West Cheshire Talking Therapies

Taking the first step to improve anxiety and depression might feel like a giant leap and that's why we have made accessing our services simple and straightforward. 

Here is how you can get started:

Make a self-referral 

You can self-refer through our easy and secure online chat by clicking on the pink balloon on the bottom-right of your screen, or via the self referral section on our website. Our online chatbot will ask questions about you, and how you are feeling so we can give you the most relevant and suitable treatment.

If you have any concerns or need help navigating the online chat our administration team are available on 0151 488 8348 between the hours of 9am and 5pm Mon to Fri, excluding Bank holidays. 

GP/health professional referral

Talking Therapies accepts referrals from GPs or other healthcare professionals (e.g. health visitors or community nurses). Your GP may recommend our service to you and they can refer you directly. 

If you are a health professional, you can direct patients to our online chat or alternatively you can use the Primary Care Mental Health template on EMIS.

Initially you will be offered a telephone appointment, giving you the opportunity to explain the difficulties you are currently experiencing and want help with. As part of this you will be asked to complete some questionnaires about how you are currently feeling, which will enable us to identify what help will be most beneficial for you at this time. Completing these questionnaires will also help you and your therapist to see your progress and tailor your treatment. 

It is important to understand that psychological interventions can be hard work, both during and in between contacts. It is important to realise that there will be no overnight changes; it could take time and commitment to benefit from therapy.

At the end of each contact with a psychological practitioner, tasks you will need to complete before your next session will be agreed so you can put into practice the knowledge and skills you learn. Your progress towards achieving your specific goals will be reviewed at each contact. Research shows that people who set goals and carry out ‘homework’ recover quicker and stay recovered for longer.

It is important that you are able to make a commitment to regular contacts; whether they are over the telephone, group or face to face sessions, to get the best from psychological help.

The West Cheshire Talking Therapies Team includes a range of psychological practitioners. These include: Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PWP’s), Cognitive Behavioural Therapists (CBT Therapists), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapists (EMDR Therapists) and Counsellors.

The team provides services across Western Cheshire. These clinic appointments are provided within local GP surgeries, community clinic venues, or hospital locations.

The service is for anyone aged 16 and older registered with a GP in West Cheshire and experiencing any of the following difficulties:

• Depression and low mood
• Panic Disorder
• Generalised Anxiety Disorder
• Health anxiety and medically unexplained symptoms
• Social Phobia
• Specific Phobia
• Single Incident Trauma (PTSD)
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Adjustment Disorder
• Bereavement and loss
• Insomnia
• Low self-esteem
• Anxiety/ depression in people with long term conditions
• Post-natal anxiety/depression