Poor communication, weak safeguarding, and no clinical structure — a charity out of its depth.
⭐☆☆☆☆
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.








