NHS Tameside and Glossop Talking Therapies - Ashton-under-Lyne

Mark C.

Outrageous unprofessional behaviour. I was taken through a traumatic childhood event only for the individual to go on holiday for the next two weeks. I ceased treatment after this.

M. J.

Rather than relying on a single therapist who is handed to you on a plate after you've waited years, I think many patients are better off doing some kind of self-therapy. It depends on what you're wanting therapy for... If you're a victim of violent crime (for example) and you've experienced something that has resulted in you losing ownership of your own body (like I have), you are likely better off doing something on your own that is known for treating PTSD, such as Qigong. This method is thousands of years old and is known internationally for treating symptoms of many medical conditions. I have very little faith in most therapists because for quite a lot of them, it is just a job, and although they might have studied trauma and been trained in how to carry out CBT therapy etc, how many of these therapists have been brutally traumatised themselves? Maybe 1% of them, maybe 2% of them? The therapist I was given couldn't handle the trauma I'd had so decided to side with my attacker. How disgusting is this? I had no choice but to run away from this awful senior female therapist because if I'd have carried on with her, I could have easily self-harmed or done worse. Thinking back on the behaviour and attitude of this therapist, she'd decided in her mind (in the moment while with me) that she could not handle this trauma I'd experienced, and she did not wish to know the details. It was too much for her, so siding with my attacker and assaulting my mental health was what she chose to do. She could have been honest and simply recommended another therapist to me (because by this point I'd reached the top of the list), but she chose to keep this option, unbeknown to me, quiet. So I obviously then ran away and suffered with chronic PTSD (for another 5 years before an empathetic and supportive therapist appeared). This therapist re-traumatised me and made me feel even more worthless. Sometimes the NHS only makes us more ill, especially when it comes to mental health, and unless you land really lucky with a one-off amazing therapist, it tends to be a "process of dismissal". Given everything I've learned in the last few years, I firmly believe that many patients can find ways of gradually healing on their own. Hemispheric exercises can also be really good. There are gentle and effective therapists out there, but they are rare I'm afraid. For victims of crimes, it's also worth finding info on the attacker's perspective because they have repulsive lives even in the beginning simply because they want to abuse, and after they've abused they somehow become rotten on the inside. They encourage something horrendous to happen to them in my opinion. These abusers are the worthless ones, not the people they chose to attack. I hope this is useful for some of you.

Gemma O.

I have just completed therapy with Sophie. The whole process with healthy minds was so good. Right from the self referral online to a telephone assessment and then my therapy. This has truly been life changing for me and I can't thank Sophie enough. Amazing service! I highly recommend for anyone who is struggling with their mental health! Everyone I have had contact with has been empathetic, kind and so helpful.

Adam C.

Have been looking at getting counselling for sometime and finally decided to give this a try.

Unfortunately I was struggling to find time around my work hours to fit a lot of my sessions in and my requests were causing friction at work. One day I managed to finish early so i could have one of my CBT sessions. I got home and the phone rang for one second (private number) before going off. I waited 5 / 10 minutes for a follow up call which never came so I rang up the reception who said id missed the appointment and it was now too late for the appointment to go ahead (not my fault).

I was then back to struggling to fit appointments in. They emailed me with a potential appointment time which I immediately emailed back to say I was unavailable for (I was busy that day) I later emailed a list of days I was free and also informed them I had got a sick note for work due to my mental health for 3 weeks, believing I could now fit my appointments in a lot better during this time.

However apparently my appointment they had booked for me, never got officially cancelled, even though I had emailed telling them I was unavailable. I then received a letter telling me i was referred back to my gp for missing 2 appointments (neither of which were my fault).

As soon as i read this letter (over a week ago) I rang the reception and explained my situation, they said they pass it onto my counceller and have them give me a call. Which I am yet to receive.

I have found the whole situation dealing with Healthy Minds very unprofessional and when dealing with people who are in potential delicate frames of mind I would NOT advise using healthy minds Tameside! As the stress and anxiety caused by this has actually worsened my state of mind rather than helping it.

I hope that I am a one of case and the majority of their clientele get treated with a lot more care and attention than myself but who knows.

Carla M. G.

My GP referred me on 28/2/2023. Over a year.
I did spot a ball of tumbleweed gently bumbling by their premises last time I passed, but I don't want to make assumptions. In conclusion: why are you so useless?

Stu H.

Always found staff helpful and understanding, yes I had to wait up to 11 months for some sessions but that is the state of the whole of the NHS and funding. Had multiple sessions with different staff and all were professional, understanding and knowledgeable. Would highly recommend!

Gally J.

Waited a long time after being on some sort of rollercoaster to just be given word I'd actually get therapy. Then the therapist I was given turned out to be opposite of sensitive.. was dismissive of the trauma I had, and made clear they weren't willing to help me.... selfish and arrogant isn't how a therapist should be. I never went back

Matt D.

I'm one session in and it's helped me enormously. Yes there are waiting times but you can't expect therapy to be instant, they are really there to help and with the current funding and support they're doing the absolute the most they can do. It's a thankless job some times but they're literally saving lives, they saved mine, thank you.