How to find a family therapist?

Please start with your GP or health visitor, school nurse or other health or social care professional advises AFT Chair Dorothy Ramsay. Do say that you feel the issue is a family relationship issue when you have your preliminary talk. The GP 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 NHS.

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.

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 following organisations take direct private referrals from people struggling with family problems (ie not through a GP).

Institute of Family Therapy, London (tel 020-7391-9150)
Kensington Consultation Centre, London (tel 020-7720-7301) http://www.kccfoundation.org/services/the_ser.htm
The Family Institute, Cardiff 01443 483 820
Relate, nationwide www.relate.org.uk or call 0300 100 1234

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)

Useful links

I hate mum: BBC Documentary (Feb 2010) provides helpful information on behavioural issues and finding organisations that can help