Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Talk Thru for?
Talk Thru currently supports young people aged 13–18 experiencing emotional or psychological distress following a distressing experience of stop and search or policing.
Does the young person need a diagnosis?
No. A formal mental health diagnosis is not required. We are interested in how the experience has affected the young person and whether therapeutic support could help.
Is the service free?
Yes. Our service is provided free of charge to eligible young people.
What does therapy involve?
Therapy may include CBT and trauma-informed approaches, helping young people understand their responses, process difficult experiences and develop practical coping strategies.
How many sessions will they receive?
Young people will usually receive an initial assessment followed by up to 6–8 sessions, depending on their individual needs and clinical suitability.
Who can make a referral?
Referrals can be made by parents/carers, young people themselves and professionals, including schools, youth workers, CAMHS, Youth Justice, social care, GPs and community organisations.
Does the young person's parent need to refer them?
No. A parent/carer can make a referral, but professionals and young people can also contact Talk Thru.
Is the service confidential?
Therapy is confidential, but confidentiality has limits where there is a safeguarding concern or serious risk of harm. We will explain these boundaries to young people at the beginning of support.
Will you contact the police?
Not as part of routine therapy. Talk Thru is an independent therapeutic service and does not investigate or make decisions about individual stop-and-search incidents.
Information may need to be shared with appropriate professionals where there is a safeguarding or serious safety concern.
Can Talk Thru help with a police complaint?
Talk Thru does not provide legal advice or represent young people in police complaints. Where appropriate, we can signpost young people and families to organisations that provide advocacy or legal support.
Can a young person access Talk Thru alongside another service?
Potentially, yes. We will consider whether Talk Thru is appropriate alongside existing support and, where necessary, work with other professionals to ensure support is coordinated safely.
What if the young person is in crisis?
Talk Thru is not an emergency or crisis service. If there is an immediate risk of serious harm, call 999 or attend A&E. For urgent mental health support, contact NHS 111 and select the mental health option.