"I am grateful that IAPT exists"

I contacted IAPT after my GP recommended it to me due to struggling with depression and anxiety for quite a while. I initially had a short course of Guided Self Help, which was helpful but we realised that counselling was going to be most beneficial for me. I had to wait a while before I was matched with a counsellor, but I was eventually matched with a lovely counsellor called Carole. Before I started the counselling, I was nervous that I wouldn't know what to say or where to start, but Carole asked the right questions and conversation flowed easily. I looked forward to my sessions each week and we began to explore events in my past which had contributed to me feeling the way I did. I have now come to the end of my counselling with IAPT and am waiting for some private counselling with Ealing Abbey to continue exploring. However I can say that I am in a much better place than I was when I first contacted IAPT. I am grateful that IAPT exists as it helped me get through an extremely difficult time. The only downside is that it is short-term. This service is really needed.