Talking treatments

Rethink provides talking treatments services as part of a national programme, Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT).

It helped to refer to the exercises and literature... knowing I had support was a life line and a comfort.

Ayako - User of Healthy Minds Network service, Stoke

Why talking treatments services are beneficial

Most people can benefit from talking treatments services. Our therapists are trained to help people to deal with negative feelings and the effect they have on mood and behaviour. Understanding more about thoughts and feelings can help people to think and act in a more positive way and feel more confident and more in control of one’s life. Talking treatments can be used alongside medication prescribed by the doctor.

They can also help people to deal with difficult issues such as relationship problems, bereavement, concerns at work or physical illness. Where people have long term physical conditions, such as diabetes, talking treatments can support them to manage their condition more effectively. Each service is tailored to the needs and requirements of the local community and works in partnership with local statutory and third sector organisations to meet these needs.

“Having someone listen to me and help me to analyse my thoughts and feelings was the first step to recovery. No judgments on me and how I felt. It was hard at times but reading the booklets and doing the exercises gave me a better insight into me and what was happening to me... gradually after achieving small steps and recognising the positive effects in my life, the ‘mist’ began to lift and I began to have more clarity to my thought patterns.”

Emma, User of Healthy Minds Network, Stoke

How a talking treatments service works: the stepped care model

We believe that everyone should have the right level of treatment depending on their need. In our talking treatments services, after the GP has identified a person with a common mental health problem, the following stepped care pathway takes place. This is also the process for those who self refer to this service:

Step 1 – Recognition of the problem with the help of the GP, Practice Nurse, Community Development Worker, friend or family member. Treated by watchful waiting and healthy living advice.

If this is not enough, and if the person is eligible, then we provide access to our talking treatments service. This process works as follows;

A therapist from the service telephones the patient within 72 hours to discuss the patient’s needs, a range of treatment options and to confirm the patient’s suitability and urgency.
If the therapist and patient agree to proceed, a face-to-face appointment will normally be arranged within 14 working days.
At the first appointment our therapist conducts a personalised interview using recommended clinical outcome measures. Our therapist gives the patient written information appropriate to their needs, discusses treatment options and promotes an appropriate choice-based decision. The majority of subsequent contacts will be delivered by telephone, although patients will always be offered face-to-face appointments if they prefer.

Step 2 – Mild to moderate depression and anxiety treated by a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner using supported guided self help materials such as:

computerised Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
psycho-education groups
medication concordance therapy
brief psychological therapy
well-being support
help to access self-help initiatives
depression recovery programme

Some people may require a little more help and this is often determined by how severe the problem is. If the problems require more help we allocate a High Intensity Therapist.

Step 3 – Moderate to moderately severe depression and anxiety treated by a High Intensity Therapist using more intensive talking treatments and social support.

Our talking treatments services conduct formal reviews of patient progress at least every four weeks. Suggestions from the review may include advising the patient to remain in low-intensity treatment, discharge from active treatment, step up to ‘high-intensity’ treatment or CBT, or refer to alternative services requested or required by the patient.

During treatment patients are given support and tools to help them manage their problems. If, after completing sessions of treatment anyone experiences difficulties at a later date, they are welcome to access the service for continued support.