Counselling & Therapy Services
Counselling is one of the best ways to improve mental health
Having counselling can be life-changing.
Our brains often get us into a cycle of unhelpful thoughts, usually negative, critical, and this then contributes to worsening of mental health.
Counselling can help us reflect on our thinking patterns and with support start to challenge and question them, leading to more healthy ways of thinking and feeling.
We can have so much more control over how we deal with situations in life.
Sometimes counselling may not have worked for you in the past; this does not mean that it will never work. Each Counsellor-Patient relationship and treatment is different and there is always a benefit in trying again.
What Options Are Available To Me?
There is currently a 9-12 month waiting list for 1-1 counselling with IAPT.
However they do have options for group therapy and online CBT modules for patients who are waiting for counselling, so please do ask if you are on the waiting list for what is available to you.
Improving Access to Psychological Therapies
The Healthy Mind Service is a free NHS Improving Access to Psychological Therapies service. We offer brief talking therapies to people who are feeling anxious, low in mood or depressed. To complete our self-referral form, you will initially be asked a few screening questions to ensure we are the right service for you.
If you are a professional wanting to make a referral, please contact the service directly on 02476 671 090 or email us on iapt@covwarkpt.nhs.uk
We see people who are aged 16 and over, registered in a Coventry, Warwickshire or Solihull GP and who are not currently being seen by another mental health team.
We are not a crisis service. If you need immediate assistance because you feel you might be a risk to yourself or someone else and you live in Coventry or Warwickshire, please ring Wellbeing for Warwickshire on 0800 616171 (24 hr helpline).
https://www.talkingtherapies.covwarkpt.nhs.uk/self-referral/
Social Prescribing Service
Can be used to access COUNSELLING services through Primary Care Network attached counsellors. Also beneficial for social welfare support if required - see Social Navigator role
Waiting time to start counselling approx 3 months currently.
Referrals
Referrals to be done by GP - please ask your GP to refer you
Email: SocialPrescribingCoventry@nhs.net
Exclusion Criteria
- Acute mental health needs
- Personal care needs
Role of the Social Navigator
- A Social Navigator will contact the patient to arrange a convenient appointment.
- A Wellbeing Guided Conversation (holistic assessment) will be completed at the first visit to identify goals, aims and agree an action plan.
- The Social Navigator will link the patient to a Social Buddy, befriending, friendship groups/activities, exercise classes, information & advice, home support, meals service, benefit entitlement check.
https://www.coventryrugbygpgateway.nhs.uk/pages/social-prescribing/
Whatever’s on your mind, we’re here to listen
Free ONLINE digital mental wellbeing support for adults across the UK. Can be started straight away with no waiting list.
Professional support
Our accredited team is here to support you through all things big and small. No referral needed, just join the chat queue when you are ready to chat.
Community support
Our peer to peer forums are moderated to maximise safety and allow people to discuss issues together in a facilitated environment.
Personal development tools
Our suite of self help tools offer the ability to create journals, track your mood and set goals.
The Mix Counselling Service
Counselling for 18-25 year olds
The Mix Counselling service is suitable for you if you are looking for short-term help with your mental health and emotional wellbeing. Our Telephone and Webchat counselling service is available to young people aged 25 years old and under. Our counsellors aim to support by listening to your problems and helping you find ways to cope in a confidential, safe space.
Counselling sessions could help with issues such as:
- A bereavement (death) or relationship breakdown
- Stress / anxiety
- Exploring issues like your sexual identity / gender identity
- Dealing with issues that are stopping you achieving your ambitions
- Dealing with feelings of depression or sadness
- Understanding yourself and your problems better
- Feeling more confident
You will usually be offered up to eight counselling sessions that last around 50 minutes each.
We offer self referral counselling, so you can come straight to us without having to go to a doctor first. If you're thinking about counselling but you're not quite sure if it's for you, here are some links that you might find useful.
Age UK Coventry and Warwickshire
8-10 Clemens Street
Leamington Spa
CV31 2DL
United Kingdom
Email: info@ageukcovwarks.org.uk
Telephone: 02476 231999
Age UK Coventry & Warwickshire offer a confidential and professional counselling service for individuals age 65 and over.
How can we help?
Counselling provides you with the time and space to talk about any difficulties, thoughts and feelings in a non-judgemental and confidential way.
The Service can support people who may be experiencing bereavement, anxiety, stress, depression and difficult emotions such as low self-esteem. We can also support carers who are finding their role challenging.
We also deliver a bereavement support group based in Coventry City Centre.
How is it delivered?
The service offers up to 6 weeks of support and is delivered by telephone, on line or face to face in the client’s own home. Please note we can only offer face to face sessions if we have a counsellor available in the relevant area so please check with the service first.
Alternatives - Occupational Health
Your work or place of education/university may have Occupational Health departments which offer counselling services - do enquire about those options if available to you as they can often provide faster access to support than NHS or charity routes.
Alternatives - Private Counselling
If you have the option to go privately you can google search or use Bupa/any approved private healthcare provider website to search for approved private counsellors. Recommendations from friends/family are always good if available. If you are on social media, asking on local community groups for recommendations can also be helpful.
When going privately you have the option of looking at choosing a counsellor, and your gut feeling about what they write about themselves, what their interests are etc will be a useful factor in who you choose.
