Jessie's Story - Escaping abuse and finding hope
Jessie was young, alone and needed support and advice to gain safety and confidence
Therapy Service
Our therapy is different
See our FAQs below for more information or use the online form to refer yourself for therapy.
Get referred
Visit your GP
Tell the doctor how you have been thinking and feeling. Be honest. Remember your doctor is there to help.
Your doctor might not know about SignHealth. Research shows that therapy in BSL is more successful for BSL users. Ask your doctor to contact us for more information.
Or sign up directly
You can request therapy with this online form.
Therapy is for if you are feeling low, anxious or worried. Maybe you are having trouble sleeping, or you can’t concentrate, or are unable to enjoy activities that you used to love. GPs often prescribe therapy for these feelings and symptoms, because therapy is the most effective treatment.
There are different types of psychological therapies and we can discuss together which one suits you best with your specific needs and situation in mind.
SignHealth’s Psychological Therapy service was previously known as ‘BSL Healthy Minds’.
You do not pay for any of our services.
Our services are contracted with the NHS through a number of different routes.
We offer services to Deaf people who may be experiencing one or more of the following conditions:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)
- PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)
- Phobias
- Loss or Bereavement
- Confidence problems or low self-esteem
- Family or work stresses
- Identity issues
- Abuse
If you do not see your condition (or you are not sure) but you think meeting with a therapist could help, please contact us.
You must be aged over 18 and living in England or Wales.
Anywhere in England. We still provide therapy for Deaf people in Wales but the funding process has not changed and will still be through Individual Funding Requests (IFR). This NHS contract will not impact the services available in Scotland and Northern Ireland. If you might benefit from therapy and live in Scotland or Northern Ireland, we suggest that you discuss your options with your GP.
Our therapy sessions are primarily delivered online but face-to-face can sometimes be arranged.
If you have any questions about the service or you need help with referrals please contact us.
Research suggests that the best treatment for people suffering from mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety is ‘talking therapy’. This therapy method relies on 1-1 communication, but for Deaf people, this is problematic. The moment an interpreter is involved, the conversation becomes less intimate and has been shown to be less effective for the patient.
All our therapists are either Deaf or hearing and fluent in British Sign Language (BSL) and some can also support deaf people who do not sign.
Please contact your GP to discuss your options. Our crisis text service, powered by SHOUT, is available when you need immediate support, text DEAF to 85258 anytime. We also have self-help guides on SignHealth’s website for a range of mental health challenges and advice for small steps you can take to improve your wellbeing through getting better sleep, mindfulness and other exercises.
Before 2022, therapy in sign language was funded through Individual Funding Requests (IFR) submitted to Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) for each patient. Not all CCGs would approve funding, instead requiring a Deaf patient to go to a mainstream hearing service first. Or the patient might need to wait a long time for funding to eventually be approved.
This NHS England contract streamlines the process by automatically approving funding for Deaf people to access NHS Talking Therapies (IAPT) in sign language.
This contract covers NHS Talking Therapies (IAPT) compliant therapy. If you are in need of grief and bereavement therapy and other types of counselling, funding will continue to be approved through the IFR route.
