Your questions
If you’ve never spoken to a therapist before, or even if you have, you might have questions about what’s involved. Please click on the boxes below to read our answers to some of the questions we are asked most often. If your question isn’t answered here please do call on 0203 228 2194 or email us instead at slm-tr.SPTS@nhs.net
We do very occasionally offer home visits and we can provide support via the telephone or video sessions as well. It may also be important for you to attend in person for some treatments.
We keep all information confidential. We will usually tell your GP that you are receiving our services (not the detail of what we discuss), but you can tell us not to if you wish.
The only exception to confidentiality would be if we thought you were at risk of harming yourself or somebody else.
If you would like more information about our privacy and data protection policies it can be found here.
No. Unless you or someone else might be at risk of significant harm, we will not contact anyone about your care without your consent.
We have a number of therapists who speak languages other than English, who we can sometimes match you with. If we cannot do this, we will arrange to use an interpreter. We also have a partnership with Waterloo Community Counselling’s multi-ethnic counselling service. Some patients needing counselling in languages other than English will receive treatment from MECS through our partnership with them. We offer written materials in a number of different languages.
We can use phone, text, email and letter to contact you, please let us know if you have any preference when we first speak with you.
We’ll also make a note on our system if we’re allowed to leave messages for you on your phone and/or send letters to your home address. This is to ensure confidentiality.
We are a busy yet flexible service and try to accommodate your needs as much as possible.
Our appointments are mostly Monday – Friday between 9am – 5pm. We have a small number of appointments outside these times but they usually involve a longer waiting time.
Our digital programme can be accessed 24/7.
Please let us know in advance if you have any mobility problems which could cause any difficulties in keeping your appointment. We will try to make arrangements to accomodate you.
No. Talking Therapies Southwark is an NHS service. If you receive treatment through one of our partner organisations e.g., Xyla Digital Therapies or MECS (Multi-Ethnic Counselling Service) it will also be free of charge for you.
We cannot take referrals from relatives due to confidentiality. If you want to help someone access our service they can give permission for us to speak to you.
We also find therapy works best if the individual feels ready to seek help themselves. We suggest you show your relative to this website so they can see what’s available.
We do very occasionally offer home visits and we can provide support via the telephone or video sessions as well. It may also be important for you to attend in person for some treatments.
We keep all information confidential. We will usually tell your GP that you are receiving our services (not the detail of what we discuss), but you can tell us not to if you wish.
The only exception to confidentiality would be if we thought you were at risk of harming yourself or somebody else.
If you would like more information about our privacy and data protection policies it can be found here.
No. Unless you or someone else might be at risk of significant harm, we will not contact anyone about your care without your consent.
We have a number of therapists who speak languages other than English, who we can sometimes match you with. If we cannot do this, we will arrange to use an interpreter. We also have a partnership with Waterloo Community Counselling’s multi-ethnic counselling service. Some patients needing counselling in languages other than English will receive treatment from MECS through our partnership with them. We offer written materials in a number of different languages.
We can use phone, text, email and letter to contact you, please let us know if you have any preference when we first speak with you.
We’ll also make a note on our system if we’re allowed to leave messages for you on your phone and/or send letters to your home address. This is to ensure confidentiality.
We are a busy yet flexible service and try to accommodate your needs as much as possible.
Our appointments are mostly Monday – Friday between 9am – 5pm. We have a small number of appointments outside these times but they usually involve a longer waiting time.
Our digital programme can be accessed 24/7.
Please let us know in advance if you have any mobility problems which could cause any difficulties in keeping your appointment. We will try to make arrangements to accomodate you.
No. Talking Therapies Southwark is an NHS service. If you receive treatment through one of our partner organisations e.g., Xyla Digital Therapies or MECS (Multi-Ethnic Counselling Service) it will also be free of charge for you.
We cannot take referrals from relatives due to confidentiality. If you want to help someone access our service they can give permission for us to speak to you.
We also find therapy works best if the individual feels ready to seek help themselves. We suggest you show your relative to this website so they can see what’s available.