Who is this service for?
We offer an outpatient service for people suffering from severe psychological disorders.
These services are delivered within the Fitzjohn’s Unit.
Many of our patients have had a history of severe emotional problems in childhood, including physical and psychological ill-treatment, disorganised parenting and broken homes. Many have had admissions to hospital whilst others have managed to keep their serious difficulties hidden.
Some may be expressing their difficulties in maladaptive ways: severe symptoms, self-destructive or suicidal acts, disrupted, disorganised and unfulfilled lives.
We see individuals who have a mental illness or disorder with a diagnosis such as:
- personality disorder (including borderline personality disorder)
- mood disorders (including bipolar disorder)
- patients who have had psychotic episodes, eating disorders and certain psychosomatic disorders
Kinds of treatment offered
The complex needs of the patient group means that this service offers longer term, more intense therapy than more general services.
The main treatment programme consists of individual psychotherapy (usually twice weekly) for two years, followed by group psychotherapy, although this is tailored to the needs of the individual patient.
Regular reviews of each patient's assessment and therapy are an integral part of the programme.
How to access these services
It is necessary to be referred by a GP, consultant psychiatrist or other senior professional who may refer directly to any of the unit's senior clinicians.
It is usually necessary for us to receive special agreement from the relevant health authority for assessment and treatment by the Fitzjohn's Unit. Our team will be happy to discuss a possible referral with you. Please call 020 8938 2209 for more information.
