Brief intervention talking therapy — Canterbury Ratonga Whakamāherehere Takawaenga Poto
Talking therapy can help you with low mood, anxiety and other mental health issues. It can also help with alcohol or substance abuse. You may be eligible for funded therapy. The service is available in Christchurch and in rural Canterbury.
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Services we provide
Brief intervention talking therapy is for people who need short-term support with their mental wellbeing.
A brief intervention talking therapist (BIS therapist) can:
- assess your needs
- provide talking therapy
- give you advice.
They can also refer you to other agencies once your sessions with them have finished.
BIS therapists
BIS therapists are registered mental health professionals with specialist training in talking therapy.
BIS therapists can usually see you either:
- in the community
- at your general practice.
You may have to wait a few weeks before a BIS therapist can see you.
If you need more urgent help, you can call the urgent mental health service for Canterbury on 0800 920 092 (24 hours, 7 days)
Referral information
There is no charge for this service, but you will need a referral from your doctor or practice nurse.
If you meet the criteria, you can receive up to 5 funded therapy sessions with a BIS therapist in your area.
To see if you qualify for the funded sessions, your healthcare provider may ask you to fill in a short questionnaire. They will then use this to work out a score.
Your score might be lower than the level needed for a referral to a BIS therapist. If so, your healthcare provider will recommend other options for counselling. They will also suggest community providers that may be able to offer support.
Brief intervention talking therapy providers
Waitaha Primary Healthexternal link
Christchurch Primary Health Organisation (CPHO)external link