Letter: No short cuts in psychotherapy

ANNABEL FERRIMAN'S piece 'Quick-fix therapy for people in a hurry' (Review, 13 December) gives the impression that psychological therapy is primarily available from the private or voluntary sector. This is not the case. Throughout the country psychological therapies are available within the NHS.

The Department of Health, in a report published in June 1990, began bringing psychology more fully into health care. However, the reorganisation of the health service has effectively sabotaged the process.

Clinical psychology is a small profession. It is, however, the main supplier of cognitive behaviour therapy. The nation's health would be promoted by the media discovering this lost profession.

Marc Binns

British Psychological Society

Leicester