NHS North Yorkshire Talking Therapies support for carers

You are not alone. Support is available that can help you feel better.

Visit the North Yorkshire Talking Therapies website to complete a self-referral or speak to your GP who can make a referral on your behalf.

We’re available Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm

Harrogate – 01423 852137

Hambleton, Richmondshire and Catterick – 01609 768890

Scarborough, Whitby, Ryedale – 01947 899270

Many people don’t see themselves as carers – they are simply mum, dad, spouse, daughter, son, friend or partner. However, if you look after someone that couldn’t manage without your support you are a person with caring responsibilities.

It’s estimated there are around 6 million unpaid carers in the UK. These are people like you who are supporting someone with a physical illness, disability, dementia, mental health problem or addiction.

It’s important to support yourself while caring for someone

Being a carer can be rewarding, but tough. Do you often feel worried, stressed, overwhelmed, unsupported, alone and unable to cope?

Looking after someone else can significantly affect your mental health. Carers often experience emotional stress, depressive symptoms, low mood, anxiety and worry – all of which can contribute to exhaustion and burnout.

Caring can also impact our finances, our physical health and wellbeing, our relationships and our ability to sustain paid employment.

Don’t suffer in silence, it’s OK to ask for help.

Whilst you are looking after someone else, it’s easy to forget about yourself and how you’re feeling; With so much going on you may feel you don’t have time to seek help. You simply get on with it and try to ignore how you are feeling.

Remember, your health and wellbeing are just as important as the health and wellbeing of the person you are supporting. North Yorkshire Talking Therapies is here to provide you with the support you need. Whenever you are ready, you can refer yourself at any time.

How we can help

North Yorkshire Talking Therapies is a free NHS service which has been approved and recommended by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE). How we help you depends on your individual circumstances.

To make sure the service is right for you we complete an initial assessment (usually by telephone or video call) to hear your story, understand how you are feeling, understand what you are finding difficult and to find out more about the support you feel you need.

Flexible and convenient treatment options

We offer a range of treatment options and work with you to decide which is best for you.

We recognise that people who have caring responsibilities are juggling lots of different things and are usually short on time, therefore we have treatment options that are convenient, flexible and accessible. You can access them from the comfort of your home, at a time to suit you and don’t have to worry about travelling to an appointment or finding someone to look after your loved one.

Our online courses use cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) approaches to teach you techniques for coping with low mood, anxiety, stress and worry. They’re easy to access and are available 24 hours a day from a PC, tablet or smartphone. You are supported throughout your treatment by a therapist who regularly reviews your progress. You can discuss other help and support at the end of the treatment. Our one-to-one support can be provided by telephone, video call or face to face.

How Talking Therapy works

We are not a counselling service, the therapy we deliver will help you understand why you feel the way you feel. We explain how your thoughts, feelings and behaviours are all connected, and how your thoughts impact your emotions and actions.

Understanding why you feel anxious, stressed, unhappy, out of control and unable to cope is the first step to learning how to manage your feelings.

CBT gives you coping strategies and techniques to identify and change unhelpful thought patterns, so you can start to feel better, more in control and able to cope.

Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) can help with depression and where there are difficulties in current relationships, due to a change in role, a conflict, or a loss/grief.

We also have specific treatment options for:

• General anxiety
• Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms
• Panic attacks or health anxiety
• Trauma
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Where Talking Therapies is not the most suitable service we can signpost you to alternative services, where available.

Help with juggling caring and paid employment

Many people who are looking after someone else worry about juggling their caring responsibilities with paid employment. In addition to our treatment options, your therapist can refer you to our Employment Support Service which provides employment support, information, advice and guidance alongside your Talking Therapies treatment.

We support people who are in work, in work whilst on sick leave or unemployed.

You’ll work on a one-to-one basis with an Employment Advisor who will provide practical advice and relevant support to assist you with your work-related issues.

Other support available in North Yorkshire

If you’re looking for practical help and advice the organisations below offer independent information, advice and support through a range of services to unpaid family carers. They can also signpost you to other organisations and resources.

If you need help accessing information online, your local library or community centre can assist.