IAPT stands for improving access to psychological therapies. We offer talking therapies for people over 18 who live in or have a GP in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.

We help you with common problems like stress, anxiety and depression. It could be you are feeling low, having trouble sleeping, or feeling frightened.

At Back on Track, we use different talking therapies to help you feel better. Our sessions are structured and take place over a short time, usually about 8 to 10 weeks.

We use evidence-based therapies. This means there's proof they're likely to make you feel better. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is one we use a lot. 

Treatment options

You can access therapy in different ways. It can be face-to-face, in groups, over the phone, using video chat on your mobile device, smartphone or computer.

We also offer online written therapy.

As there are lots of treatment options, we need to check which one is best for you. We’ll do this in a phone call.

Where to start

You can ask for a referral from your GP or any other health or social care professional. They’ll fill in a form explaining how you are feeling.

Making a referral

You will need to complete this referral form
 

Ask for advice

We are happy to offer guidance on who would benefit from an IAPT service. If you are unsure, please get in touch via email to: Wlm-TR.Backontrack@nhs.net before making a referral. 

About IAPT

IAPT is an improving access to psychological therapies (IAPT) service. 

Each borough has an IAPT service. 

The service is for adults (and older adults) over 18 years of age, registered with a GP in the borough who have anxiety or depression, and who are likely to benefit from brief psychological therapy.

This is not a crisis service, if your patient has an acute need or is in crisis, they should be referred through our SPA service.

What IAPT offers

Individual and group psychological therapies in accordance with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines for common mental health problems.

All referrals to service are screened to confirm this is the most appropriate service at this time. If screened as appropriate, the client is offered an assessment with one of our staff, either on the phone or face-to-face.

We offer signposting to other services where these are appropriate to the needs of the client.

Who IAPT can see

We can help service users with mild to moderate mental health issues. These include:

  • Depression
  • Panic disorder
  • Generalised anxiety disorder
  • Health anxiety and medically unexplained symptoms
  • Social phobia/anxiety
  • Specific phobia
  • Single incident post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
  • Insomnia
  • Low self-esteem
  • Post-natal depression.

Service users need to be:

  • Motivated to attend and engage in regular psychological therapy
  • A low level of risk to themselves and others.
Who IAPT can’t see

Service users with the following mental health conditions are unlikely to benefit from the brief, structured help we provide. 

We cannot see people where there is:

  • Active risk of harm to self, current suicidal intent or recent suicide attempt or if still in crisis
  • Active risk of harm to others or recent history of violence
  • Ongoing, active, or relapsing symptoms of social emotional health needs, psychosis, manic or hypomanic episodes
  • A diagnosed personality disorder or personality traits that would make engagement in a brief psychological intervention likely to be ineffective, unhelpful and contravene NICE guidance
  • Complex needs requiring multi-disciplinary input or longer-term psychological input. Examples include severe OCD, chronic agoraphobia, complex PTSD, such as following repeated/ongoing trauma or victims of significant torture
  • Drug and alcohol misuse as a primary problem, or level of misuse likely to prevent engagement in regular psychological therapy
  • Significant psychosocial or physical health factors which prevent engagement in regular psychological therapy or require input from a multi-disciplinary team. For example, where there are ongoing physical health investigations or legal cases
  • Where ongoing home visits are required.

How to refer yourself to IAPT

You can refer yourself for treatment by completing in a simple online form.

If your GP or health visitor has suggested you self-refer, you can fill in the form)

You must be:

  • Over 18

  • Registered with a GP in the borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, or GP at Hand, or live in the borough.

If you're not in Hammersmith and Fulham, find your nearest IAPT service. 

Refer yourself online or by calling us on 0300 123 1156.

Problems we treat

You want help with emotional difficulties like:

  • Low mood/depression

  • Anxiety

  • Worry

  • Stress

  • Panic attacks

  • Low self-esteem

  • Specific fears (phobias)

  • Postnatal depression.

What happens after referral

We'll contact you by phone. We'll aim to contact you within 1 to 2 weeks, but in some cases it may take slightly longer. The first phone call will be to book an assessment.

Assessment

In the assessment call, we’ll find out more about the difficulties you’ve been having and check we’re the right service for you.

The phone call will take about 30 to 60 minutes.

Treatment plan

If we’re the best service for you, we’ll talk you through the different options and agree a plan. We'll explain how long it will last and what you’ll need to do.

We’ll put this in writing so you can see what we have agreed. 

You can expect to wait between 2 to 5 months to start treatment, depending on the type of treatment you need and your availability.

Signposting

After talking to you, the therapist might decide that none of our treatments are right for you. If so, they’ll let you know what to do next.

When not to self-refer

You shouldn’t self-refer if:

  • You’re already being treated for a mental health problem by a different service, doctor or nurse team

  • You have a diagnosis of psychosis, schizophrenia or a personality disorder

  • You misuse drugs or alcohol

  • You’re currently in crisis and require urgent support.

If any of these apply to you and you need help, speak to someone in your healthcare team – your GP or health care professional – about how you're feeling.

We can offer guided self-help and one-to-one therapy in a range of languages. 

We currently have therapists who can offer assessments and therapy in a range of languages, which can be discussed when booking your appointment.

We don’t currently deliver any workshops or groups in languages other than English.

Interpreters

If we can’t provide a therapist who speaks your language, we’ll organise for an interpreter to be present for therapy sessions.

Back on Track is a service offered by West London NHS Trust.  We work in partnership with 4 other organisations to provide talking therapies in Hammersmith and Fulham.

When you are referred to Back on Track, where appropriate your information may be shared with these organisations.

West London Centre for Counselling

West London Centre for Counselling (WLCC) is a voluntary organisation that provides free, confidential counselling service to people who live in or are registered with a GP in Hammersmith and Fulham. WLCC was established to provide a counselling service for people living or working in West London and also to promote the understanding of counselling through education and training.

Visit the WLCC website.  

Richmond Fellowship and Twining Enterprise

Richmond Fellowship and Twining Enterprise provide employment support to primary care services in Hammersmith and Fulham. They also provide recovery and wellbeing support, including advice, peer support, befriending and digital and online support forums.

Visit the Richmond Fellowship website.

Visit the Twining Enterprise website.

Xyla Digital Therapies

Xyla Digital Therapies provides telephone assessments and treatments, using highly qualified therapists. The service is patient-centred and has a focus on providing the best care available at a time convenient and comfortable for you.

Visit the Xyla Digital Therapies website.

Self-help leaflets and websites can help you learn more about your difficulties. In turn, this can help you look after yourself and feel more in control of your feelings.

We can recommend these resources. They are up to date, accurate and offer helpful, safe information.

For a range of self-help leaflets you can download in accessible formats, listen to, or watch with British Sign Language (BSL).

You can download a range of worksheets on common conditions from the Centre for Clinical Investigations.

Local sources of support
The Carers Network

The Carers Network supports unpaid adult carers looking after someone over 18 who is living in Hammersmith and Fulham. Visit the Carers Network website

Action on Disability supports

Adults, their families or carers who may be entitled to or are receiving Adult Social Care. HAFAD (Hammersmith and Fulham Action for Disability) provides the service and it is available to those who live in or use services of Hammersmith and Fulham Council. Visit the Action on Disability website.

Mental health and wellbeing websites
Lower-cost longer term counselling
The following organisations are examples of long-term therapy and counselling services in London that might offer reduced or means-tested rates for their therapy sessions.  This is not an exhaustive list and we are unable to endorse any specific organisations. Visit their websites to find out more:

Useful resources to download

What happens to my information leaflet (PDF) 

Looking after your family information leaflet (PDF)

Return to IAPT – improving access to psychological therapies
If you need help now

Contact our Single Point of Access Service 

Call 0800 328 4444

You can call this number 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year for help and advice in a crisis, from trained mental health advisors and clinicians.

Refer yourself

You can also refer yourself to us online or by calling us on 0300 123 1156.

Useful resources to download

What happens to my information leaflet (PDF) 

Looking after your family information leaflet (PDF)