Talking therapies

Many of you tell us you find talking therapies such as counselling and psychotherapy really helpful. In England, the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme has improved the situation.

But there are still far too many of you who are not getting the treatment you need, when you need it.

We're a part of the We Need to Talk Coalition, a group of mental health charities, professional organisations, Royal Colleges and service providers that believe in the effectiveness of psychological therapies. Together, the coalition are calling for the maintenance and development of these treatments on the NHS.

"The assessment was incredible... I felt that someone finally understood. When I was told that the wait after assessment was two years it felt like a real let down, offering a lifeline and [then] snatching it away."

What we're fighting for

Getting the right therapy at the right time is crucial – it can help people to better manage their condition and, in many cases, recover fully. Talking therapies should be made available to everyone within 28 days of referral, and you should be offered a choice of therapy.

We want:

a full choice of evidence-based psychological therapies made available to all
a commitment to equality between mental and physical health
increased access to psychological therapies for all
more research and an improved evidence base for psychological therapies.

Read our "We still need to talk" report (728kb)

Talking Therapies good practice

We're campaigning for a wider choice of talking therapies and calling for therapies to be available when we need them, wherever we live. These good practice examples from our local Minds show how talking therapy services can effectively support people, and what good looks like.

Talking therapies

What we're fighting for

Talking Therapies good practice

Bristol Mind: Meeting Minds Counselling

Sheffield Mind: Age Better Practioners

Mind in CHWF: Multi-disciplinary service

Other ways to get involved