What Can an Online Clinical Psychologist Help With?

People contact us with many different concerns. You do not need to fit neatly into a particular diagnosis before asking for help.

Our psychologists work with difficulties including:

• anxiety and excessive worry
• depression and low mood
• trauma and PTSD
• panic attacks
• OCD
• stress and burnout
• difficulties managing emotions
• relationship difficulties
• attachment and interpersonal difficulties
• low self-confidence and self-esteem
• bereavement, loss and major life changes
• work-related stress
• difficulties connected with earlier life experiences
• physical health and psychological wellbeing
• complex or longstanding psychological difficulties

Sometimes several difficulties overlap. Clinical Psychology can be particularly helpful when it is important to understand the wider picture rather than treating one symptom in isolation.

Explore problems we help with.

Why See a Clinical Psychologist Online?

Clinical Psychologists have extensive postgraduate training in psychological assessment, formulation and psychological therapy.

A Clinical Psychologist does not simply select a treatment from a list of symptoms.

They can help develop an individual psychological formulation: an understanding of how your experiences, circumstances, thoughts, emotions, relationships and ways of coping may fit together.

This understanding can then guide an individually tailored approach to therapy.

Our Clinical Psychologists can draw upon different psychological models and therapies depending on their individual training and expertise.

What Happens at Your First Online Psychology Appointment?

Your first appointment provides time to talk about what has led you to seek help and what you would like to change.

You don’t need to arrive knowing exactly what to say and you don’t need to know which therapy you require.

Your psychologist will ask questions to help understand your current difficulties, relevant experiences and circumstances, and what is important to you.

Together you can begin considering:

• what you are experiencing
• how it affects your everyday life
• what may have contributed to the difficulties
• what might currently be keeping them going
• what you would like to be different
• what form of psychological therapy or support may be helpful

The first appointment is also an opportunity for you to experience talking with the psychologist and consider whether you feel comfortable working together.

Psychological Therapies Available Online

Different Clinical Psychologists within the service have training and experience in different psychological therapies.

Depending on your needs and the psychologist you see, approaches may include:

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

CBT considers relationships between thoughts, feelings, behaviour and physical responses and can help identify patterns that contribute to ongoing difficulties.

More about CBT

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)

EMDR is a psychological therapy commonly associated with the treatment of trauma and distressing experiences.

More about EMDR

Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT)

CAT can help people understand repeated patterns in how they relate to themselves and other people and how these may connect with earlier experiences.

More about CAT

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, DBT-informed approach

Ideas and strategies from DBT can be helpful for some people experiencing intense emotions or difficulties regulating emotions and behaviour.

More about DBT

Other Psychological Approaches

Our psychologists also have experience in a number of other evidence-based psychological approaches.

The important question is not usually “Which therapy should I choose?” before you contact us.

A Clinical Psychologist can help you think about which approach, or combination of approaches, may make sense for you.

Which therapy is best for me? See more here.

Is Online Therapy Suitable for Me?

Many people find online appointments practical and comfortable.

Online work may be particularly useful when travelling is difficult or when being able to choose from psychologists throughout the UK is more important than seeing someone geographically close to you.

You will need:

• access to a reliable internet connection (not pay per minute)
• a device capable of video calls
• a private space where you can speak comfortably and confidentially

Online therapy will not necessarily be the best option for everyone or every situation.

If you are uncertain whether online psychological therapy is appropriate for your circumstances, please contact us. We can discuss the available options with you before you decide whether to arrange an appointment.

Online or Face-to-Face Clinical Psychology?

Some people strongly prefer being in the same room as their psychologist. Others prefer meeting online.

There is no need to choose online simply because you initially found us through this page.

National Clinical Psychology Service also has Clinical Psychologists offering face-to-face appointments in selected parts of the UK.

If there is an appropriate in-person option reasonably close to you, we can let you know.

We also offer in-person appointments at psychology clinics in selected parts of the UK, including Devon, Durham,  Eastbourne, Holmfirth, Lichfield, Liverpool, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, Solihull area, Staffordshire, Stockton Teesside,

For people who do not live close to one of our clinics, online appointments provide access to Clinical Psychologists throughout the UK without the need to travel.

Fees for Online Clinical Psychology

Fees vary according to the individual Clinical Psychologist and the type of appointment required.

We will explain the relevant fee before an appointment is arranged.

There is no charge for contacting National Clinical Psychology Service for the initial referral consultation and to discuss possible psychologist options.

Ask us about current availability and fees.

Qualified and Professionally Registered Clinical Psychologists

Clinical Psychologist is a protected professional title in the UK.

Our Clinical Psychologists are registered as Practitioner Psychologists with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

HCPC registration provides an important way of checking that the psychologist you are considering working with meets the professional requirements for registration.

We encourage you to look at individual psychologist profiles and check professional registration.

Meet our Clinical Psychologists here.

When Might Face-to-Face Therapy Be Worth Considering?

Online therapy is not necessarily the best option for every person or at every stage of therapy.

In my clinical experience, where someone has experienced significant emotional neglect, attachment difficulties or relational trauma earlier in life, I may sometimes recommend considering face-to-face therapy where this is practical and accessible.

This is because, for some people, being physically present with a clinical psychologist, in the same room, can be particularly valuable when the therapeutic work involves developing a sense of safety and trust within relationships.

This is not an absolute rule. Some people with these experiences work very well online, particularly where previous therapy has already helped them process earlier experiences and they feel able to develop a secure and effective therapeutic relationship through online sessions.

The most appropriate format depends on the individual, their circumstances, preferences, previous therapy experiences and the nature of the psychological work being considered. We can discuss this with you before arranging an appointment.

Clinical perspective from the author, Dr Jurai Darongkamas, Consultant Clinical Psychologist
Read about Dr Jurai Darongkamas.

If you are unsure whether online or face-to-face work would be most suitable for you, you do not need to decide before contacting us. We can discuss both options with you.

Frequently Asked Questions About Online Clinical Psychology

Are your online psychologists qualified Clinical Psychologists?

Yes. The Clinical Psychologists associated with National Clinical Psychology Service are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council as Practitioner Psychologists.

Can I see an online Clinical Psychologist anywhere in the UK?

Online appointments are available to people across the UK, subject to the individual psychologist’s suitability, availability and professional arrangements.

Do I need a GP referral?

You can contact National Clinical Psychology Service directly to enquire about private psychological therapy. If another professional is involved in your care, your psychologist can discuss with you whether communication with them would be useful and obtain appropriate consent where required.

Do I need to know what type of therapy I need?

No. Clinical Psychologists are trained to assess and formulate psychological difficulties and can help consider which psychological approach or combination of approaches may be appropriate.

Can I choose my psychologist?

You are welcome to look through our psychologist profiles and tell us if there is somebody you would particularly like to see. Alternatively, we can help identify psychologists whose experience appears suitable for what you would like help with.

Can trauma therapy or EMDR be provided online?

Some of our psychologists offer trauma-focused psychological therapy and EMDR online where they consider this clinically appropriate. Whether a particular treatment is appropriate for you is something to discuss with the psychologist. 

There is evidence that online work can be as effective for some people as in person work.

Can couples have online appointments?

Some Clinical Psychologists associated with the service work with couples. Please mention that you are looking for couples therapy when you contact us so that we can advise about suitable current options.

Do you offer online appointments for children or teenagers?

Some psychologists work with children, young people or families, while others work only with adults. Tell us the age of the person you are enquiring about and what help you are seeking so that we can advise about suitable options.

What if I would rather see somebody face-to-face?

We also have face-to-face Clinical Psychology appointments available in selected locations. If you tell us roughly where you are based, we can advise whether an appropriate in-person option is available or whether online work may provide you with a wider choice.

How do I get started?

Contact us and briefly tell us what you would like help with.

You do not have to commit to therapy simply by making an enquiry.

We can discuss possible options and help you consider the next step.

Find an Online Clinical Psychologist

Taking the first step towards psychological therapy can feel significant.

You do not need to have worked out exactly what is wrong, which therapy you need or which psychologist to choose before contacting us.

Tell us a little about what you are experiencing and what you would like help with.

We will help guide you towards an appropriate next step.

Free, no-obligation consultation

Telephone: 0330 223 1844

Email: ncps@clinicalpsychologyservice.co.uk

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