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NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression is a free NHS service in England providing evidence-based psychological treatments for common mental-health problems.
NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression is a free NHS service in England providing evidence-based psychological treatments for common mental-health problems.
You can refer yourself directly. You do not have to see your GP first, and NHS guidance says you do not need an existing mental-health diagnosis to self-refer.
That makes it an important route for people who know they are struggling but are unsure whether they need a GP appointment first.
What can the service help with
NHS England lists problems including depression, generalised anxiety, panic disorder, social anxiety, health anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), phobias, agoraphobia and body dysmorphic disorder.
Talking therapies can also support some people whose anxiety or depression is linked with certain long-term physical-health conditions.
What happens after I refer myself
The local service will contact you and usually arrange an initial assessment.
This is not necessarily your first therapy session.
The assessment helps the service understand what you are experiencing, how it affects your life and which treatment may be suitable. If the service can help, it should explain the next steps and likely wait for treatment.
What kinds of treatment might be offered
NHS Talking Therapies is not one single therapy.
Depending on your needs, treatment may include guided self-help, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), counselling or other evidence-based psychological therapies.
NHS England says therapy may be delivered face to face, by telephone, by video, in groups or through supported digital treatment.
Will I definitely get counselling
Not necessarily.
Counselling is one type of talking therapy. The treatment offered depends on the difficulty you are experiencing, clinical assessment and what is available locally.
The aim is to match treatment to the problem rather than assume everybody needs the same kind of conversation.
How do I self-refer
NHS services can be found through the NHS website’s “Find NHS talking therapies for anxiety and depression” service.
Current NHS guidance says adults in England can self-refer, with access from age 16 or 17 in some areas. Local eligibility and arrangements can vary.
You can also ask a GP or another healthcare professional to refer you.
When might speaking to a GP first make more sense
A GP can be useful if you are not sure whether NHS Talking Therapies is appropriate, if physical-health symptoms need consideration or if your difficulties may require a different specialist service.
NHS guidance notes that some conditions, including eating disorders, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, psychosis and drug or alcohol problems, usually require a GP referral for the relevant talking-therapy or specialist treatment route.
Self-referral does not mean you have diagnosed yourself
You are not declaring that you definitely have a particular condition.
You are asking an NHS service to assess whether the difficulties you are experiencing are something it can help with.
For somebody who has been waiting to feel “ill enough” or waiting for somebody else to give permission to ask for help, that distinction can matter.
Last reviewed
6 September 2026
Important informationThis guide provides general information only and is not a diagnosis or a substitute for professional healthcare advice. Mental-health support and treatment will depend on individual circumstances. If you are unsure what support is appropriate, speak to your GP or another appropriately qualified healthcare professional.