AIBU to think emailing a link to a DIY CBT programme isn't mental health treatment?

I think it absolutely is 'mental health treatment' for plenty of people, so I'm glad it's available and in a lot of cases it's very appropriate.

But I completely understand where you're coming from; it's clearly not right for everyone and it doesn't sound like the right thing for you if you've already tried to engage with CBT before and found it unhelpful. There's no one-size-fits-all when it comes to these things, so it's frustrating when something like that is just dished out as a default when treatment really needs tailoring. I'm sorry you're having to deal with all this.

A few years back my GP referred me for a specific mental health treatment and the provider pushed back and said I needed to try something different, which was essentially one session with a psychotherapist followed by an online programme. I went to the session and within 10 minutes the psychotherapist said 'OK, this solution isn't going to be right for you, it's not going to be enough' and referred me back for the treatment my GP had originally asked for. I remember discussing it with my GP and he was really annoyed because he'd known full well from my appointment with him that I was long past any stage where the online programme was going to help me in the slightest.

That's awful. I've been turned away for trauma therapy because it might be too traumatising for me?! But no other therapy deemed suitable or offered. Except a type of which I have already done and refuse to do again as it gave me PTSD.

The NHS is useless for MH support. I'm sorry for you and hope you find a way to get through. X

Was just about to say this, the defense of CBT is huge and the concept of 'well you didnt make it work for you' type of narrative.

It isnt suitable for every sort of issue, it isnt suitable for many people who have difficulties 'feeling' something and therefore connecting it to a behaviour and/or thought.

It isnt suitable if what you need is holistic and person centred therapy to explore where something comes from and bring that to like.

Its fine for more mechanical, isolated, very behavioural issues.

What would you like instead OP? Presumably in person therapy would be likely to still involve CBT and you’ve said you haven’t found that helpful.

CBT is recommended for trauma
trauma focussed CBT and in SOME cases EMDR which has overlapping principals

CBT doesn’t ’work’ for anyone
The persons capacity to change using the CBT framework is what ‘works’

why bother agreeing to a further referral for course of treatment if you know it so well? Do the ERP yourself as ultimately that’s what you will be supported to do

This is so terrifying. We have someone with severe ocd in the family whose life is ruined by it and keeps getting bloody Talking Therapies offered. We’ve paid for private therapy but that’s a shot in the dark and has had no impact. Access to the specialists is based on long term crisis and engagement with all the steps and is out of reach privately (£££)

If you have been on a waiting list then it’s probably just the first part like an introduction before actual therapy - what does your letter say after your assessment appointment

Quote frankly you probably would be difficult to ‘help’ as you so d like you’ve not intention of engaging given CBT does not work for you…step aside then and let someone else have your spot

CBT isn’t recommended for every type of distress. It does rely on you making changes and not expecting to sit their and be fixed otherwise book hypnotherapy

Lol

this is like the time I did an e consult for my practice with an ear infection and got back a link to a bbc news article about pharmacies (which don’t treat adult ear infections)

the nicest possible interpretation is that the waiting list is horrendous and it might help some people.

I sympathise. I've had countless courses of CBT over the past 21 years for severe OCD, starting when i was 15, and it has never worked for me either.
I know the formula like the back of my hand, I've done it that many times. A different person telling me the same thing isn't going to be any more effective, and if it was something that worked for me and was able to do it myself, i wouldn't still be crippled by OCD.

I've just been referred yet again, got my first app to talk to someone on the 1st, my doctor has suggested trying ERP, though not sure what the difference is as that was always a big part of the CBT I've had every time already.

I'd seriously consider shock therapy at this point.

OP isn’t dismissing it totally out of hand - she has tried CBT before with a person. If that didn’t work, online CBT is very unlikely to be better.

ETA - I also find this an annoying defence of CBT because it sort of blames the patient if it doesnt work. I did online CBT, and then face to face CBT (with an NHS “wellbeing practitioner”). She acknowledged that the worksheets and exercises didn’t really apply to me, but told me to fill them in anyway, just make it fit the boxes etc. Then after 7 or 8 sessions and I said I didn’t really see the benefit in this, she said “well you only get out what you put in”. I was putting a lot in! A lot in to worksheets she knew were not relevant to me and my specific issues. But the NHS programme is too prescriptive (and I imagine wellbeing practitioners are not trained enough to deviate).

Can you find a therapist to work with privately?

Yet for many other people these are really useful, so don’t just dismiss something out of hand

the solution to many mental health problems has to come from inside you - like with physio also - you have to get involved and work so try this with an open mind

Oh yes you can just refer yourself back in. I was told to do that if I needed to.

I also found online CBT to be absolutely useless. Completely generic worksheets and activities that provided nothing of worth.

You could try it and go back if it doesn’t work?

Weirdly I had the opposite happen to me. I just wanted to do the online one and at the assessment appointment ended up with 2 weekly low intensity therapy and then when I (I guess from reading this thread) "failed" that it was 7 months of high intensity weekly therapy. Were your scores quite low on the forms?

What treatment are you wanting them to provide?

Yes

When people bandy around 'its a very effective treatment', - it really needs challenge because the evidence is not overwhelming and its horses for courses. I have never responded to CBT, deep seated trauma is not supported by CBT

You ge 6 sessions, the first and last are nearly always the 'start and ending' so you get 4 sessions in actuality.

Completely and utterly useless.

For who?

I think this is why homeopathy was so successful, they rely on people's need for genuine human interaction to heal, not just a link to something online.

Do it, tell them it didn’t work and then you can get on the long waiting list for the next thing. And repeat. It’s a shambles.

This is all the NHS will pay for for the vast majority.
it can’t afford expensive f2f therapy for all who ask and need. I would go privately if you can.