NHS Plymouth Talking Therapies

I've found these services to be extremely condescending. They will only tell you the obvious, that which you already know, and speak to you as if you have the understanding of a toddler.They also arranged my next appointment at a time that was not good for me, without checking first, and told me I need to re-refer myself if I miss it.

I was referred to an online course which I needed to access via a link, that expired very quickly but it gave me an option to request another which I did. At the time I was extremely busy with work so was behind on checking emails. They never sent me a new one and I tried multiple times with nothing back. I then emailed Options directly, twice and haven't heard anything back it's been two weeks now so my emails are clearly being ignored. My emails have been polite and formal so to be ignored when I'm clearly asking for help it's very unprofessional and concerning coming from a mental health service. You're a service built to help those who ask for it, not ignore them.

There are not enough characters in the field to explain the depths of deceitful and manipulative processes used to mitigate the damage to reputation of service in the face of unconscionable mistreatment and neglect of service users needs stemming from the gutting of the costly and effective areas of the system which would have been funded by money currently in the seychelles.so Plymouth options runs like it is a CBT mindfulness service with some tiny portion of other services.Plymouth options is the only option for all therapeutic mental health needs for individuals who do not have the personal expendable income to go private.Plymouth options has amazing therapists in many many fields. No where near enough of them. but the ones working there from the students to the veterans are all amazing at what they do.that is not the problem.the problem is those therapies cost money.and rather than having a mental health service run as a social endeavour. just like the rest of the public service system including the nhs. THIS IS BEING RUN SO SOMEBODY MAKES BANK.The problem with plymouth options is greed. there is one star up there. it is for the people still trying to care for others in the system. i appreciate you. i condemn the system.

Due to anxiety/depression issues I wasn't ready to start therapy just yet, so requested to go back on the list even if I go back to bottom. Instead I received a letter stating 'this lady was removed from the service'. Have lived here for 7 years and found Options attitude to be disgusting

I attended the Stress Management course and then had one to one CBT which was helpful and it helped me through some tough times. Please take the negative reviews here with a pinch of salt, this service explains on their website what they can and cannot offer I.e. they can't support people with risk. It's a free NHS talking therapies service with some caring staff.Update 21st March 2023: I have used Plymouth Options again, had one to one CBT and found their staff and the intervention I've received helpful. My referral was processed fairly quickly, waited a few weeks for assessment and to start treatment.

''What a joke! Haven't even finished the CBT course yet, but was discharged by my support lady because I've had 1 week of feeling a bit better!! She has decided I'm in recovery. 1 week after 4 years...really? Useless, no point in completing course now as no-one will be monitoring or supporting me. And now I'm discharged and listed as an Options success storyIncredibly disappointed.Sent from my Galaxy"

The CBT course is for people who are not self aware. If you know your problems and triggers this is not for you. The longer I'm on this course the more patronised i feel. I've seen plenty of people joke about other mental health services recommend a cup of tea and a hot bath, well this isn't much better. Deep breathing is the answer to all my problems apparently, like i dont meditate most days. I've also found it incredibly sad that they dont consider other ways of people harming themselves. Its like they have a sheet to run by and anything else isn't relevant. I'll be paying out for a real counsellor in the new year because this is a joke and a massive waste of time. I only give 2 stars because I know people who feel its helped

The person I spoke to on the phone was very helpful, which is why I have rated 2 stars and not 1. I think it's quite poor to be referred to this service from the NHS. Unfortunately the use of systematic and wide ranging questionnaires mean you won't get definitive help (e.g. counselling) unless you rated as high risk. In my personal situation I have made as much effort as I can to understand how to improve my mental health (panic, anxiety and depression). However, I need someone qualified in psychotherapy to help with the last part, which like I said, you won't get unless you are deemed as high risk. This is not an issue which should be treated as binary, people suffer in all different ways. It is particularly telling that a mental health service are willing to shift the responsibility after a maximum of two phone calls. I was referred to an online service, which I will do, as I am open to any treatment, but my advice would be to try and find the expense for a well researched professional counsellor and go in willing to listen and open to any suggestions.

I had EMDR Therapy with Richard and it has completely changed my life. I didn't think it could or should work. But i cannot recommend it highly enough. Whenever i can i tell people and the effect it has had on me personally and for my family too. Staff are very professional, nothing is too much. When arriving it is a very safe environment which makes it easy to do the counselling provided. Yes the waiting times are sometimes long, but you are getting a free service. And what is 6 months of waiting when it could change the next 20-30 years of your life and for the better.