News statement · For immediate release: Thursday 29 March 2007
wpf Counselling and Psychotherapy

“Computer therapy doesn’t click with everybody” comments wpf Counselling & Psychotherapy as government announces computer therapy for all from April

Reacting to the Department of Health guidance to primary care trusts on implementing computer-based therapy for patients experiencing mild depression or anxiety, wpf Counselling and Psychotherapy director, Lesley Murdin said:

“Computer therapy doesn’t click with everybody. When working with people experiencing distress, for example in relationship difficulties, the actual relationship between the trained counsellor or psychotherapist and the client is a vital part of enabling change. If we’re talking about complex human beings it’s not just about problems and solutions.

Of course computer-based therapy programmes can have a beneficial effect for some people, and should be made more widely available, but it is important that the government doesn’t use technology as a way of side-stepping the recommendation of the recent Layard Report which called for an additional 10,000 trained CBT practitioners.”

Following receipt of a grant of £125,704 from the Department of Health, wpf Counselling and Psychotherapy will set up and develop up to ten centres in England to improve access to psychological therapies including CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy).

By training practitioners who are already qualified psychodynamic counsellors and psychotherapists in cbt skills wpf will widen the options open to clients who will be seen by an experienced professional, and will make therapy truly accessible by working with community groups and primary care trusts.

wpf Counselling and Psychotherapy provides high quality therapy tailored to each individual as well as training for counsellors and psychotherapists with a wide range of accredited training programmes. In addition to its offices and training department in Kensington, wpf Counselling and Psychotherapy works with a network of 30 centres across England and is the largest charitable provider of counselling and psychotherapy in England.
Ends

Media enquiries:
Lesley Warner
wpf Counselling & Psychotherapy
Tel: 020 7361 4827  Mobile: 07906 813694
e: lesley.warner@wpf.org.uk