How to find a family therapist?

Please start with your GP or health visitor, advises AFT Chair Barbara Warner. They may arrange for you to see the practice family therapist if they have one, or if appropriate, refer you to family therapists working in the local mental health service.

Local Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) often employ family therapists in specialist services. Many CAMHS services accept self-referrals from families seeking help, as well as referrals from GPs etc. Directory enquiries can provide the number for the Child and Adolescent Mental Health services in your area.

Some family therapists work privately and will be registered with the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP), tel 020-7014-9955. This organisation has a list of more than 500 registered practitioners, and can tell you who is local to your area. The list can be accessed via the web site www.psychotherapy.org.uk.

The Institute of Family Therapy (tel 020-7391-9150) and the Kensington Consultation Centre (tel 020-7720-7301) take self-referrals from people struggling with family problems.

Relate offers family counselling in some areas for details visit www.relate.org.uk

If you require immediate help with concerns about the mental health of a particular child or young person, Young Minds offer a help line visit www.youngminds.org.uk

Click here to see the AFT Code of Ethics for Clients. (Adobe Acrobat .pdf)

How to find a family therapist?

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