The Specialist Psychotherapy Service (SPS) offer intensive, change-orientated psychotherapy to people who have complex and severe mental health difficulties.

SPS is formed of two teams: the Mood, Anxiety and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Psychotherapy Service (MAPPS) and the Personality/Complex Trauma team (PCT).

MAPPS work with people who are experiencing long-term or recurrent problems related to symptoms that are generally described as depression, anxiety disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder. The people we support may be experiencing difficulties in more than one of these areas and will have tried other first line treatments such as therapy or counselling at least once before being referred to us.

PCT team provides psychotherapy for people with complex emotional needs who may have experienced multiple traumas and/or disrupted early attachments. Some people who use this team have a diagnosis of Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder/Borderline Personality Disorder or have difficulties with emotional regulation (sometimes leading to interpersonal difficulties and/or self harm).  

Both teams offer individual and group therapies, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT), Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), Gestalt Psychotherapy, group and individual Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and the PCT team offers full programme Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). 

Inclusion criteria

  • 18 years old and above
  • Motivated to engage in change-focused psychotherapy
  • Able to commit to attending regular appointments and to completing work between sessions
  • If appropriate, has previously engaged with psychological interventions according to NICE guidance/principles of “stepped care” (e.g., Talking Therapies Step 3 interventions, third sector organisations, Primary Care Mental Health Team, STEP group etc.)
  • Consents to being referred and to SPS accessing their records to consider their suitability.

Exclusion criteria

  • Previous therapy within the last six months
  • Needs better met by another service (e.g. primary difficulty is eating disorder, anger management, social support or housing needs)
  • Unmanaged risks which therapy could exacerbate or that could interfere with the effectiveness of therapy, including:
    • Significant ongoing self-harm/suicide attempts – UNLESS REFERRING FOR DBT
    • Risks to others (e.g. significant history of violence)
    • Significant current drug and alcohol use

The presence of these factors may suggest other services need to be involved to offer support and stabilisation before a referral for psychotherapy can be considered.

We appreciate the factors outlined above can be complex. If you feel unsure and would like to have a discussion about suitability and possible other sources of support for your client, please call/ email us on 0114 2716920/ sps@shsc.nhs.uk and ask to book a queryline discussion before submitting this form. Please let us know your availability and we will do our best to accommodate you at a convenient time.