Attending your appointments

Change can feel scary, and it's not uncommon for people to feel unsure or anxious about trying new things. This can include attending your appointments with CAMHS. 

We encourage you to attend the sessions and give things a try, even if they feel difficult at first. Remember, you've already taken a big step by asking for help. 

If you have any questions, are worried about or struggling to attend your CAMHS  appointments, please speak to your clinician, a trusted adult, or look at the resources on our website. We’re here to help you find the support that’s right for you. 

At CAMHS we agree goals together and think about who can help.  We check in regularly to see how things are going. You will know clearly when CAMHS support begins. You will also have a plan that explains how you and your clinician will work together.

Requesting reasonable adjustments  

We encourage you or your parents and carers to talk to your clinician about adjustments you may need. We will make adaptations to support you to engage with the therapy we offer. Below are some examples of adjustments you could ask for:  

• Information to be shared in different formats or languages

• Breaks during the session so that you can move around 

• Using fidget toys and turning off bright lights  

• Using visuals or writing down your thoughts  

Not feeling ready for CAMHS? 

Sometimes you might not feel it is the right time to get support from CAMHS. That’s okay. There are lots of reasons this can happen, like things going on at home or school, or just not feeling up to it right now. 

If you’re not ready, we’ll talk with you and see if there’s anything we can do to help. We might suggest other types of support or encourage you to take a break and come back to CAMHS when you feel more ready.  

What happens if I stop coming to my CAMHS appointments?  

If you stop coming to your sessions and we don’t hear from you, we’ll try to get in touch to check you’re okay. If we can’t reach you after trying a few times, we may need to close your CAMHS support for now and will let your GP and person who referred you know. If we are worried about your safety, we may speak to other people who help you, like your GP or school.

We are here when you’re ready, if you need support again, you can be referred back to CAMHS.

Endings

During your time with us, we will talk about what you are learning and how you are getting on with practising your new skills. When it is time to end, we will agree a simple plan and who will help you keep going, like a parent/carer or school. We will tell you and your parent or carer how to get help again if you need it.