About Our Teams

What are the different roles within Norfolk and Waveney Talking Therapies?

You might come into contact with, any or all of the different teams we have in Norfolk and Waveney Talking Therapies depending on your needs. The main roles are listed below. Scroll down for more information about each role:

  • CBT Therapist
  • Counsellor
  • Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP)
  • Employment Advisor (EA)

CBT Therapist

CBT therapists are sometimes called 'High Intensity' CBT therapists, or 'Step 3' Therapists. This means that they provide evidence-based and NICE recommended psychological therapies in line with the NHS Stepped Care Model. They have usually completed an intense period of training, are accredited professionals, and are often registered with the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP). They receive regular clinical supervision from senior colleagues and regular reflective practice sessions.

Counsellor

Counsellors are also considered 'Step 3' clinicians. They have also completed training and continuous professional development to deliver NICE recommended therapies. They are usually registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). They provide a range of brief psychological interventions, including Person-centred Counselling, Counselling for Depression, and Inter-Personal Therapy.

Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PWPs)

Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners are sometimes referred to as 'Step 2' clinicians in NHS Talking Therapies services. This means they provide psychological therapies in line with the NHS Stepped Care Model at Step 2. This video best explains the role of PWPs. They are similarly highly trained and clinically supervised as are all of our clinicians. They provide high-volume, low-intensity psychological self-management interventions.

Employment Advisers (EAs)

Our Employment Advisers are here to support anybody who is currently referred into the Norfolk and Waveney Talking Therapies, by providing advice, motivation, and guidance regarding employment. The support is here to compliment your recovery by providing additional practical support to reach your own personal goals around finding, returning or remaining in employment. This can be accessed before, during, or after the support you have received from your Therapist.

 

Access and Inclusion Team

Our Access and Inclusion Team works across Norfolk and Waveney to ensure local Talking Therapies services are equitable, accessible and shaped by the diverse communities we serve. Our Access and Inclusion Specialists are based within North, West, South, East and the city, working directly with communities, organisations and stakeholders to understand the barriers people face when seeking mental health support.

We focus on listening to and learning from groups who are often underrepresented in services, including ethnic minority communities, LGBTQIA+ people, perinatal individuals, younger and older people, those living with long-term health conditions, and people experiencing economic hardship. By gathering insights around trust, cultural sensitivities, past experiences and community needs, we feed this learning back into the NHS. Our aim is to help develop services that safe, relevant and genuinely accessible for everyone across Norfolk and Waveney - especially those who may not always feel heard.