GP/Professionals

Merton Talking Therapies provide short-term (4-16 sessions) NICE recommended psychological interventions for people presenting with a primary diagnosis of:

• depression
• anxiety disorders – specific phobias, social phobia, health anxiety, generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder with or without agoraphobia, body dysmorphic disorder (BDD).
• PTSD
• Depression or anxiety symptoms consequent to living with a long-term physical health problem (LTC), especially diabetes, cardiac problems, respiratory problems, rheumatoid arthritis or post-covid syndrome (also known as Long Covid) 
• non-underweight eating disorders (with a BMI of 17 or above)

People who are likely to benefit from a referral include those presenting with:

• a new onset of a problem,
• a longer standing problem but who have not previously been offered an evidence based first line psychological intervention for this problem.
• recurrent presentations which have previously responded well to psychological therapies.
• co-occurring drug or alcohol use where significant control over the substance use is demonstrated, whose alcohol use is in the hazardous range or below (up to 35 units of alcohol per week for women and up to 50 units of alcohol per week for men), and where the substance and/or alcohol use is felt to be secondary to a primary depression or anxiety disorder and goals for treatment are related to the mental health problem

Merton Talking Therapies is not able to provide appropriate support for people who:

• present with significant risk of self-harm or harm to others and require regular monitoring of risk or a case management approach
• have chronic or treatment resistant presentations which have not responded to evidence based first line psychological interventions in the past. 
• have a primary diagnosis of Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD) that requires treatment in the Complex Emotional Needs pathway
• have an active psychosis or require psychological treatment for psychotic disorders.
• have a severe eating disorder, including BMI of 17.5 or below
• have a primary problem of sexual dysfunction
• have a primary diagnosis of alcohol or other substance misuse at a level that impairs their ability to benefit from the service and without a co-existing mental health problem. This includes anyone whose drug and/or alcohol use may be at a harmful level and whose primary treatment goals involve reducing or managing their alcohol and/or drug use.
• Are receiving psychological therapy from another service in the Trust.

Our administrative team will aim to process the referral within one working day and for most referrals, contact the client to arrange a brief structured assessment, usually over the telephone. The initial assessment can be conducted face to face if this is preferred.  If the referral is for a more complex problem, then it will be reviewed first by one of our senior clinicians to ensure the most appropriate service and support is identified. Following the initial assessment, the client will have a feedback call with the assessor to discuss the most appropriate next steps which could be support within the Merton Talking Therapies service, or with another team.  

If you need to follow up a referral, please contact our administrative team on 0203 513 5888 or email mertonuplift@swlstg.nhs.uk

We provide translation services for those whose first language is not English and for those who require sign language interpretation. If interpreter services are required, please state this on your referral.

We provide treatment from different locations in the community. These include Cricket Green Medical Practice, the Wilson Hospital, and the Riverhouse Surgery.  

We are always looking for more space so if you are interested in providing us with a room a room to see patients/clients at your location then please email mertonuplift@swlstg.nhs.uk . 

We are unable to provide assessment or treatment in people’s homes, however, will always work closely with clients to find a convenient way for their appointment to take place. This could be in one of our locations close to where they live via telephone or video link if they find it difficult to leave their home. 

Waiting time from referral to assessment is usually within seven days. Waiting times from assessment to treatment vary by intervention and the current waiting times can be viewed here.

If you would like to talk to us about the support we could provide to the clients of your service, or if you would like some service posters, leaflets etc for your client group then please email mertonuplift@swlstg.nhs.uk.

GPs can also use the consultation and advice function on e-RS to ask any questions.