A total of 1.4 million people were referred to NHS talking therapies for anxiety and depression in 2017. And, according to a recent Royal College of Psychiatrists study of 500 patients across the country, a quarter of patients wait more than three months to access NHS mental health treatment, while 6% wait at least a year.

Huge waiting lists can make going private the only option – if you can afford it. According to the NHS, a one-hour session can cost up to £70. And while there may be 39,000 therapists practicing in the UK, finding the right one for you (who’s not only within reasonable commuting distance, but also has space in their diary) can prove to be a headache.

It’s little surprise that the brand of ‘on demand’ online therapy offered by many new apps and websites – all immune from issues of cost, time and location – sounds so tempting.

Take, for example, app Spill which allows users to ‘text’ with a counsellor registered with the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). Or website TalkSpace.com, which offers unlimited online therapy for as little as £37 per week. “We found a huge desire for Skype sessions,” says Kruti St Helen of ClickForTherapy.com – another website which matches you to your ideal therapist. The NHS also refers some patients for a range of digital therapy solutions.

Digital therapy: Can online counselling ever replace face-to-face therapy?