Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT)

Dover Counselling Centre offers a full NHS service, which is advice, information and counselling for people aged 17 and over throughout the Dover, Shepway and Thanet areas.  The service is for people living in or registered with a GP in these areas

The IAPT service is designed for people with mild, moderate and moderate to severe, symptoms of anxiety and depressions.

You may be feeling stressed, anxious or depressed or you may be suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), or are worried because you feel you are unable to cope, then we are here to help.

We offer a range of “talking therapies”, support and help including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

All our therapists are trained to listen and to help individuals find their own answers and offer them support.

Few of the issues people regularly bring to Counselling are:

• Anxiety
• Bereavement
• Depression
• Relationship issues
• Separation
• Trauma

But don’t be afraid to contact us with your issues or concerns, whatever they may be.

If for any reason our service isn’t appropriate for you we can help you access other services that are more likely to meet your needs.

You do not need to be referred by your GP, but  GP or your health worker can do so, or you can self-refer by contacting us in one of the following ways:

Completing a referral form.

Emailing the centre. 

Phoning the centre:  01304 204123.

One of our administrators will register your details and begin the process of arranging an assessment appointment.

Your assessment will be held on the telephone. One of our therapists will carry out a short assessment which is focussed on understanding the problems you are facing. The purpose of the assessment is to find out whether the treatments we offer are right for you.

At the appointment time, you need to be somewhere quiet and private and where you can talk confidentially and openly.

Once you have been assessed and the correct treatment identified for you we will offer you an appointment with one of our therapists.

All therapy sessions last about 50 minutes unless you have agreed beforehand a different arrangement with your therapist.

You will see the same therapist for every session unless you are unhappy with this arrangement.

During each session your therapist will require you to complete some forms to ascertain your levels of psychological distress.  This information acts as a guide to try and ensure the therapy you are receiving is effective and will also help you appreciate the developments you have made during therapy.

It is important that you are able to attend weekly sessions and be committed to complete any tasks in between sessions that you agree with your therapist.

The exact number of sessions you will require will depend on your personal circumstances but an average would be 6 sessions.

DCC and your therapist respects your right to confidentiality as a way of building trust within the therapeutic relationship. The main exception to this is where you may be considered to be a risk to yourself and/or a risk to someone else, especially children. Under these circumstances your therapist may need to make your GP and a Manager at the Dover Counselling Centre aware of the situation after having (hopefully) being able to consult you first.