If you’re considering having online CBT, it’s normal to have a few reservations or doubts about trying something new. To help you with making the decision, we’ve rounded up some of the things people tend to feel uncertain about, and what some former ieso patients have said about their experiences.

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What if I regret signing up for therapy?‍

• ‍“You might regret it if you don’t – but you will always be happy that you did it.”
• “Please do it! You’ll only look back to see how far you have come!”
• “I would recommend anyone to dare to try this, it’s life changing.”
  

CBT has proved to be a very effective treatment for people experiencing mental health difficulties including depression, anxiety, stress and PTSD. Most people find it helpful, and start feeling better relatively quickly. Patients have the same chance of getting better whether they have face-to-face or online treatment, according to the NHS.

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If after beginning therapy you find that it’s not for you, there will be absolutely no pressure to continue.

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I’m too busy, I work all day – when would I fit it in?‍‍‍

• “It worked perfectly with my schedule.”
• “I got to choose the time and day of my sessions and I spaced them apart weekly or fortnightly, depending on my schedule.”
• “It’s easy to refer yourself and book appointments, it fits around even the busiest of lives.”

Online CBT is designed to fit flexibly around patients’ family and work commitments. ieso offers appointments between 6am and 11pm every day, including at the weekends.

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To get the most from the CBT process, however, it’s important that you’re able to commit the time to attend regular sessions, and also to complete your ‘homework’ in between.

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It all sounds a bit complicated and scientific…‍

• ‍“It’s helping me so much, it is easy.”
• “You may be surprised just how quickly you can start to address difficulties that seem insurmountable.”
  

CBT is very practical and straightforward, and focuses on equipping the patient with tools and techniques they can use to manage their problem right away in daily life.

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You may have heard the word formulation being used, which probably sounds pretty scientific! But it’s just a way of simplifying the problems you’re experiencing. Our thoughts, emotions, behaviours and physical symptoms are all interconnected – and formulating how they’re linked helps you and the therapist to understand what needs to change for you to feel better. From there, you’ll agree together what you want to improve and set some goals you can work towards.

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I’m a bit daunted by the idea of seeing a therapist…‍

• ‍“I had a fantastic experience with a kind and patient therapist who equipped me with tools for living that I’ve been implementing and benefiting from on a daily basis.”
• “The therapists are lovely and really want to help.”
• “The therapist I had was really open and listened without judgement.”
  

Online CBT works the same way as face-to-face CBT, except the patient and the therapist communicate by typing instead of talking – exactly like having a chat on Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp. Patients often find typing makes it easier to talk about personal or difficult subjects, and that writing helps them to reflect on things as they go. It’s a really collaborative process, with you and the therapist working as a team.

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I’m ready to get help now – won’t I have to wait ages?‍

• ‍“I really valued not having a long wait between requesting help and being assigned a therapist.”
• “Registering for therapy was quick and easy, and starting the sessions was very quick too.”
  

You won’t have to wait as long for online therapy as you might for in-person treatment. At ieso, matching patients with a therapist usually takes no longer than 10 working days, although during extremely busy periods it can take a little longer.

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If you’re ready to get started, you can find out more about what you can expect during online CBT and begin your journey here.