GP counselling referral wait times

[Whiteminnowfish]

I am going to my GP to ask for counselling due to the awful situation I am in.

How long are the waiting times usually and do they prioritise depending on severity?

Some authorities let you self refer. Try googling your county and iapts.
I have no idea about waiting times right now, sorry.

We can self refer in our area so it’s worth checking that out. We are fortunate that in our area there is a very short waiting list and I was able to have my assessment within 4 weeks of referring myself.

If you feel you can’t wait, you should speak to your gp.

My experience is you get a phone call where they ask a few questions so they can direct you to the most appropriate service.

I've had a few types of counselling through the NHS, and it's an absolute waste of time, not fit for purpose.

Unless you want 10 40 minute sessions of very light CBT that you could read a book on and learn yourself.

I ended up putting £4K or private therapy on a credit card. It was absolutely worth it. The NHS just does not have the resources or funding.

It's not the fault of the practitioners within the NHS, they're struggling to provide care. I was shocked at how crap the level of therapy was.