Can I have some Cognitive Behavioural Therapy please?

I heard a true story last week, about someone going to a GP surgery and specifically asking for CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy). The person was feeling down because of something that had happened in their life, and decided they didn't want to take medication, but they would like to give CBT a go. But no CBT counsellors were available, only online CBT sessions (I'm not quite sure what these would involve). Anyway, online therapy was not what this particular patient wanted. She went away disappointed and still depressed.

We know there are plans and good intentions to increase the number of talking therapies made available to people via their GPs...it says so in the new law, the Mental Health (Wales) Measure. The problem seems to be that currently the supply just doesn't meet the demand.  So people are left feeling a little bit cheated and frustrated (alongside the original mental distress they went to their GP with). When you're feeling depressed, you want help now, not six months or a year later. 

The fact is that CBT does work for some people, according to a recent study in The Lancet.   You can find out more on this BBC webpage. 

I can't help wondering, what are the issues with providing CBT counsellors? Is it about... money to pay for them? Or finding suitably qualified people? Or... just that this is one of a thousand tasks the NHS in Wales have to sort out, and so far it's only at 579 on the list.... (so that comes down to money again....) 

If you've tried to access CBT through your GP surgery - we'd be interested to know how you got on.

Meanwhile, you can find out more and watch a video about CBT here, and read a CBT flyer on The Royal College of Psychiatrists webpage.

For the full report from The Lancet, click here.