These services are delivered at the Portman Clinic.
Who is this service for?
This service is for people who cause harm to themselves or others through acting on their sexual impulses.
Celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2008, the Portman Clinic has a long history of experience and expertise in the effective assessment and treatment of people who suffer with problems arising from delinquent, criminal or violent behaviour or from disturbing and damaging sexual behaviour or experiences.
Kind of treatment offered
We are committed to providing services for individuals who may be excluded or rejected by other services because of their past or present behaviour. It is part of our approach to think about these, and all other aspects of people’s lives, in a respectful and sensitive way.
The Portman Clinic offers a highly specialised long-term psychotherapy service to adults as well as to adolescents and children. Following a careful assessment, the patient may be offered individual or group psychotherapy as appropriate. On some occasions couple or family psychotherapy may be offered.
On being offered a regular treatment vacancy, the patient may be seen individually. Appointments are usually once a week, although this can vary depending on need but also on the availability of treatment vacancies. Alternatively, patients may be seen in carefully selected, heterogeneous groups, problem-specific groups or more generic groups. This is very important as some patients may find it difficult to engage with treatment if they have to sit in group therapy with other patients who do not share their problems due to the complex nature of their difficulties. Group therapy sessions are weekly and it is recommended that patients are able to commit to a minimum of two years.
How to access this service
We take referrals from all over the UK. Many of our patients are referred by their GP or following contact with a psychiatrist, probation officer, social worker, psychologist or other professional, for example, from within the criminal justice system.
Patients who live in London can self-refer to our service, although we would normally require details of the GP in order to arrange NHS funding. The sensitive nature of the difficulties they are dealing with means patients may find it very difficult to talk to their GP, even if they are desperate for help. The possibility of self-referral means patients can access the help they need directly.
For more information or to discuss a possible referral please call the Portman Clinic on 020 8938 2600.
