About mental health therapists and practitioners

Looking after our mental health is important for everyone. If you, or someone you know requires support, it’s important to find the right kind of help early on, and your GP can help you to do this. Mental health professionals are now available at your local GP practice to help you get the support you need, when you need it.

If you, or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, speak to someone at your local GP surgery who can arrange the right kind of support for you.

Mental health therapists and practitioners can help with:

• talking therapies to support patients on a wide range of topic and issues
• providing tools and techniques to help manage symptoms
• supporting people who are experiencing the psychological effects of managing long-term conditions, such as diabetes

How are GP practices benefiting?

Intervening at an earlier stage and addressing common mental health issues can drastically improve care. Closer team-working can help reduce the number of referrals to hospital or community care, therefore reducing demand on GP and hospital appointments.

How can patients book to see or access advice from a mental health therapists and practitioners?

Sessions are usually one-on-one, but can also be in couple or group settings, by phone or online. Referrals can be made directly via the local psychological therapies (IAPT) service, GP, clinical pharmacists, practice nurses and healthcare assistants.

Page published: 21 May, 2021