Reviewed on : 6 Jun 2025

Reviewed by : Gateway Editor

Expires : 6 Jun 2027

NHS Talking Therapies, part of the Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust, offers evidence-based talking therapy treatments recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)

NHS Talking Therapies provides support across Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull, working in partnership with Coventry and Warwickshire Mind

Their team of dedicated therapists and counsellors is here to help you improve your mental well-being

How to Access Services

If you are registered with a GP in Coventry, Warwickshire, or Solihull, you can access NHS Talking Therapies services through:

• Self-referral: Visit the Self Referral page for more information.
• GP or health professional referral: Your GP or another health professional can refer you to the service

To ensure NHS Talking Therapies is the right fit for you, they will first offer a brief initial assessment, usually conducted over the phone

Get in Touch

To arrange an initial assessment, please:

• Visit the Self Referral Page
• Call us on 02476 671 090 (lines are open Monday to Friday, 9 am to 4:30 pm)
• Follow QR code:

Follow link to NHS Talking Therapies webpage

NHS Talking Therapies operates as a collaboration between Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust and Coventry and Warwickshire Mind. It is a free NHS service to help people with mild, moderate and moderate to severe symptoms of anxiety and low mood

If you are currently registered with a GP in Coventry, Warwickshire or Solihull and are over the age of 16 years old and suffering with low mood and anxiety you can also self-refer by filling in the form via the link below

PLEASE NOTE  this form will only be replied to if you are referring yourself into the service. To change or cancel an appointment, find out where you are on the waiting list or for any other queries, please call 02476 671 090

Submit the referral using the link below:

Professional Referral Form

NHS Talking Therapies

Provides structured psychological therapies for people aged 16 and above registered with a GP, who are experiencing mild to moderate anxiety related disorders and/or depression, and who are likely to benefit from brief psychological therapy

Provide individual and group psychological therapies (eg cognitive behavioural therapy and counselling for depression) in accordance with NICE guidelines  for common mental health problems

All referrals are screened to confirm that NHS Talking Therapies is the most appropriate treatment pathway

The patient is offered an assessment with one of our clinical staff either over the phone or through a secure video link

Where not the most appropriate service, we offer signposting to other services, based on the needs identified at screening or assessment

NHS Talking Therapies offers a range of effective treatments to support your mental well-being, tailored to your individual needs. They will discuss the most suitable approach with you during your initial assessment

Guided Self-Help (Cognitive Behavioural Approach)

Guided Self-Help is often the first step and is highly effective for many. A Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP) will coach you as you work through a self-help course using either a workbook or an online program

You’ll typically have 4-6 weekly sessions, interacting with your practitioner via phone, online chat, or educational courses. This approach helps you learn to manage symptoms and can sometimes be all the support you need

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Counselling

If further support is beneficial, or if your needs are more complex, NHS Talking Therapies may recommend:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): This is their most common and widely recommended treatment for anxiety and depression. CBT focuses on understanding and changing unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviours.
• Counselling: They also offer specific types of counselling for depression

Both CBT and Counselling are delivered through video calls or face-to-face sessions, typically lasting 5 to 10 sessions. The duration of your treatment can be adjusted based on your progress and needs.

Clinicians provide proven methods to help you manage symptoms and address feelings that may be impacting your daily life

If NHS Talking Therapies isn’t the most suitable service for you, they can also guide you to alternative support options

We are not a crisis service

Referral Criteria for NHS Talking Therapies

Mental health issues including the following:

• Depression
• Panic Disorder
• Generalised Anxiety Disorder
• Health Anxiety
• Social Phobia
• Specific Phobia
• PTSD
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)
• Anxiety/ depression in people with long term health conditions
• Post-natal anxiety/depression
• Trichotillomania (TTM)
• Long Term Conditions (e.g. Diabetes / Respiratory Disorders) – related to anxiety and / or depression

Referral requirements

• Motivated to attend and engage in regular psychological therapy
• Able to safely engage with primary care talking therapies- is not requiring crisis or secondary mental health support

Inappropriate referrals

Treatment for people with the following difficulties cannot be offered as they are unlikely to benefit from the brief, structured interventions we provide:

• Aged under 16 – refer to CAMHS
• Drug use / Alcohol use as primary or a significant problem. or level of misuse likely to prevent engagement in regular psychological therapy (Refer to drug / alcohol service)
• Recent and significant forensic history (Refer to forensic services or SCMH as appropriate)
• Immediate and active risk of harm to self/ current suicidal intent or recent suicide attempt or still in crisis (Refer to SCMH / CRHT)
• Where primary motive is to seek a report, but no real identified desire / motivation to engage with therapy
• Client is currently psychotic or has had a recent history of psychosis
• Anger is the presenting problem with little evidence of depression and / or anxiety
• A diagnosed Personality disorder or personality traits or significant level of personality dysfunction that would make engagement in a brief psychological intervention likely to be ineffective, unhelpful and contravene NICE guidance
• ADHD is the primary problem and has a significant effect on functioning
• Currently a SCMH patient
• Moderate to severe learning disability: refer to learning disability services
• Service user is requesting treatment for a learning disability: refer to the learning disability service
• Complex needs requiring multi-disciplinary input or longer-term psychological input e.g. severe OCD, chronic agoraphobia, complex PTSD (i.e. repeated/ongoing trauma; victims of significant torture)
• Significant psychosocial or physical health factors which prevent engagement in regular psychological therapy and/or requiring MDT input (e.g. where there are ongoing physical health investigations)
• Where ongoing home visits are required

Contact