Psychotherapy services guide

Who we are

Mersey Care Psychotherapy Service has been operational for over 35 years. The therapists are from different disciplines (medicine, nursing, clinical psychology and occupational therapy) and each is skilled in several modalities of therapy. Additionally, the service has many trainees from different disciplines as well as visiting (honorary) therapists working within the service.

What can I expect?

Following referral the service user is offered an assessment (usually within six weeks) with a therapist. This takes place over two sessions. Following assessment, if felt appropriate, the service user will be placed on a waiting list for one of the psychotherapies listed.

If it is felt that a service user is not ready or appropriate for psychotherapy, they may be considered for registration for the PD Hub Day and Safe Service. It is expected service users will remain open to their community mental health teams (if referred by them) throughout their therapy.

Who is eligible for psychotherapy?

In order to benefit from psychotherapy, service users need to:

• Be in a position to attend therapy sessions on a regular basis
• Form a collaborative working relationship with their therapists
• Be prepared to engage with the structure of therapy
• Be open to reflecting on feelings and new experiences that might occur
• Agree a focus for what they would like to work on in therapy
• Recognise and be willing to work on their own role in these difficulties
• Be motivated to make changes to unhelpful relational patterns
• Be able to tolerate and manage potential distress that might arise during therapy sessions and have appropriate sources of support for this
• Be able to talk about difficulties and feel relatively stable, not in crisis
• Not be drinking alcohol or misusing substances to a dependent level.

“People now have all the services they need under one roof and a more therapeutic alternative to inpatient services and A&E.”

Dr Simon Graham
Clinical service lead

Our services

Conventional psychotherapies

Cognitive Analytical Therapy (CAT) (16 sessions):

Through creating a collaborative formulation in the first few sessions, service users are helped to identify patterns of relating. CAT focuses on understanding how these patterns have developed from early experiences and can explore ways of revising these by identifying potential solutions or `exits’.

Patterns within the therapeutic relationship can also be explored and therapy ends with both service user and therapist exchanging `goodbye’ letters. More information on this therapy is available on the Association for Cognitive Analytic Therapy website (ACAT).

Short Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STTP) (16 sessions):

This refers to a family of time limited psychotherapeutic approaches that are based on principles of psychodynamic psychotherapy. It is based on the principle that avoiding feelings related to past experience can affect people's relationships and lead to distress and psychological symptoms.

Treatment involves identifying these hidden/avoided feelings by exploring how they arise in the sessions when discussing current or past painful events. STPP involves the setting of achievable goals within a specified time frame and the primary aim of the treatment is for service users to get increased insight into their underlying feelings and how these are contributing to their current symptoms and difficulties.

Couples Therapy (8 to 16 sessions):

Based on National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines, Couples Therapy for Depression is a brief integrative behavioural treatment for depression for couples where one or both partners are experiencing relationship distress and depression.

The focus is on relational aspects of depression and on factors that reduce stress and increase support within the couple, using the relationship as a resource for recovery and relapse prevention.

Assessments usually take place over two sessions and a report or letter will be shared with you and your care team.

The psychotherapy service is a training organisation and there are many professionals attached to the service who may be training in a therapy modality. All training therapists are supervised closely by qualified and accredited psychotherapy staff.

Borderline personality disorder/complex trauma services

The psychotherapy service also runs specific therapies for service users with complex presentations often diagnosed as Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). The Psycho-Educational Group helps assess a person’s motivation and capacity to work in a group setting and can be a stand alone intervention.

This group is also often viewed as a preparatory pathway for those appropriate and ready for longer term therapy interventions (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy and Mentalisation Based Treatment). It is a 10 week programme of approximately 10 participants.

Mentalisation Based Treatment (MBT) offers a 12 month programme to help service users develop the capacity to understand their own and others intentions within relationships. This involves both a group session (up to eight people) and individual therapy session each week.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) offers a 12 month skills based approach helping service users to manage their self harm skills, also include emotional regulation and interpersonal effectiveness. DBT involves both a group session (up to eight people) and individual therapy session each week.

Compassion Focused Psychotherapy Group (CFTPG) offers a 12 to 15 month trauma therapy to help service users manage shame and self criticism in the context of past attachment trauma by building up self compassion.

Upon completing these therapies for BPD, service users can join the transitional recovery group twice monthly for six months which offers less intensive support, as a transition from therapy and in preparation for discharge.

The psychotherapy service works in partnership with the PD Hub at Spring House and there are a number of therapeutic interventions offered to service users in this pathway such as the two day Therapeutic Community and short term interventions such as Neuro Emotional Technique (NET)/Psychodynamic Interpersonal Therapy (PIT) and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR).

Stephanie’s story

“They’ve taught me to slow down and think about why I have such strong feelings …”

Classical vocalist Stephanie suffered from dyspraxia, which led to depression. She underwent mentalisation based therapy, which helps people to differentiate and separate out their own thoughts and feelings from those around them.

“I get incredible support. They’ve taught me to slow down, think about why I have such strong feelings and reflect; that’s crucial to maintaining relationships and keeping friendships strong.”

Tammy’s story

“I have all the same life issues, but now I deal with them in a different way ...”

Tammy was part of the Rotunda therapy programme and is now a member of the transition group for people who have been through the programme. She also volunteers for the service.

“After spending so long not knowing what was wrong it was a relief to get a diagnosis. I understand now it’s part of my life. I still have all the same life issues but I deal with them in a different way.“

There’s so much under one roof...

You develop a relationship with the staff that can support you in lots of different ways …

The ethos encourages you to be involved and treats you like an equal …

It feels like a safe place and gives you a sense of direction towards recovery …

There is a sense of community, of belonging and working together …

Our patients matter

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust listens and responds to patients and their carers to help improve the services we deliver.

If you have any comments, compliments or concerns you can speak with a member of staff or contact our Patient Advice and LiaisonService (PALS) and Complaints Team.

Telephone: 0151 471 2377 Freephone: 0800 328 2941 Email: palsandcomplaints@merseycare.nhs.uk