Triumph Over Phobia Arvostelua 3

⭐☆☆☆☆

I contacted Triumph Over Phobia (UK) seeking support for long-term panic disorder and agoraphobia, but my experience was extremely disappointing. After enrolling for a therapy group, I heard nothing for more than two months and later discovered I had been missed off the waiting list entirely.

When I was eventually invited to a trial online group session, it became clear that it was focused almost exclusively on OCD, despite management previously assuring me that I would be placed with individuals experiencing similar conditions to my own. The session felt chaotic, unstructured, and poorly managed — particularly regarding time. Some participants were allowed to speak for excessively long periods, causing the session to overrun significantly, and I ultimately never had the opportunity to share anything.

One participant described severe and distressing compulsions that were well beyond the scope of what the group leader was equipped to manage, clearly exceeding the boundaries and competence of a peer-support setting. The lack of professional containment and safeguarding was genuinely alarming.

Following the session, I received a call from an administrator asking for feedback. When I calmly explained my concerns, they became defensive, patronising, and accusatory, claiming that I “didn’t understand anxiety” — despite knowing nothing about my clinical history. Their tone was shockingly rude and presumptuous, leaving me distressed and disheartened. I requested to speak with a manager about the incident, but no one ever followed up, and no apology was received.

While I respect that TOP UK is a charity operating with limited resources, this does not excuse the poor communication, lack of professionalism, or weak safeguarding I encountered. In my opinion, the organisation is not adequately equipped to manage the complexity of anxiety spectrum disorders safely, and I would not recommend it to anyone seeking qualified, evidence-based support.

As another reviewer says these people are lacking knowledge on OCD or more specifically intrusive thoughts. Their approach is antiquated and arrogant and without wanting to be dramatic dangerous. It’s not CBT based in my opinion. I’m just glad I didn’t go into anymore detail than I did in a video group. Some of the things the very talkative facilitator said were bizarre and she dominated both sessions I attended ie sufferers didn’t get to say much. OCD Action I’d suggest contacting not this organisation.

I would strongly advise people to stay away from this organisation. Their help for sufferers of OCD is entirely arbritary in nature, and delivered by individuals without any qualification. There are much more professionalised organisations such as OCD Action and OCD UK which offer qualified therapists and support groups for those looking for a way out of OCD.