Camden & Islington NHS Talking Therapies

CamdenIslington

Camden & Islington (C&I) NHS Talking Therapies offers a range of short-term psychological interventions to adults presenting with common mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety.

The service also offers adapted therapy options for people living with long-term physical health conditions (or persistent physical symptoms; more information about this can be found on the physical health problems page on the C&I NHS Talking Therapies website.

The majority of interventions are theoretically grounded in cognitive behavioural therapy, but C&I NHS Talking Therapies also has a small provision to offer other types of therapy where appropriate. All therapies offered are recommended by NICE.

Problems C&I NHS Talking Therapies works with

The main clinical presentations C&I NHS Talking Therapies can offer help with are listed below:

  • depression
  • agoraphobia
  • social phobia
  • specific phobias (e.g. spiders, needles)
  • panic disorders
  • generalised anxiety disorder
  • obsessive compulsive disorder
  • body dysmorphic disorder
  • illness anxiety (e.g. constant worry/preoccupation with health and the idea of being unwell)
  • primary insomnia
  • post-traumatic stress disorder.
View full list of 11 items

Referral process

When a patient is referred to C&I NHS Talking Therapies, the team will review the information available at point of referral to consider if C&I NHS Talking Therapies is the service best placed to help the patient.

If the team feels the patient has needs that are too high or complex for C&I NHS Talking Therapies, they will respond by signposting the client to a different service or team.

Before making a referral, clinicians should consider the following:

  • is the main problem the patient needs help with related to substance misuse? 
    • if so, consider referring to local substance misuse services
  • does the patient need urgent help or support because of suicidal thoughts or self-harming? 
    • if so, refer to local mental health crisis team
  • does the patient need practical support with housing, finances, legal disputes, etc?
    • if so, consider referring to a social prescriber or other community-based support
  • is the patient able to engage in a short-term, structured, goal-focused therapy? 
    • if not, C&I NHS Talking Therapies would recommend they are not referred in the first instance but considered for other types of practical/emotional support (e.g. social prescribing).

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusions

Patients:

  • aged 17.5+ (there is no upper age limit)
  • with depression, anxiety or other common mental health problems
  • with long-term physical health conditions or persistent physical symptoms
  • with insomnia
  • who want to access time-limited, structured psychological interventions
  • registered with a Camden or Islington GP
  • working in health or social care within NCL
  • living in Camden or Islington and not registered with a GP (they will be encouraged to register).

See Downloads for a more comprehensive list of inclusion and exclusion criteria for a referral.

Exclusions

  • children (aged <17.5 years)
  • adults presenting with serious mental health problems (not anxiety or depression), and other specialist or complex difficulties, such as:
    • psychosis
    • bipolar disorder (except if currently depressed with no recent mood elevation, and looking for psychological therapy for depression)
    • problems related to a personality disorder or people who have significant interpersonal difficulties
    • significant alcohol or drug use
    • eating disorders
    • anger management (that is not secondary to anxiety or depression)
    • moderate-severe learning disability
  • are actively suicidal or a risk to others
  • have severe problems with alcohol or drug misuse
  • are already under the care of other specialist mental health services
  • require secondary (specialist) mental health care involving a multi-disciplinary team approach (this includes people who will not engage with secondary care or are waiting to be seen)
  • have had several unsuccessful attempts at treatment with iCope previously (a clinical discussion with the GP may be helpful in these situations)
  • adults whose primary request is for diagnosis or medication, or who are not wanting or able to work psychologically
  • C&I NHS Talking Therapies is unable to offer home visits so, if a patient has not been able to leave the house for a significant period of time, they may be more suitable for secondary care services.

How to Refer

C&I NHS Talking Therapies health professional online referral

The quickest way for professionals to refer is via the C&I NHS Talking Therapies website.

Please note that, for patients with more complex needs (for example where there are risk concerns, a history of contact with mental health difficulties, or previous contact with mental health services), it would be more helpful to receive a GP referral, as this helps to ensure that C&I NHS Talking Therapies have adequate information when deciding on the next steps.

If you have any questions about suitability for the C&I NHS Talking Therapies service, you can seek advice from the Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner or Psychological Therapist linked to your practice. If you do not know the clinician in your practice, you can contact C&I NHS Talking Therapies.

Where a patient has more complex mental health needs, you can also consult the Practice Based Mental Health Team, who will be able to advise about the most suitable service and will liaise with C&I NHS Talking Therapies if necessary.

EMIS form

Referral methods: e-Referrals, Email

Complete the referral form iCope Referral Form - Camden & Islington and email to:

For Camden: nlft.icopecamden.referrals@nhs.net

For Islington: nlft.icopeislington.referrals@nhs.net

Where to find the form

  • Camden: Camden Global Documents > Mental Health
  • Islington: ISL Global Documents > Mental Health > Islington Mental Health

Self-referral

Patients can also self-refer via the website, or they can call the team.


Locations

iCope Talking Therapies Service

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Review date: Thursday, 21 August 2025