have to wait to start therapy! :tongue:

Thanks for the replies!

Reply 5

ODES_PDES

Original post by BWV1007

Have you been through therapy/are you going through it now? What kind of therapy was it?

How many sessions have you been to?

I've already gone through therapy. I was just wondering what it's like for other people and how long did they have to wait to start therapy! :tongue:

Thanks for the replies!

I was having a session once a month for about 10 months

Reply 6

Airmed

Been in the services a year and a month now and not even been put on a waiting list for therapy but I have been misdiagnosed twice. :rolleyes:

Reply 7

Rum Ham

Original post by BWV1007

Thanks for the replies!

I've had 4 sessions with my current therapist. She's been an utter disaster. I made a thread on here yesterday about what she is like if you want the details. I'm going back to my GP next week to see what my options are in regards to getting someone else or something :frown:

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Reply 8

Jenx301

Original post by BWV1007

Have you been through therapy/are you going through it now? What kind of therapy was it?!

Currently doing a group therapy treatment

Reply 9

BWV1007

Original post by Airmed

Been in the services a year and a month now and not even been put on a waiting list for therapy but I have been misdiagnosed twice. :rolleyes:

What is it for? Why have you been in therapy for a year? :afraid:

Reply 10

Airmed

Original post by BWV1007

What is it for? Why have you been in therapy for a year? :afraid:

I'm not in therapy. My current diagnosis is a mess of personality disorders, dysthymia and hallucinations. Meds don't work but my current psychiatrist has no idea what therapy is right for me. So here I wait, visiting my CPN every week or so, and getting worse.

Reply 11

BWV1007

Original post by Airmed

That sounds pretty ****ed up. Have you considered looking help elsewhere? A different psychiatrist or something. I hope you'll feel better... though I'm aware saying that doesn't actually help. :tongue:

Reply 12

Airmed

Original post by BWV1007

This is my second psychiatrist. I moved countries for uni. I can't afford private and he's the only psychiatrist in the area of the NHS I fall into that's available. I only ever see him once every 2 months for 20 minutes.

Reply 13

~Tara~

It took me 11 years from first referral to actually getting specialised help. I kept being put through the wringer of CBT and mindfulness based groups. Then I was offered a therapeutic community but the travel was too much. It's also really intensive to try and fit around work.

Eventually I was seen by a clinical psychologist and I've been having psychotherapy with them for just over a year.

I don't know my full diagnosis. They still are reluctant to put certain labels permanently on a file. The most he has suggested is PTSD with dissociation. But I have schizo-something episodes that aren't in my notes.

Whilst I was waiting for the NHS to send me to correct place, I had person centred therapy with a charity on multiple occasions totalling about 4 and a 1/2 years. Prior to seeing current therapist, I did a lot of "self help" and connected with people online. That kept me alive. When I tried to commit suicide for the umpteenth time, I was assess by inpatient facility but they just sent me home again :/

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 14

username861942

Original post by BWV1007

I've been referred many times but the main one was when I got referred to DBT for a diagnosis of BPD. It was an urgent referral as I was referred after a suicide attempt. It took around 3 months before I started therapy. This was in the NHS in Bristol.

I still get therapy but I've saved up and pay for it privately. I get integrative psychotherapy in London for £40 a week. I called up and got an appointment in a few days time.

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Reply 15

A321

Referred for CBT. I was asked to book in an assessment about a month after the GP referral. Waited around two months for the initial phone assessment, apparently because the therapist who i did have an appointment with didnt bother calling then left the job few weeks later. Had to call them several times to book another phone assessment which has been done. In two weeks i have another phone assessment. Then actual therapy waiting list may be around 2-3 months. Unfortunately they assigned me a student trainee, she was fine but i've said i prefer a qualified therapist.

Reply 16

~Tara~

Original post by A321

Some student therapists can be really experience. You can have a qualified therapist with only 120 client hours experience but then you can also have a student therapist with 300 client hours because they decided to do a different level of course.

You should always check the experience of your therapist but trainee vs qualified doesn't always mean more experience or even a better therapist for you. Good therapeutic outcomes are usually based on whether the client believes the therapy would work and the quality of the relationship between client and therapist.

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 17

doodle_333

It depends on a lot of things, location, age, type of difficulty, severity etc.

When I was referred to CAMHS for anxiety/self harm I think it took maybe 6 weeks to start seeing someone? I waited a couple of months when my caseworker referred me on to CBT within CAMHS.

I was also referred to eating disorder services as an adult where I had an initial appointment after maybe 3 weeks? I was classed as urgent so it should have been a wait of 4-6 weeks but there was a problem and my letter got lost so I was set back an extra couple of weeks. While there I was referred to a psychiatrist but still hadn't got an appointment when I left the service a few months later.