Therapy For You, the NHS Talking Therapies service catering to patients in North East and South East Essex, is breaking down barriers to mental health access by offering a range of clinically-driven, innovative online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) courses. Developed in collaboration between Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) and Omnitherapy, these free online courses provide immediate and convenient mental health support to individuals in Colchester, Tendring, Southend, Castle Point, and Rochford.
The Need for Immediate Wellbeing Support
The importance of improving access to mental health services has been highlighted by the UK government’s commitment of an additional £150 million in funding earlier this year. However, the scarcity of high-quality therapists has resulted in substantial waiting times, both within the NHS and private practices. Recent data reveals that there is currently only one consultant psychiatrist for every 12,000 people in England, while over 1.4 million referrals were made to talking therapy services in the UK in 2020-21.
Waiting lists are not the sole obstacle preventing people from seeking help. A recent YouGov survey discovered that the social stigma associated with face-to-face therapy is another common barrier, discouraging individuals from receiving valuable support.
Addressing these challenges, Therapy For You’s online CBT courses have been designed to provide immediate support and overcome individuals’ concerns about in-person therapy. These courses have already empowered thousands of people with techniques to support their mental wellbeing.
Empowering Patients with Convenient Online Therapy
Richard Black, NHS Talking Therapies Digital Services Manager at EPUT, emphasises the importance of online services, stating, “Whether you go private or use the NHS, accessing vital mental health support can take time or be an intimidating prospect for some. But that doesn’t mean patients should have to go without support during their wait or compromise on their wellbeing altogether. We identified a need for people to be able to access services online. That’s why we partnered with Omnitherapy to develop a new type of online CBT course that is clinically written and professionally delivered, allowing patients in North East and South East Essex to seek essential support for free, whenever and wherever they need it.”
How Therapy For You’s Online CBT Courses Operate
Therapy For You offers a comprehensive range of online CBT courses presented through video sessions led by qualified NHS Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PWPs). Currently, the collection includes nine courses covering various topics:
- Depression
- Stress & Anxiety
- Panic Attacks
- Understanding Self-Esteem
- Living Well With Physical Health Problems
- Bereavement
- Mindfulness
- Managing Stress in Parenthood
- Postnatal Depression
Upon creating a free account on the Therapy For You website, individuals can immediately start any online course. At the beginning of each course, participants complete the GAD 7 and PHQ 9 questionnaires, which are clinically-approved surveys used to assess an individual’s overall mood.
These questionnaires are completed at the start of each session, enabling both users and the Therapy For You team to monitor changes in mood as individuals implement the techniques they learn throughout the course.
Richard explains the significance of these questionnaires, stating, “Both GAD 7 and PHQ 9 are easy to complete but are an important part of our process. By screening how patients feel before they get started, we get a strong impression of their overall mood, which both we and our users can monitor over the duration of the course. This informs us of how they are getting on and whether expert intervention is needed at any point in their journey.”
Each online course is tailored to address a specific issue, incorporating Cognitive Behavioural Therapy techniques to help individuals break negative cycles between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. The courses consist of video-led sessions accompanied by downloadable resources that encourage individuals to practice and apply the learned techniques.
To enhance accessibility and convenience, Therapy For You has divided each course into smaller sessions with a mandatory 4-day break between sessions. This format allows individuals to easily incorporate the courses into their daily lives, whether at home or during their daily commute.
Richard highlights the importance of the 4-day break, stating, “The 4-day break is an essential aspect of our online courses as it gives users a chance to put what they learn into practice and complete the worksheets we include. This enables people to take small, positive, lasting steps toward improving their mood and learn skills for life that they can apply whenever they need to. Think of it like learning an instrument – the more time you spend practising, the better you get.”
Therapy For You’s groundbreaking approach to online therapy has already made a significant impact, enabling thousands in the local community to access vital mental wellbeing support. As the service looks to the future, they remain committed to expanding their library of resources, empowering users to develop long-lasting CBT skills and positioning the service as a relevant and valuable resource in an increasingly digital world.
