GETTING STARTED
What do I do first?
The first thing is to register with our service. The easiest way to do this is to call us and we will talk you through everything. You may have been recommended to contact us by another health professional or simply decided for yourself that you would like to get in touch.
----------------------------------------- CONTACT US ON (01208) 871905 WHEN YOU WANT TO REGISTER -----------------------------------------
What information do I need to provide?
To register, we will need your basic information. We will ask you a little bit about what you would like to work on to make sure we get you the right type of help as quickly as possible. We will also ask for details such as any long term health conditions, disabilities, marital status and ethnicity for example. The aim of such information is to ensure we operate fairly across all groups of people who may want support from us. For more information about this - please see the confidentiality tab above.
Who will I speak to first?
When you ring in you will speak to one of our clinical administrators. They aren't therapists but do have specific training in taking these types of calls and will be well-equipped to answer most questions. (We are happy to call you back if that helps with phone charges)
What if I don't want to talk on the phone?
We understand not everyone is happy using the phone. We suggest it only because it is the quickest way to get things moving and enables us to swiftly answer any questions or queries you might have. You can download a self referral form and post or email it to us if you prefer. Click [here] for a self referral form.
NOTE: We are not responsible for the transfer of your personal information through your own email provider. Although your referral form will be sent to a secure NHS email address, we can not guarantee the security of your own personal email service provider. Also, we do not reply (by email) to any messages sent to our 'referrals' email address.
Is my information confidential?
Yes. Your information will be confidential and stored securely on an NHS approved system. With your permission, we will keep your GP updated with information about your treatment. All health professionals have a responsibility to share some information if we have serious concerns about any risk to yourself or others. We would do so to prevent harm to yourself or someone else.
How will my information be used?
The effectiveness of our service is monitored to make sure we continue to offer the best treatments we can. To achieve this, data may be used to evaluate our work. So that you can have full confidence in us, we need you to understand how we will use your data and have your permission to store it. We can either explain this to you over the phone or you can read about it on this website by simply clicking on the 'Use of information' tab at the very top of this page.
What if I'm having thoughts of hurting myself or others?
When struggling, it is not uncommon for people to have difficult thoughts or feel hopeless. However, this is not the same as actually planning or taking steps to hurt yourself.
We are not an emergency service so it is very important that you seek help from the right sources if you are having thoughts of hurting yourself. In the first instance we would recommend contacting your GP. Please click [here] for other sources of support.
What will happen at my first appointment?
In nearly all cases the first appointment will be an assessment. This is so we can understand a little more about the difficulties you are experiencing, look at the choices available and make a joint decision about what might be the best type of help for you. The focus will be on how you feel about your present life and what you want to be different in the future.
For this appointment, you will meet with one of our Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PWPs) at your GP surgery or one of our locality bases around the county. PWPs have specific training in these assessments. They will be able to guide you, asking helpful questions. You will not be expected to go in to great detail about specific issues. For information on the types of support we offer click [here].
If you are not sure of the location of your appointment please feel free to call our office on (01208) 871905. If you need to view some directions to our locality bases, click on the [About us] page.
What responsibilities exist between me and Outlook South West?
To help get the most out of your sessions, we hope you can build a positive relationship with Outlook South West. To make this happen, both sides naturally have responsibilities to the other. Please click [here] to read more...
If you are unhappy in any aspect of the contact you’ve had with us, please click [here] to read how to take this further. We sincerely hope you have a positive experience with us but in the event that you do not we want to know. Our aim would be to put things right and learn from situations to improve for the future. We also like to hear about positive experiences, so don’t be afraid to tell us about how therapy has been helpful.