Accessing therapies

How do you access psychological therapy?

Make an appointment to see your GP.

If your GP decides you need to specialised mental health support, they will refer you, depending on your age, to the adult or older adult Community Mental Health Team. This team will asses your needs.

If together you and the mental health professional decide psychological therapy is required, they will ask the psychological therapies team to consider the request.

What will happen?

If you are invited for a psychological assessment, your appointment may focus on:

• Your current difficulties
• How they developed
• What is keeping them going
• Your safety and that of others
• Your goals for therapy.

Next steps

Once the assessment is complete a decision will be made with you about next steps. This may include an offer of one or more of the following:

• A class
• Group therapy
• Individual psychological therapy.

You will be advised of how long may need to wait to start your therapy.

What are the different therapies offered?

Following your psychological assessment if you are offered a psychological therapy, the type of therapy and how this is offered will take in to account your assessment, including any previous therapy and your goals for therapy.

If you are offered a class or group this may include

• Mentalisation Based Therapy (MBT)
• Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Psychosis Recovery (ACT)
• Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT)
• Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
• Family Therapy

Learn more: Welcome to PT (docx)

Other options

If you are not offered any therapy sessions this will be discussed with you.

You may be signposted to other local partner organisations such as Restore or Mind, or other specialist services suitable for your needs.