No. Many people contact Evolving Families because they know something feels difficult, but they are not sure whether therapy, assessment, consultation, training or another route would be most helpful.

You do not need to work this out alone. We can talk through your situation and help you think about the most appropriate next step.

Yes. We offer a free initial consultation so that you can tell us briefly what you are looking for and ask initial questions.

This helps us consider whether Evolving Families is likely to be the right service, which pathway may be most suitable, and which clinician or team member may be best placed to help.

Yes. Self-referrals are welcome.

Adults can contact us directly for themselves. Parents and carers can contact us about support for a child or young person.

We also accept enquiries from schools, local authorities, fostering agencies, residential services, solicitors, insurers and other professionals.

Appointments are available from our clinic in Sutton Coldfield.

Some appointments may also be available online where clinically appropriate. This depends on the type of support, the person’s age, the referral question and the clinician involved.

Yes. Evolving Families is based in Sutton Coldfield, but some services can be accessed online where clinically appropriate.

For assessments, therapy or consultation that requires in-person work, we will discuss what is clinically necessary and whether travel or liaison with other settings is required.

At Evolving Families, we have a multidisciplinary team of professionals with different qualifications, training and areas of expertise. Although there is some overlap in the work they undertake, each profession brings different knowledge and skills.

Clinical Psychologists

Clinical Psychologists undertake extensive training in understanding, assessing and supporting psychological difficulties across the lifespan. In the UK, they typically complete doctoral-level professional training and must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

They are trained in psychological assessment, formulation and a range of therapeutic approaches. They may support people with complex emotional, behavioural, developmental or psychological needs. Some also have additional specialist training in areas such as autism, ADHD or neuropsychological assessment.

Clinical and Forensic Psychologists

These are psychologists with specialist qualifications in clinical and forensic psychology. Alongside psychological assessment and therapy, forensic psychology brings expertise in understanding behaviour, risk and psychological needs within legal, safeguarding and forensic contexts.

Psychotherapists and Psychological Therapists

Psychotherapists are trained to help people explore and understand emotional difficulties, patterns of thinking, behaviour, relationships and life experiences.

They may specialise in particular therapeutic approaches, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, integrative therapy or other models.

CBT Therapists

Cognitive Behavioural Therapists specialise in CBT, a structured psychological therapy that explores relationships between thoughts, feelings and behaviours. CBT is commonly used to support difficulties such as anxiety, depression and other mental health concerns.

Counsellors

Counsellors provide a supportive and confidential therapeutic space to explore feelings, experiences and difficulties. They may help with anxiety, low mood, grief, relationships, life changes and other emotional challenges.

Counselling and psychotherapy can overlap considerably, and both may involve short-term or longer-term work.

Play Therapists

Play Therapists have specialist training in using play and creative approaches to support children's emotional and psychological wellbeing. This can be particularly helpful for children who find it difficult to express their thoughts and feelings through conversation alone.

Nurse Therapists

Nurse Therapists bring together professional nursing knowledge and additional therapeutic training. Depending on their qualifications and experience, they may offer psychological interventions and support for emotional and mental health difficulties.

Occupational Therapists (OTs)

Occupational Therapists focus on helping people participate in everyday activities and develop practical skills. Their work may include sensory processing, daily routines, independence, functional abilities and environmental adjustments.

Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs)

Speech and Language Therapists assess and support speech, language and communication needs. This may include understanding and expressing language, social communication, functional communication and developing strategies to support communication in everyday situations.

You do not need to decide this on your own.

Our team can help you identify the most appropriate clinician based on your needs, the difficulties you would like support with, and the type of assessment or therapy you are seeking.

We consider each clinician's qualifications, specialist experience, therapeutic approach and suitability for the work required.

You can also explore individual qualifications, professional registrations, experience and areas of expertise on our Meet the Team page.

If you are unsure where to start, please contact us and we can help you explore the available options.

At Evolving Families, we are committed to maintaining high professional standards. Our clinicians have different qualifications, training and professional backgrounds, and the registration requirements vary depending on their profession.

Certain healthcare professions are regulated by law, meaning practitioners must be registered with the appropriate regulatory body to use their professional title.

For example:

• Clinical and Forensic Psychologists, Occupational Therapists and Speech and Language Therapists must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

• Registered Nurses must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

Other professions, such as counsellors, psychotherapists, CBT therapists and play therapists, are not currently subject to statutory professional registration in the same way. However, practitioners may hold registration or accreditation with recognised professional organisations, including:

• British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)

• UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)

• British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP)

• Play Therapy UK (PTUK)

These organisations maintain professional standards relating to training, ethical practice and continuing professional development. Registration and accreditation requirements vary between organisations.

Our team also includes professionals undertaking further training and development, such as Assistant Psychologists and trainee therapists. Where appropriate, their work is undertaken with supervision from suitably qualified professionals.

You can find information about our clinicians' qualifications, experience and professional registrations on their individual profiles within ourMeet the Team page.

Where applicable, professional registration can also be checked directly through the relevant regulatory body or professional register.

If you have any questions about a clinician's qualifications, registration or suitability for your needs, please contact our team. We will be happy to explain their professional background and the services they are qualified to provide.

Yes. Evolving Families holds appropriate professional and business insurance.

Individual clinicians are also expected to practise within the requirements of their profession, role and registration. The HCPC states that registrants must have an appropriate professional indemnity arrangement in place as a requirement of registration.

This depends on the reason for your enquiry, your availability, the type of support needed and clinician capacity.

We aim to match people with a clinician who has appropriate experience for the referral question. For some assessments, more than one clinician may be involved as part of a multidisciplinary process.

Where we are not the right service, we will aim to say this clearly and, where possible, suggest a more appropriate route.

This may include NHS services, crisis services, specialist services, medication services, educational services, social care, legal advice, or another professional pathway.

Yes, therapy is confidential, but there are important limits.

If there are concerns about risk, safeguarding, harm to self or others, or legal or professional responsibilities, information may need to be shared with appropriate people or services. Your clinician will explain confidentiality clearly at the start of the work.

We do not routinely contact your GP without your consent, unless there is a safeguarding, risk or legal reason to do so.

There may be times when contacting your GP is clinically helpful, for example where there are risk concerns, medication issues, or a need for joined-up care. We would usually discuss this with you first.

If there are concerns that a child, young person, vulnerable adult or another person may be at risk of harm, we may need to share information with appropriate people or services.

This will be handled carefully and in line with safeguarding responsibilities.

No. Evolving Families is not an emergency or crisis service.

Need urgent help? Evolving Families is not an emergency or crisis service, and messages are not monitored continuously. If someone’s life is at risk or you cannot keep yourself or someone else safe, call 999 or go to A&E. For urgent mental health support in England, call NHS 111 and select the mental health option. Please do not wait for a response from us.