This service is for patients attending Chelsea and Westminster sexual health clinics only. Please see the ‘How to get referred’ section below for a list of these clinics.
At a time of crisis please use the following options:
- contact your GP
- attend your local Accident & Emergency (A&E) department
- telephone Emergency Services on 999
- telephone the CNWL Single Point of Access (SPA) team on 0800 0234 650
- telephone The Samaritans on 116123 (free number)
About our service
Our mission is to empower anyone experiencing difficulties with their sexual health to live a meaningful life, in line with their values. We collaborate with our sexual health colleagues, clients, and related services to provide an inclusive, psychologically informed service.
Our team consists of an administrator, clinical and counselling psychologists, assistant psychologists, and trainees who are dedicated to empower anyone experiencing difficulties with their sexual health.
Our service aims to help you:
- If you are experiencing difficulties adjusting to a sexual health diagnosis (e.g. HIV, HSV, HPV or other STI).
- To understand and manage any difficult feelings related to your sexual health
- If you are experiencing difficulties related to starting or taking medication
- If you have any concerns or anxieties about your sexual health
- If you would like support to practice safer sex
What type of therapy do we offer?
Our service offers a range of individual and group psychological therapies with specialist knowledge of working in different ways with clients. The appropriate mode of therapy will be collaboratively discussed at the assessment stage.
Maintaining your confidentiality is very important to us. All our assessments begin with a discussion about confidentiality. It is your decision about the information you disclose to us.
In line with NHS guidelines, we sometimes need to share limited information with other professionals involved in your care. Before disclosing information to others, we would always try to discuss with you the details of the information we are sharing and the reasons for needing to do this.
For Patients
If you would like a referral to our service, please request this from a clinician at one of our Sexual Health Services listed below. Any of the clinical staff (doctors, nurses and health advisers) can arrange a referral for you.
Our Sexual Health services are:
- 56 Dean Street
- 10 Hammersmith Broadway
- Kobler Clinic
- John Hunter Clinic
- West Middlesex
Read our patient leaflet for more information.
For clinicians
Please see the referral pathway and complete our referral form. The referral form will only be accepted if completed by clinicians and sent to our email.
Statement of inclusivity
We are committed to providing comprehensive care for all, regardless or their race, gender, sexual orientation or identity. We acknowledge the need for diversity and equity in healthcare and are actively aiming to create a safe, welcoming and non-discriminatory environment for every person who seeks our services.
We welcome your feedback and accountability as we strive to provide the highest standard of care for everyone. Thank you.
What to expect?
After we receive your referral, if the referral is appropriate for our service we will send you an opt-in SMS message (subject to consent) inviting you to get in touch to arrange an initial assessment.
The initial assessment aims to understand your difficulties and decide whether our service is appropriate for your needs. We will ask you about your goals for therapy and how you would like things to be different.
The assessment takes about an hour and by the end we should have a shared plan of what might be helpful.
Following your assessment, if it is decided that our service is able to offer you support then you will be placed on our waiting list. You will be offered short to medium term therapy to work towards the goals that were identified in your initial assessment. The wait time to start therapy varies, but is usually not more than six months. In some cases, we may decide our service is not the most appropriate support and may refer or signpost you to another service who can help.
In the meantime, we can provide you with additional support and resources that you may find useful.
You can attend sessions face to face, via video call or telephone. Sessions are usually on a weekly or fortnightly basis, during the hours of 9am to 5pm (We have limited availability for earlier or later appointment requests).
How to find us
Address:
South Kensington and Chelsea Mental Health Centre
1 Nightingale Place
London
SW10 9NG
Phone: 0203 838 7915
E-mail: healthpsychchelwest.cnwl@nhs.net
Working Hours: 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
Our location
Resources
Hear from our service users
"I was able to be more open and honest about my sexual experiences and how they may affect my mental health, without fear of judgement and shame"
"Having access to therapy which specifically addressed my anxieties revolved around HIV was vital in improving my mental wellbeing"
"I felt I could be more open and honest and that my concerns would be appreciated and understood better"
