A letter to GP's

Dear GP

‘Therapy For Life’ has an experienced set of Counsellors who can be available within 24 hours. Sometimes almost immediately if your practice is nearby, the client can travel straight to our office just off the High Street in Southend-on-Sea, alternatively with arrangement we can travel to your surgery.

You may find that patients suffering from mental health issues are propelled to repeat behaviours and are unable to escape a vicious negative cycle. Part of that cycle can be repeatedly returning to the GP surgery with unrealistic worries, fears and negative thoughts.

Please consider offering our help to your patients if...

• ·       Patients are re-contacting you whilst being on the NHS ‘Therapy For You’ waiting list needing help much sooner than is available and are able to pay for private sessions (Staff can advise patients to come along to ‘Therapy for Life’ as an interim whilst waiting for an NHS response).
• ·       A patient seems chronically depressed needing help quickly and in your opinion should be seen within days or hours.
• ·       Patients seem to be taking up nurse and GP time discussing problems other than physical ailments.
• ·       Patients that repeatedly return complaining of undiagnosable ailments or unexplainable pain.
• ·       Patients that return with the same or similar issues that are realistically manageable by themselves.
• ·       Patients suffering from recent loss of a loved one or unhealthy long-term grief.
• ·       Patients repeatedly approach you outside of the surgery.
• ·       Patients who approach with hostility and anger.
• ·       Patients that don’t adhere to your advice yet keep returning.
• ·       Patients that bring along symptom after symptom, none of which falls into any recognisable pattern of illness.
• ·       Patients that are ‘manipulative help rejectors’... "Why don't you?" "Yes, but I can’t because ... "
• ·       Patients that are ‘self-destructive deniers’ e.g. Patients with emphysema who cannot stop smoking, alcoholics drink even though their liver is failing etc.

A chronically depressed patient needs time to talk about their issues, much longer than the nurse or GP can provide in a booked session. Please do offer them a solution at Therapy for Life in addition to their physical needs.

It will not only help the patient, but your future interactions with the patient will become simpler. 

"We believe Physical Illness is linked to Mental Health, let us work side by side with you."

We understand the NHS provides IAPT, which is essentially low and high intensity CBT. We provide CBT but also Psychodynamic, Transactional Analysis, Solution Focussed and Loss/Grief Therapy.

As you already know, CBT is not the choice therapy for someone suffering from loss and grief. If you do have a patient who is unwell but also grief stricken, offering them therapy alongside physical healthcare is the most beneficial treatment for your patient.

We would be happy to leave more business cards with you if you think you will refer to us. Please check out some of the counsellors on our website, we have many more all with different backgrounds and experience. Give us a try, and see the positive feedback from your patients.

Take Care... Samantha

Director at ‘Therapyfor Life’