Types of Therapy

Anxiety UK offers a range of therapies including those approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). A full list of therapies that are approved by NICE for specific anxiety conditions can be found below. Last updated: March 2022

Presenting condition

Recommended NICE treatment

GAD – Generalised Anxiety Disorder and panic in adults with or without agoraphobia

CBT and applied relaxation (CG113)

Panic disorder

CBT (CG113)

Social anxiety disorder in adults

CBT

Psychodynamic psychotherapy (CG159)

Social anxiety disorder in children

Group CBT focused therapy to include psychoeducation and skills training for parents

Individual CBT including exposure therapy (CG159)

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) in adults (other symptoms that come under OCD treatment are Trichotillomania and hoarding)

CBT including exposure response prevention (ERP) (CG31)

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) in children

CBT with ERP (CG31)

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in adults

CBT

Hypnotherapy and or psychological therapy (CG61 & QS114)

Depression in adults including Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

CBT

Counselling

Psychodynamic psychotherapy (CG90)

Antenatal and postnatal mental health

Follow guidelines for Depression (CG192)

Phobias

Counselling

CBT

Mindfulness (Guidance from https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/phobias/treatment/)

Presenting Conditions

GAD – Generalised Anxiety Disorder and panic in adults with or without agoraphobia
Recommended NICE Treatment	CBT and applied relaxation (CG113)

Panic disorder
Recommended NICE Treatment	CBT (CG113)

Social anxiety disorder in adults
Recommended NICE Treatment	CBT
	Psychodynamic psychotherapy (CG159)

Social anxiety disorder in children
Recommended NICE Treatment	Group CBT focused therapy to include psychoeducation and skills training for parents
	Individual CBT including exposure therapy (CG159)

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adults
Recommended NICE Treatment	Individual trauma-focused CBT EMDR
	Cognitive processing therapy
	Cognitive therapy for PTSD
	Narrative exposure therapy
	Prolonged exposure therapy
	EMDR
	Trauma-focused computerised CBT (NG116)

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children and young people
Recommended NICE Treatment	CBT for age 7 to 17 years
	EMDR for age 7-17 years
	EMDR for age 7-17 (NG116)

Obsessive compulsive disorder(OCD) and Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) in adults (other symptoms that come under OCD treatment are Trichotillomania and hoarding)
Recommended NICE Treatment	CBT including exposure response prevention (ERP) (CG31)

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) in children
Recommended NICE Treatment	CBT with ERP (CG31)

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in adults
Recommended NICE Treatment	CBT
	Hypnotherapy and or psychological therapy (CG61 & QS114)

Depression in adults including Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Recommended NICE Treatment	CBT
	Counselling
	Psychodynamic psychotherapy (CG90)

Depression in children
Recommended NICE Treatment	CBT
	Interpersonal Therapy (NG134)

Self-harm in over 8s
Recommended NICE Treatment	Psychological intervention that is structured specifically for self-harm (CG133)

Antenatal and postnatal mental health
Recommended NICE Treatment	Follow guidelines for Depression (CG192)

Phobias
Recommended NICE Treatment	Counselling
	CBT
	Mindfulness (Guidance from https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/phobias/treatment/)

Click here to access a glossary of therapies

Please note, we do not offer all the different types of therapies on the list.

About us

Anxiety UK is a national registered charity formed in 1970, by Katharine and Harold Fisher, for those affected by anxiety and anxiety disorders.

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Caroline Frankau

18:49 07 Mar 23

Joining Anxiety UK has had a very positive impact on my health and well-being. I thoroughly recommend their services.

Jonathan Beever

11:25 10 Oct 22

Niamh Shepherd gave an interactive online talk at my work today! it was one of the best Anxiety presentations i have seen and very well delivered, From my colleagues and I, thank you!

nat

17:31 26 Sep 22

I had my CBT through Anxiety UK and it has been a really positive experience treating my generalised anxiety disorder. The Anxiety UK team is very professional and helpful and I was actually recommended by a friend who also had a positive experience with their CBT. I would definitely use Anxiety UK again if I needed to!

sophie jorgensen-rideout

11:35 22 Sep 22

AnxietyUK has been so helpful to me - I joined to access affordable therapy, though I was worried there might be a long wait list. This was absolutely not the case, and I was assigned a therapist super quickly! They were also super helpful when unfortunately our schedules didn't align, and I was matched with a therapist with availability that matched mine. I really recommend AnxietyUK to everyone- they also have fantastic group resources and I think it's really really helpful, especially if you can't afford private therapy and the wait lists in your area are too long.

Susie Kocher

14:31 20 Aug 22

I found the therapy I received through Anxiety UK a crucial and affordable form of support during a very difficult time.For this I am forever grateful and will without a doubt use their services if needed again in the future.Thank you so much.

Joan Treloggan

12:28 03 Aug 22

Felt I was being listened to and felt I belonged. It was very reassuring. Unfortunately I am very deaf and missed most of the sharing. Is it possible to have subtitles please. A very sincere thank you for being there for me. What swift service you give.

Henry Brook

09:55 18 Jun 22

Very nice to know this support is out there as quite often hard to actually get an opportunity to speak to someone in person these days. Had my first session last week and so far so good. Very happy with the way things are going so far and also pleased with how smoothly it was set up and assessed as to what I was after and a service that fitted around my work and life balance.

Richard Evans

04:12 22 Mar 22

Through a period of some significant challenge, the services offered by Anxiety UK has been fantastic, and whilst there is a long road head, progress is positive and forward.I’m extraordinarily grateful for the help and support during a challenging time, both to the Anxiety UK and my Professional Institute, The Chartered Institute of Building and their respected benevolent fund.I'm about a third the way through a 16-week program and the benefits and rewards are already coming through.Thanks again, eternal appreciation.Rich

Greg

16:56 18 Mar 22

Speedy, understanding and professional. If you're struggling, don't be ashamed to seek out the help you need.

Avis Gough

20:57 15 Feb 22

Found it reassuring I'm not the only person struggling or that I'm doing things wrong

Margaret Allan

17:11 01 Feb 22

I can't recommend Anxiety UK enough as they were a godsend to me while I waited on my psychology Appointment with NHS which took over a year.During this time I used most of the resources that can be found on the Anxiety UK website. One of the resources I used was the counselling and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. I paid for this but my fee was really small and worth every penny. Therapists are all qualified Healthcare Professionals who give up their time to help.Personally I feel Anxiety UK offers a fantastic service which fills that much needed gap between being referred to NHS and your actual appointment time which nowadays due to Covid can be up to a year in waiting time.Please don't wait and suffer just visit the Anxiety UK website and see for yourself !!

Tori Fenton

20:19 30 Nov 21

Amazing experience! Everyone was so welcoming and non judgemental. It was really reassuring to know that I’m not on my own. A lovely bunch of people, very empathetic and willing to share their experiences as well as their own coping mechanisms.

Manisha Gosar

14:36 13 Nov 21

Very approachable, helpful and value for money