Coronavirus - changes to this service

Due to the ongoing Coronavirus outbreak we have made changes to the way this service is delivered. To find out more please visit shsc.nhs.uk/coronavirus

The Specialist Psychotherapy Service offers treatment, consultation and advice to adults aged 18 and over who are experiencing complex mental health difficulties that have not responded to previous treatment.

We are a tertiary service which means we accept referrals from primary care (GPs or IAPT) and secondary care (Recovery Service).

We also provide specialist education and training to both universities in Sheffield, and actively take part in research projects.

The Specialist Psychotherapy Service is split into two specialist teams, the Mood, Anxiety and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Psychotherapy Service (MAPPS) and the Personality Disorder and Complex Trauma Service.

Mood, Anxiety and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Psychotherapy Service (MAPPS)

This team works with people who are experiencing long-term or recurrent problems related to symptoms that are generally described as:

  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
  • Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)
  • Anxiety Disorders (for example Social Anxiety and Generalised Anxiety Disorder
  • Depression

The people we support may be experiencing difficulties in more than one of these areas and will have tried other first line treatments such as therapy, counselling or medication, at least once before being referred to us.

We also provide clinical supervision, consultation on complex cases and training to other professionals.

Personality and Complex Trauma Service

This team offers direct psychotherapy to service users living with a Personality Disorder and Complex Trauma. We offer advice and consultation to other services and teams in the Trust, as well as contributing to postgraduate training programmes.

Waiting times

Once you have been assessed as being suitable for treatment by the team you will be placed on our waiting list.

Our waiting time from referral to assessment is approximately 10 to 16 weeks, except in urgent cases.

How is the service accessed?

We accept referrals from healthcare professionals working in primary and secondary services in Sheffield.

If you have a query about making a referral you can call us on 0114 2716920.

You can take a look at our service eligibility and selection criteria by clicking here.

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