Help in Merseyside Area?

[Loftylady]

Hi,

Can anyone recommend a therapist who specialises in OCD in the Merseyside area, please?

My son doesnt have a formal diagnosis, but has been referred for this recently by his GP, and we are awaiting an appointment. He has accessed CBT throught the NHS, but has still struggled since finishing his sessions last year. We have contacted three therapists in our area after searching the BABCP website and he has been essentially "fobbed off" by two, (one after having been on her waiting list for pre assessment for four months) and a third hasnt even answered our email.

I have been contacted by a fourth who is in a Rodney Street practice, but I just wondered if anyone could recommend someone. We are looking to pay privately because getting back onto the NHS list will take a further 5/6 months and my son starts University in September, so we are anxious that this will make things worse, and obviously dont want to spend money on a therapist that cant help. We are more than  a little disillusioned I have to say, as I anticipated that BABCP accredited therapists  would be more helpful.

Any iinfo would be gratefully apprecciated.

 

Thank You

x

 

[Ashley]

I am afraid I can't really recommend anyone outside of the London/Kent area that works privately.   The BABCP does not guarantee anything at all in terms of quality, but it is the best standards we have at the moment to find a CBT therapist that is at least attending training.  BABCP accreditation simply means they attend x of CBT training, they don't have to actually pass any tests to get accreditation. It also does not mean they are OCD experts.   So the only think going private buys is fast track therapy, but not necessarily better than NHS. But, because you are buying therapy, you can choose who you give your money to.

The thing is when going private you can 'choose'. It's your money so if you don't get 100% customer focussed attention then walk way, take your money to someone else.  

One thing I will say is, don't try and put time frames on beating OCD, i.e. before he goes to uni in September.  Sadly beating OCD takes long as it takes, weeks to months it will vary from person to person.

 

[Ashley]

Actually I did remember someone. I have met him, and I think he knows about OCD.  I don't know if I would call him an expert, but he might be worth asking about therapy, he may be able to help.  Steve Flatt - http://www.steveflatt.co.uk/psychotherapy_profile.htm

 

[Lynz]

My therapist based in Merseyside was very good. His name is Dr. Costas Papageorgiou and he has a private clinic in Crosby every Wednesday. If you PM me I can give you the contact details of his secretary who you can contact to make an appointment.

[Loftylady]

Hi Ashley, Thanks for your reply.

Yeah, I understand that about BABCP, but as you say, its all we've got, so I suppose I expected more.  I also am aware that he wont beat this by September, but if he has some support before going and whilst there, I think this would help. Paying privately can just buy a quicker appointment, but waiting for 6 months on the NHS again is not an option this time. He's done that already and NICE recommend at least 10 sessions of CBT, and someone would be very lucky to get that on the NHS, my son got 6. Thanks for the link, I'll check it out

Hi Lynz, Thank You! Ive just found his website. Once I figure out how to PM you, I will (Newbie) Thanks again

 

[Lynz]

11 hours ago, Loftylady said:

Hi Lynz, Thank You! Ive just found his website. Once I figure out how to PM you, I will (Newbie) Thanks again

No worries I've just replied 

[Ashley]

22 hours ago, Loftylady said:

He's done that already and NICE recommend at least 10 sessions of CBT, and someone would be very lucky to get that on the NHS, my son got 6.

I don't think that's the case at all (that someone would be lucky to get more than 6).  At 6 sessions they can review, but should offer more another 6 usually, if that didn't happen I would put in a complaint. 

[Loftylady]

My son wasn't offered more, unfortunately, so I speak only from our experience. He requested further sessions and was told he'd have to refer himself again and go on waiting list again. Hence the quest, for private therapy x