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Seeking help for addiction or mental health takes courage. It can also feel isolating, as though you’re the only one going through it. In the UK alone, over 329,000 people accessed drug or alcohol treatment between 2024 and 2025. More than two million were in touch with mental health services in April 2025.
You’re not alone in this. Professional support is closer and easier to use than ever before. Online therapy makes it possible to get professional support without putting your life on hold.
At Castle Health, we offer three outpatient options to help treat addiction and mental health online:
Online addiction therapy is for people who want to start treatment from home. Sessions are delivered by qualified therapists and recovery coaches. We also help support any co-occurring mental health conditions during your treatment.
Aftercare support is designed for people who’ve completed a residential programme and are returning to everyday life. It provides ongoing online therapy to help maintain your recovery.
Private psychiatry is built around people looking for dedicated mental health support. Within the Castle Health network, Dr Peter McCann, MBBS, MSC, MRCPsych, Private Consultant Psychiatrist, offers assessments, treatment (including medication management) and treatment referrals online.
Therapy delivered online at home makes it possible to get professional help without putting your life on hold. Not sure which applies to you? Read on, or contact us, and our admissions team will be able to guide you through your options.
What is online treatment for addiction or mental health?
Online therapy takes place in scheduled sessions on a secure digital platform. You can join from your phone, tablet, or computer, wherever you feel comfortable.
Sessions are usually one-to-one and use evidence-based therapies to help guide your recovery. You’ll address your substance use and the causes. You’ll also learn practical tools for managing your recovery. Group therapy is also available for those who want to build connections with others in recovery.
If you are seeking support for a mental health condition, sessions are tailored to your situation. Your symptoms, medical history, and the factors that affect them are all taken into account.
If your condition is more severe, residential treatment may be more appropriate. Our team can help you find the right level of care.
Online therapy may include:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Motivational interviewing
Grief & trauma counselling
Couples therapy
Family counselling
Individual or Group therapy
What we work on together
Online therapy focuses on the root causes of addiction, not just the symptoms. Across your sessions, you can expect to work on:
- Building coping strategies for difficult emotions and situations
- Managing cravings using approaches such as mindfulness-based CBT
- Identifying triggers and stressors that contribute to your substance use or compulsive behaviours
- Addressing any co-occurring mental health conditions alongside addiction
- Supporting loved ones, who’ll have space to talk about how addiction has affected them and what comes next
Online therapy for addiction
Online addiction therapy is available to people over the age of 16 who don’t need to stay in residential rehab.
This might be a good option if any of the following apply to you:
- You have work, family, or caregiving responsibilities that make it hard to attend in-person treatment.
- You want a more private or discreet way to get support.
- You’re getting back to your daily routine after staying in residential rehab.
- Health or mobility issues make it difficult to travel
- You feel nervous about starting therapy and would prefer to begin from the comfort of your own home.
Sessions involve meeting with your therapist and recovery coach for treatment. The relationship you build with your therapist matters. Online sessions give you the same space to be honest, open, and supported as any other form of therapy.
You’ll be able to share any problems or urges you’re having, and explore what’s working and what isn’t. You’ll learn practical tools to help you manage your recovery at home.
Aftercare: continuing your recovery online
Recovery does not stop when you leave residential treatment. Castle Health’s online aftercare programme keeps professional support in place as you return to everyday life.
Once you complete a residential programme, you’ll have access to online sessions with therapists, psychiatrists, and recovery coaches. Your plan is arranged before you leave, so support is ready when you need it.
If you were treated for a co-occurring condition like anxiety or depression, aftercare can include continued mental health support. Where more specialist care is needed, we’ll connect you with the right treatment provider once your aftercare ends.
Private psychiatry for mental health online
Sometimes addiction and mental health are deeply connected. Sometimes they’re not. Either way, getting the right psychiatric support matters.
Dr Peter McCann works with people dealing with conditions such as anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges, whether or not they’ve been through residential treatment.
Dr McCann offers:
- Comprehensive psychiatric assessments
- Personalised treatment plans
- Therapy and medication management where appropriate
- Referrals to accredited mental health providers near you
His approach looks at the full picture.
“I take a holistic, biological and cognitive-behavioural approach to mental health. I believe mental health challenges emerge from a combination of factors, including biology, genetics, upbringing, psychological tendencies, and environment.”
Appointments are available online, but are also available in person at Castle Craig in Scotland, or at his clinic in Edinburgh.
If you aren’t sure whether online therapy is right for you, talking with a treatment professional can help you look at your options. Contact us to find out more.
What addictions can be treated with online therapy?
Online therapy can help people recover from many types of addictions, including alcohol, cocaine, heroin, prescription drugs, gambling, and other compulsive behaviours, such as therapy for porn addiction.
What online addiction treatment involves
A treatment plan built around you
Your first conversation is confidential. We take time to understand your situation, your goals, and any challenges you are facing. From there, we create a personalised therapy plan which is adjusted as you progress. If you have just finished residential treatment, your plan is arranged before you leave.
One-to-one sessions with experienced specialists
You’ll have private sessions with a qualified therapist or recovery coach. It’s a space to talk openly about your experiences, feelings, and habits, without judgement.
Therapy that fits your life
Online sessions can be combined with in-person appointments if that works better for you. Face-to-face options are available in the UK, Ireland, Finland, Sweden at Stockholms Beroendeklinik, and the Netherlands at Castle Craig Nederland.
Online treatment is available if you live in the UK, Ireland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland, Romania, Norway, Malta, or Belgium.
Evidence-based approaches
We use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), trauma-informed therapy, and 12 Step facilitation. We also help you connect with others who are going through a similar experience.
Online vs in-person treatment: which is right for you?
Sometimes online treatment for addiction isn’t enough on its own. If you’re physically dependent on a substance, you might have withdrawal symptoms that need medical supervision. This is especially true for alcohol, opioids, or some prescription drugs, where withdrawal can be unpredictable.
Attending therapy online in the UK and Europe may also not be the best choice if your addiction is linked to serious mental health issues, like severe depression, trauma symptoms, or thoughts of self-harm. These situations often need closer monitoring and more coordinated care.
A professional assessment can help you find the right level of care. Many people use both inpatient and online support at different times in their recovery.
Online therapy in the UK and Europe with Castle Health
Castle Health has been providing addiction treatment for over 40 years. Our online services are delivered by qualified psychiatrists, therapists, and recovery coaches with experience across our residential centres.
Online support is also available to family members as part of our Family Support Programme who want help for themselves or guidance on helping a loved one.
Getting started with therapy online
Taking the first step is straightforward. There’s no pressure to commit to mental health or addiction treatment online. The initial conversation is free and completely confidential.
How to arrange your first appointment
Call us or use the contact form on our website. It’s simply a chance to ask questions and share a little about what has been going on.
For Dr McCann’s private psychiatry service, call 01721 546 456 to arrange an assessment.
What you need
All sessions take place on a secure digital platform. You’ll need a quiet space and a reliable internet connection. Sessions are compatible with smartphones, tablets, and computers.
What happens after you book
Once your appointment is confirmed, we’ll send you a secure link and everything you need to get started.
No matter where you are or what you are dealing with, we’re here to help. Call our admissions team or use the contact form to find out which service is right for you.
Frequently asked questions
Does online addiction treatment really work?
For many people, online addiction treatment programmes for drug or alcohol addiction can be effective for mild to moderate addiction. You’ll still receive evidence-based treatment in a setting that is comfortable to you.
What therapy is most effective for addiction?
Therapies work differently for everyone. Effective online addiction treatment often combines talking therapies like CBT or DBT with other evidence-based approaches. CBT in particular can help you identify thinking patterns that contribute to addictive behaviour and develop practical strategies to manage them.
Can I switch between online and face-to-face therapy?
We believe recovery should revolve around you as an individual, so you can personalise your treatment schedule. It’s common to start online and transition to face-to-face sessions later.
Can you get alcohol addiction treatment online in the UK?
We provide online alcohol addiction treatment to people with mild to moderate addiction across the country. When you’re ready to learn more, call us, and we’ll explain how our UK online therapy works.
Can you get online rehab for opioid addiction?
Online opioid addiction treatment can work well in some cases. Severe withdrawal symptoms or a long-term addiction may require the closer support of inpatient care.
