Anxiety and worry
General anxiety, persistent worry, social anxiety, fears, avoidance and feeling constantly on edge.
General psychological therapy
Psychological therapy for everyday mental health difficulties
Individual psychological therapy for adults who want help with emotional, behavioural or relationship difficulties. The work is based on your needs, goals and circumstances rather than a single diagnosis.
Areas commonly supported
What psychological therapy can help with
People do not need to fit neatly into one category. These are examples of difficulties that may be suitable for therapy after an initial discussion.
Depression and low mood
Low mood, loss of motivation, hopelessness, withdrawal and difficulty reconnecting with daily life.
Stress and burnout
Work pressure, overwhelm, exhaustion, prolonged stress and difficulty switching off.
Trauma-related difficulties
Distressing memories, avoidance, hypervigilance and the impact of difficult or traumatic experiences.
Panic and health anxiety
Panic attacks, fear of physical sensations, repeated reassurance seeking and anxiety about health.
Obsessive compulsive difficulties
Intrusive thoughts, compulsive behaviours, checking, reassurance seeking and rigid routines that cause distress.
Grief and bereavement
Support with loss, bereavement and the emotional impact of major changes in relationships or family life.
Self-esteem and confidence
Persistent self-criticism, shame, low confidence and patterns that affect relationships, work or decision making.
Emotional regulation
Strong emotions, anger, irritability, shutdown, difficulty recovering from stress and feeling overwhelmed.
Relationships and interpersonal difficulties
Communication problems, recurring relationship patterns, boundaries, conflict and difficulty trusting or connecting with others.
Life changes and adjustment
Illness, separation, career change, becoming a parent, retirement, relocation and other major transitions.
Sleep and coping difficulties
Unhelpful routines, stress-related sleep problems and coping patterns that are making daily functioning harder.
How therapy works
A focused process based on your goals
The first stage is understanding what is happening, what may be maintaining the problem and what you want to change. Therapy may draw on established psychological approaches depending on the difficulty, evidence base and your preferences.
- Clear goals agreed together
- Regular review of whether therapy is helping
- Practical strategies between sessions where useful
- Attention to relationships, context and previous experiences
- Referral or signposting when another service is more appropriate
Separate service
Looking for neurodevelopmental therapy?
ADHD, autism and combined profiles have a dedicated therapy pathway with a stronger focus on executive functioning, sensory needs, burnout, identity and neurodevelopmental differences.
View neurodevelopmental therapySuitability
When another service may be needed
This service may be suitable when
- You want structured psychological help with a defined difficulty
- You can take part safely in planned outpatient therapy
- Your goals fall within the clinician's professional scope
- You are able to attend and review progress regularly
A different or additional service may be needed when
- There is an immediate risk of harm or a mental health emergency
- You need urgent crisis care or intensive psychiatric treatment
- A specialist eating disorder, addiction, psychosis or other multidisciplinary service is required
- Your needs require medical treatment or prescribing alongside therapy
Questions about therapy
Before you start
Do I need a diagnosis?
No. Therapy can focus on current difficulties and goals without a formal diagnosis.
How many sessions will I need?
There is no fixed number for everyone. The likely length of work is discussed after understanding the problem and is reviewed as therapy progresses.
What type of therapy is used?
The approach depends on the difficulty, evidence base, formulation and your preferences. The rationale for the proposed approach should be explained before or during the early stages of therapy.
Is this an emergency service?
No. If there is immediate danger, severe deterioration or an urgent mental health crisis, use local emergency, GP or crisis services.
Discuss whether therapy is a good fit
A free 15 minute consultation can clarify your main difficulty, the scope of the service and the next step.