Guidance for selecting providers

When selecting providers of services, treatments or interventions, it’s a good idea to ask about their experience and relevant qualifications.

Some helpful areas to cover include:

• Professional qualifications
• Membership of professional bodies (certification, accreditation, registration)
• Training and/or experience
• Length of time providing this service

When discussing specific interventions:

• Ask specific questions about the treatment goals, components, style, target group, outcomes, effectiveness, negative effects and safeguards, as well as therapist experience, qualifications and professionalism.
• Be hopeful, but conservative, about any new treatment where the effectiveness of the treatment has not been proven.
• Beware of any programme that claims to be effective for everyone.
• Be cautious of programmes that do not allow individualisation.
• Recognise that there are likely to be several suitable treatment options.
• Recognise that treatment choices should be based on the results of individual assessment.
• Avoid treatment approaches that do not provide information on how to assess whether a person is suitable for that treatment.
• Test out whether the treatment was effective by trying it for long enough (e.g. two months). Complete appropriate questionnaires about the targeted behaviours/skills before and after treatment. Tell no one when a treatment has started, and monitor progress by making written notes throughout the course of treatment.