Integrative Talking Therapies

Our team consists of CBT therapists and clinical psychologists. We are trained in many evidence-based talking therapies that are widely used in the NHS to support people who are experiencing psychological difficulties within the context of a chronic physical health condition.

The main approaches that we use are listed below:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): This is a type of talking therapy that helps people manage their problems by changing negative patterns of thinking and behaviour. It is based on the concept that thoughts, feelings, physical sensations and actions are interconnected and that negative thoughts and feelings can trap a person in a cycle of distress.
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): This form of psychotherapy aims to help people accept difficult thoughts and feelings rather than fighting or feeling overwhelmed by them. ACT encourages mindfulness and commitment to behaviour changes that are consistent with a person’s values.
• Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT): This talking therapy is particularly helpful for people who experience high levels of shame and self-criticism. It focuses on building self-compassion and promoting emotional well-being through kindness and understanding.
   

We see people who are receiving care by either the RLHIM ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia Service or the RLHIM Integrated Women’s Service and who are experiencing psychological difficulties linked to their chronic condition. Such difficulties may include depression, anxiety/panic, relationship problems and/or difficulties coming to terms with their condition/symptoms.

If you are receiving care by the RLHIM ME/CFS & FMS Service or the Integrated Women’s Service, please discuss a referral to our team with one of your clinicians. They will then refer you to our team for an assessment. 

The assessment is an opportunity to discuss in more detail your difficulties with one of our psychological therapists and consider the support that would be beneficial to you. Even though we are a specialist service, sometimes during the assessment it may be decided that another psychological intervention or another service, outside of the RLHIM, may be more suitable. In these cases, we will either signpost or refer you to the more appropriate service. 

During your first therapy sessions, you will work together with your therapist/psychologist to develop an understanding of how your difficulties started, what has kept them going, and to consider what you would like to gain from therapy. Later sessions may involve learning and practising strategies to improve your well-being. During the first and last appointment, you will also be invited to complete a couple of brief questionnaires which we use in order to evaluate our service. 
We offer 12 sessions and these take place weekly or fortnightly, typically on the same day and time. The duration of each session is usually 50 minutes. Sessions can be either remote (videocall or telephone) or face-to-face.
 

We understand that circumstances can change during the course of therapy and we try to be flexible when possible. 
If you are unable to attend your assessment appointment, please let us know at least 48 hours beforehand so we can offer it to someone else.
If you have to cancel or change the booked therapy sessions, it is important that you let us know at least 24 hours in advance. 
If you miss more than two booked therapy appointments without letting us know in advance, we will need to discharge you from our team, in line with our discharge policy.
 

At the first appointment a CBT practitioner will do a thorough assessment. The practitioner and client work to develop an understanding of what the difficulties are occurring for the client, how they started, and what factors may be keeping them going. Practitioner and client will then identify helpful goals. Clients are given a questionnaire to complete at the beginning and end of treatment, for assessing some common mental health difficulties, and progress is reviewed throughout including risk.

Clients can receive up to 16 sessions of CBT. These will often be scheduled at the same day and time weekly or occasionally fortnightly if needed, depending on client and practitioner availability. If more than two offered appointment times cannot be accepted by the client, we would require the client to come back to psychological therapies when ready to engage with the therapy, once their schedule allows.

If you are unable to attend your assessment appointment please let us know at least 48 hours beforehand so we can offer it to someone else.

If you have to cancel or change the booked therapy sessions, then please give as much notice as you can so we can offer the sessions to someone else before the start date.

If you miss more than two CBT appointments without letting us know in advance or good reason, you will be discharged from psychological services at RLHIM and back to your GP, in line with UCLH discharge policy.

Clients are to be referred internally to psychological therapies by their RLHIM medical physician.

Please speak to your physician if you would like to be referred. We do not currently accept direct external referrals to psychological therapies at RLHIM.

If you require psychological support but are not receiving any medical care from RLHIM please speak to your GP about local psychological therapy services within your borough.

Please note that we are not an emergency service. If you feel that you cannot keep yourself safe and you require urgent help, please contact your GP for an emergency appointment or attend your nearest A&E department.
 
You can also call the Samaritans Helpline on 116 123 or your local mental health support line within your borough for further support.

The RLHIM is also a teaching hospital. From time-to-time other healthcare professionals such as students or clinical and health psychology doctoral trainees may work within our team as part of their clinical placement or course. All psychology trainees are supervised by our qualified practitioners. We will always ask your permission for working with one of our trainees or for students to sit in during your consultation. You do not have to consent to this, if you would prefer not to.