NHS Talking Therapies
Are you suffering from anxiety or depression?
Perhaps you’re feeling stressed and struggling to control your worry? Do you experience feelings of panic or obsess about certain thoughts?
You're not alone. Help is out there.
Last year more than 30,000 people in Lancashire and South Cumbria benefitted from NHS Talking Therapies - formerly known as IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies).
Approximately one in two people recover and two out of three people show worthwhile improvements in their mental health.
NHS Talking Therapies involve free groups and courses, as well as one to one therapy to help you understand what you’re going through and build your confidence.
You can refer yourself - which means you don't have to see your GP first.
If you are aged 16 and over and live in Lancashire (not including Blackpool and Cleveleys), or 18 and over and live in South Cumbria you can refer yourself to NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Talking Therapies by clicking on the box below:
If you are aged 16 and over and live in Blackpool or Cleveleys you can refer yourself to NHS Blackpool Talking Therapies by clicking on the box below:
If you are aged 16 and over and live in East Lancashire (not including Blackburn and Darwen) you can refer yourself to either NHS East Lancashire Talking Therapies or NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Talking Therapies by clicking on the boxes below:
Urgent help in a crisis
Talking therapies are not crisis services. If you or a loved one are having a mental health crisis and need help straight away you can:
- call the mental health crisis line on 0800 953 0110,
- contact the wellbeing helpline and texting services on 0800 915 4640 or by texting 'Hello' to 07860 022846 or,
- dial 999 if you have harmed yourself.
New name, same service
IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) changed its name to NHS Talking Therapies in 2023, following an extensive engagement process by NHS England.
Because of this, the names of the local services you may have been used to have changed:
- Mindsmatter is now known as NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Talking Therapies and is provided by Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust.
- Blackpool Healthier Minds is now known as NHS Blackpool Talking Therapies and is provided Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
- The service offered by Lancashire Women is now known as NHS East Lancashire Talking Therapies.
NHS Talking Therapies teams
The teams consists of a range of psychological practitioners. These include psychological wellbeing practitioners (PWPs), cognitive behavioural therapists, eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing therapists (EMDR therapists) and counsellors.
What can NHS Talking Therapies offer?
Whilst each provider may offer a slightly different approach, the teams generally provide screening assessments and psychological interventions to people suffering with common mental health problems.
They provide a range of evidence based psychological interventions, where all therapies follow guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
There are a variety of ways you may be offered help depending on your needs, these include group interventions, telephone contacts or individual sessions.