Finding Support Through NHS Talking Therapies
Stress, anxiety and low mood can build gradually and start to affect everyday life before we realise how much we are struggling.
You do not have to wait until things feel severe before asking for help. NHS Talking Therapies can support people with common mental health difficulties, and you can refer yourself without seeing your GP first.
For Sarah, recognising that she needed some extra support was the first step towards feeling more like herself again.
Meet Sarah
When local resident Sarah began feeling overwhelmed, it didn’t happen overnight. It started with small things: constant worry about day-to-day tasks, difficulty falling asleep, and feeling increasingly exhausted and detached from family and friends. Over time, persistent low mood and anxiety began to affect her routine and work life.
Like many people in our community, Sarah hesitated to seek help. She felt her struggles weren’t “severe enough” to bother a doctor, and she assumed she should be able to manage on her own. However, as the feeling of being overwhelmed continued, she realised she needed extra support to get back on track.
After learning that NHS Talking Therapies provide free, confidential mental health support without needing a formal GP diagnosis or referral, Sarah decided to take the first step.
The support
Reaching out was easier than Sarah anticipated. After filling out a simple online self-referral form, her journey with Talking Therapies unfolded in clear, manageable steps:
A Friendly First Step: Within a short time, Sarah was contacted for an initial, informal telephone assessment. A compassionate practitioner listened to her experience, validated her feelings, and helped identify what kind of support would suit her best.
Flexible & Accessible Options: Because everyone experiences mental health challenges differently, Talking Therapies offer a variety of choices, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), guided self-help, group courses, and one-to-one counselling. Sarah opted for guided self-help sessions paired with CBT techniques.
Practical Wellbeing Tools: Through her regular sessions, Sarah learned practical strategies to break unhelpful thought loops, manage stress triggers, and reintroduce positive, fulfilling activities back into her weekly routine.
The outcome
Today, Sarah feels back in control of her life and better equipped to handle everyday challenges.
“I used to think asking for help was a sign that I was failing. Looking back, making that self-referral was the best decision I could have made. I didn’t have to wait until things reached a crisis point. The sessions gave me practical tools that I still use every day to protect my wellbeing.” — Sarah
How to get support
NHS Talking Therapies are free, confidential, and available to anyone aged 16+ (or 18+ depending on your local area) who is registered with a local GP and dealing with common challenges like stress, low mood, anxiety, or panic. You don’t need a doctor’s appointment to begin; you can refer yourself directly online or over the phone today.