When another service should lead
A careful psychotherapy practice needs clear limits. Parent Consultation and assessment may help identify the right route, but they do not make every difficulty suitable for private weekly psychotherapy.
Immediate danger or urgent mental-health need
Call 999 or go to A&E when someone’s life is at risk, there has been a serious injury or overdose, or you do not feel able to keep someone safe. For urgent help without immediate danger, call NHS 111 and select the mental health option, or ask for an urgent GP appointment.
My practice does not provide emergency assessment, out-of-hours response, crisis treatment or a service whose primary purpose is managing risk. Risk does not automatically rule out psychotherapy: assessment considers whether I can help and what medical, specialist or urgent support may also be needed.
i-THRIVE Getting Risk Support
The THRIVE Framework uses Getting Risk Support for situations where managing risk has become the sole or primary focus because the young person cannot currently use treatment and remains a significant concern to themselves or others.
I do not offer this function. It requires coordinated statutory and multi-agency responsibility, often involving CAMHS, social care, crisis services, safeguarding teams or other public services. A private weekly appointment must not be used as a substitute for that system.
Safeguarding
Active concerns about abuse, exploitation, neglect or serious harm require the relevant safeguarding response. Psychotherapy may support the emotional impact alongside appropriate safeguarding arrangements, but it does not investigate allegations or replace the duties of schools, local authorities, police or health services.
Medical assessment and treatment
New, severe, rapidly worsening or unexplained physical symptoms need appropriate medical assessment. Psychotherapy does not diagnose physical conditions, interpret tests or advise against medical review.
For chronic illness and functional symptoms, psychological work may sit alongside healthcare. Medical responsibility remains with the relevant clinicians.
Diagnostic assessment
I provide psychotherapeutic, developmental and biopsychosocial assessment. Where appropriate, my reports can contribute to an EHCP process or to a diagnostic assessment carried out by the relevant professionals. This practice does not provide stand-alone autism, ADHD, psychiatric or educational-psychology diagnosis. Diagnostic questions may be referred or signposted to an appropriately qualified service.
Active bullying or unsafe school conditions
A school must investigate and respond to active bullying and safeguarding concerns through its procedures. Psychotherapy can support the emotional impact and recovery of trust, but it cannot make an unsafe environment safe on its own.
Eating disorders, psychosis, substance-related risk or severe deterioration
These presentations may require specialist multidisciplinary assessment and treatment. The appropriate NHS, medical or specialist service should lead, particularly where there is physical risk, rapid deterioration, severe restriction, altered mental state or inability to maintain safety.
Forensic, court and statutory reporting work
Court reports, custody or contact recommendations, expert-witness work, medico-legal assessment and forensic opinion are outside the service I offer. Any request for records or professional information is handled within legal, ethical and contractual limits.
Frequently asked questions
Call 999 or go to A&E. For urgent mental-health help without immediate danger, call NHS 111 and select the mental health option or request an urgent GP appointment.
No. Risk-led care requires coordinated statutory and multi-agency responsibility.
No. Diagnostic questions may be referred to an appropriately qualified service.
Evidence and urgent-help references
Written and clinically reviewed by Sagal Hassan, ACP-registered Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist. Last reviewed 31 August 2026.