What we offer

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a structured, evidence-based talking therapy that helps you understand the connections between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. It teaches practical strategies to manage difficult emotions, reduce unhelpful thinking patterns, and cope better with everyday challenges.

CBT can be delivered in different ways depending on your needs. For some people, short, focused sessions with a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner are enough to tackle specific problems. Others may benefit from longer, more intensive therapy with a trained CBT therapist. Below we explain the two main types of CBT we offer:

Low-Intensity CBT (1:1 Guided Self-Help)

• Usually around 6 sessions of 30 minutes each with a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP)
• Short, targeted interventions that focus on specific patterns in thinking or behaviour
• Very effective for problems like panic attacks, excessive worrying, avoidance behaviours, and low mood
• Includes tasks to practise between sessions, such as thought records, behavioural experiments, or relaxation exercises
• Sessions via phone, video, or limited face-to-face

High-Intensity CBT (HICBT)

• Usually around 12 sessions of 1 hour each with a trained CBT therapist
• Structured one-to-one therapy exploring the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours
• Works on more complex or persistent difficulties, helping you develop coping strategies and healthier ways of managing symptoms
• Waiting times may vary; while waiting you may be offered online programmes or group support

Learn more about Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) at Livewell Southwest

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a structured therapy designed for people who have experienced trauma and are experiencing PTSD symptoms.

It combines CBT techniques with a focus on processing trauma memories and reducing their ongoing impact. Sessions are tailored to your individual experiences and needs.

Because of high demand, waiting times for TF-CBT can be lengthy. While waiting, you may be invited to join our Overcoming and Processing Trauma group, an evidence-based program that provides early support and practical skills while awaiting one-to-one therapy.

What is PTSD?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event that threatens your life or safety, or that of others. It can also occur if you learn that a close family member or friend has experienced a traumatic event. PTSD is a normal reaction to an abnormal event and can leave people feeling fearful, helpless, or unsafe.

Common symptoms include reliving the event through nightmares or flashbacks, sleep difficulties, changes in appetite, low mood, stress, anxiety, and feelings of isolation, all of which can affect day-to-day life. PTSD can sometimes take years to develop following the trauma.

EMDR is a specialist therapy for people who have experienced trauma and are experiencing PTSD symptoms. The therapy helps you process distressing memories in a way that reduces their emotional impact.

In an EMDR session, you will work with a trained therapist to identify a specific traumatic memory and notice the thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations associated with it. While focusing on the memory, you will engage in bilateral stimulation, which can include following the therapist’s hand movements with your eyes, tapping, or listening to alternating sounds. This process helps your brain reprocess the memory so it becomes less distressing and easier to manage.

Sessions also involve checking in on your current thoughts and feelings, teaching coping strategies, and reviewing progress to make sure you feel supported throughout. EMDR usually requires multiple sessions to work through different memories and build new ways of responding to them, but some people report improvements from the very first session.

EMDR currently has the longest waiting list, particularly for trauma-related work. While waiting, you may be invited to attend our Overcoming and Processing Trauma group, which provides skills and understanding to support you until one-to-one treatment is available.

What is PTSD?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event that threatens your life or safety, or that of others. It can also occur if you learn that a close family member or friend has experienced a traumatic event. PTSD is a normal reaction to an abnormal event and can leave people feeling fearful, helpless, or unsafe.

Common symptoms include reliving the event through nightmares or flashbacks, sleep difficulties, changes in appetite, low mood, stress, anxiety, and feelings of isolation, all of which can affect day-to-day life. PTSD can sometimes take years to develop following the trauma.

Counselling for Depression (CfD) is a talking therapy that gives you time and space to explore your feelings in depth with the support of a trained counsellor. It is particularly helpful if your low mood is linked to difficult life events, losses, or unresolved experiences that continue to affect you.

In sessions, your counsellor will encourage you to talk openly about your thoughts and emotions, helping you reflect on your experiences and bring them into awareness. This may include exploring patterns in your relationships, understanding the impact of past events, and working through feelings such as sadness, guilt, or low self-esteem. The process is collaborative and supportive, with your counsellor helping you find clarity and new ways of moving forward.

Unlike Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), which focuses on learning specific skills and techniques, CfD is more exploratory. The emphasis is on understanding and processing emotions so that you can make sense of your experiences and reduce the weight of low mood.

Sessions are one-to-one and usually take place weekly. Most people have between 6 and 12 sessions, but in some cases this may be extended up to 20 depending on your needs and progress.

Because demand is high, waiting times for CfD can be lengthy. Before being placed on the counselling waiting list, you may be offered other forms of support first, such as tools and techniques from Low Intensity CBT, to help you manage current difficulties and begin making progress. This means you can start feeling the benefit of support while waiting for longer-term therapy.

Learn more about Counselling for Depression

Our structured groups provide a supportive environment to learn practical skills and strategies for improving mental wellbeing. Each course usually runs for six weeks and is led by two trained practitioners.

In a group, you’ll receive guidance and tools to manage your mental health, build resilience, and cope with everyday challenges. Sessions are structured and interactive, giving you the chance to practise techniques and discuss your experiences in a safe and supportive setting.

Groups are offered both face-to-face and online via Microsoft Teams, so you can join in the way that suits you best.

Current courses include:

• Anxiety Management
• Depression Management
• Stress Control
• Perinatal Wellbeing
• Managing Irritability & Frustration
• Navigating Anxiety & Autism

We are currently reviewing and updating our group programme for 2026, including the launch of our new Long-Term Conditions Course.

Learn more about our courses.

SilverCloud is an interactive online programme based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) that helps you manage common mental health difficulties such as anxiety, low mood, and stress. It gives you practical tools and exercises to understand your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours and build coping strategies you can use in daily life.

The programme is flexible and accessible. You can work through it anytime, anywhere using a computer, tablet, or smartphone. You will have access to the programme for a full year, giving you plenty of time to explore the modules at your own pace.

SilverCloud includes a wide range of engaging resources designed to help you master CBT techniques and apply them in your daily life:

• Interactive videos that guide you step-by-step through practical strategies for managing thoughts, feelings, and behaviours
• Clear reading materials that deepen your understanding of mental health and explain why the techniques work
• Quizzes and self-assessments to check your progress, reinforce learning, and build confidence
• Hands-on exercises that help you practise new skills and create your own personal toolkit for managing stress, anxiety, or low mood

By working through the modules, you can become confident in using all the key Low Intensity CBT techniques, learning to tailor them to your own life so you feel more in control and better equipped to cope with challenges.

You can access SilverCloud in two ways:

• Unsupported: work independently through the programme at your own pace.
• Supported: receive check-ins from one of our Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PWPs) every two weeks, online via the SilverCloud app or with telephone reviews. Most people have between 4 and 6 sessions before reviewing their treatment plan. After this, you may continue with the programme unsupported for the rest of the year.

SilverCloud can usually start within 1 to 2 weeks of your assessment, so you can begin making positive changes quickly.

Explore SilverCloud Online CBT

 

Your work and mental health are closely connected. Feeling stressed, anxious, or low can make work challenging, while work-related pressures can affect your wellbeing.

Our Employment Support service is here to help you navigate these challenges and take positive steps forward, whether you are employed, self-employed, on long-term sick leave, returning after a break, exploring new opportunities, or have had to leave work because of mental health.

We can help you:

• Build confidence and cope with stress or difficult situations at work
• Improve workplace relationships and communication
• Prepare for a return to work after time away
• Explore new employment options and career pathways
• Understand your rights and request reasonable adjustments

In addition to one-to-one support, we run practical group workshops focused on CV writing or interview skills. You can also access one-to-one sessions for personalised CV and interview preparation.

Support is tailored to your situation, with appointments available face-to-face, by phone, or online. Your specialist will work with you to create practical strategies and actionable steps so you feel more in control and ready to move forward.

Any patient can access this service alongside other treatment options and for up to four weeks after discharge.

Take the next step today. Speak to your practitioner or contact the Employment Support team to see how they can help you feel confident and supported in your work life.

If you have a hearing or vision impairment, we can adapt your therapy to suit your needs. This might include:

• Face-to-face or video appointments for those who are hard of hearing so you can see the practitioner clearly

• Access to British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters via video link
• Alternative formats for materials, including large print

Your practitioner will work with you to ensure your treatment is accessible and comfortable.

If you need an interpreter or support in another language, we can arrange this for your appointments. Depending on availability, this may be face-to-face, by telephone, or via video link. Let us know when you make a referral or during your first session so we can organise the right support for you.

Additionally, many of our low-intensity CBT workbooks are available in multiple languages. These resources can be accessed through the NHS Talking Therapies Translated Resources page.  Languages include Arabic, Bengali, Chinese (Simplified), Gujarati, Hindi, Polish, Punjabi, Somali, Turkish, and Urdu.

Neurodiversity is a term used to describe the natural variation in how people think, learn, and process the world. This includes conditions such as autism and ADHD. These differences are part of who a person is, but they can sometimes make accessing and benefiting from standard mental health treatments more challenging.

We support people who already have a diagnosis as well as those who suspect they may be neurodivergent. Our focus is on treating mental health difficulties such as anxiety, depression, or stress, not diagnosing neurodiversity.

Some challenges neurodivergent people might experience in therapy include:

• Difficulty maintaining focus or processing information in standard-length sessions
• Sensory sensitivities or anxiety in unfamiliar environments
• Challenges with remembering appointments or instructions

To help overcome these barriers, we adapt our therapy approaches, including:

• Offering longer sessions or regular comfort breaks
• Using text reminders and clear communication supports
• Adjusting pacing, structure, and materials to suit individual needs
• Tailoring interventions to make them more practical and concrete

We also offer the Navigating Anxiety and Autism psychoeducation course, developed in conjunction with Plymouth Autism Spectrum Service (PASS). This course helps participants understand mental health in the context of neurodivergent experiences, including differences in sleep patterns, social experiences, and sensory processing.

Looking ahead, we are developing a new ADHD course for 2026 to provide additional tailored support.

These adaptations ensure that neurodivergent people can fully engage in therapy and benefit from evidence-based mental health support, regardless of whether they have a formal diagnosis.

Please note: We do not provide NHS diagnostic assessments for ADHD or autism, nor do we prescribe medication.

Living with a long-term health condition (LTC) can be stressful and can affect how you feel, which in turn may impact how well you manage your condition. Stress, anxiety, and low mood can make physical symptoms more difficult to cope with.

Plymouth Talking Therapies can support you if you are experiencing mental health difficulties linked to your long-term health condition. We work with people at the early stages of their mental health journey and focus on low-complexity presentations, usually with a single long-term health condition.

Examples of conditions we support include, but are not limited to:

• Cardiac or respiratory conditions
• Neurological conditions
• Cancer with positive prognosis
• Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME)
• Diabetes
• Medically unexplained symptoms (MUS)
• Fibromyalgia

We adapt therapy to meet your needs, including:

• Adjusting the pace or length of sessions to suit fluctuating symptoms
• Tailoring interventions to help manage the mental health impacts of your condition
• Offering practical strategies to cope with stress, anxiety, and low mood

Where appropriate, we may work alongside your GP and other physical health teams or services to create a personalised plan and ensure safe, effective care. Practitioners complete specialised training during their first two years to provide informed and effective support for people with long-term health conditions.

Some long-term health conditions have established referral pathways or priority labels, allowing faster access to the most appropriate support.

The perinatal period, which covers pregnancy and the first two years after birth, is a significant time of change in a person’s life. It can bring joy and excitement, but it can also be a period of increased vulnerability to mental health challenges. Many people experience anxiety, depression, or stress related to pregnancy, birth, or adjusting to life with a new baby. Common difficulties include feelings of isolation, challenges with bonding, birth trauma, coping with expectations, or dealing with past experiences of neglect or abuse.

At Plymouth Talking Therapies, we offer a range of support designed specifically for this period. This includes one-to-one therapy, perinatal wellbeing psychoeducational courses, and online programmes aimed at supporting both parent and baby wellbeing.

Our Perinatal Specialist Service Champions work closely with the local perinatal mental health team, attending a twice-weekly multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting. This ensures care is joined-up, timely, and tailored to the unique needs of each parent.

Perinatal cases have a priority label, allowing faster access to the right support when it is most needed.