If your family needs therapeutic support, here is a clear guide to every route available in the UK — and how to navigate each one effectively.
NHS family therapy is most commonly accessed through CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services), which your GP or paediatrician can refer you to. Some community mental health teams and specialist services also offer systemic family therapy. However, CAMHS waiting lists are lengthy — often 12 months or more for an initial assessment — and specialist family therapy beyond that initial assessment may not be available in all areas.
If your child’s difficulty is connected to a specific condition or circumstance — adoption, looked-after status, a neurodevelopmental diagnosis, or a paediatric health condition — there may be specialist teams with shorter waiting times. Ask your GP or paediatrician whether any specialist pathway applies to your family.
Private family therapy requires no GP referral. You can contact a family therapist directly and most offer initial appointments within two to four weeks. Private family therapists must be HCPC-registered or UKCP-accredited — confirm this before booking, and verify registration at hcpc-uk.org. The SEND List verifies stated qualifications before any practitioner goes live on the site.
When choosing a therapist, ask about their experience with families in circumstances similar to yours — whether that involves a child with SEND, adoption, separation, or a specific presenting difficulty. Approach matters in family therapy, and it is reasonable to have a brief introductory conversation before committing.
If your child has an EHCP and family therapy is identified as a therapeutic need that supports the child’s educational provision, it may be included as a provision under Section H (health) of the plan. If it is listed but not being delivered, you are entitled to challenge this. A report from a private family therapist can also support an EHCP application or review by documenting the family’s therapeutic needs and the recommended provision.
Some schools commission family support workers or systemic practitioners as part of their pastoral or SEND offer. This is most common in schools with resourced SEND provision or in local authorities with well-developed early help services. Ask your child’s SENCO or family support worker what is available — it may save you the cost of going fully private, or complement private work you are already doing.
Local authorities in England provide early help services for families experiencing difficulties before they reach a threshold for statutory intervention. Early help may include family support workers, parenting programmes, or in some areas access to family therapy through children’s centres or family hubs. Contact your local authority or ask your child’s school about early help in your area. These services are typically free and do not require an EHCP or a CAMHS referral.