CATS Referral Process

Getting started with CATS is simple, and we’ll guide you through each step with care.

1. Send Us Your Referral

Fill out the referral form (If you’re choosing our Time-Limited Therapy programme (12 sessions, Pay-What-You-Can), please note that the next cycle begins in January.)

2. Complete a Short Triage Form (Newly added and not actively rolled out yet)

After you submit your referral, we’ll send you a brief triage form.

This is something we will ask everyone to complete.

It helps us understand what you’re looking for, check that therapy at CATS is a safe and suitable option for your circumstances right now, and match you with the right therapist.

Please check your Junk Folder in case our email lands there.

3. We Match You With a Therapist

Once we’ve reviewed your triage form (usually within 1–2 working days), we’ll contact you with the therapist(s) who best match your availability, preferences, and needs.

If you already know who you’d like to work with, just let us know in your referral.

4. Free Initial Consultation

Your chosen therapist will then offer a free initial consultation — either in person at CATS or by phone.
This is a chance for you to:

• meet your therapist

• share what brings you to therapy

• ask any questions

• get a feel for whether it’s the right fit

You’ll also exchange contact details and discuss practicalities.

5. Starting Therapy

If the initial consultation feels right for you, you and your therapist will arrange your first session together. If it doesn’t feel like the right fit, that’s completely okay. Simply get in touch with CATS, we will help you find another therapist from our team who feels better suited to you.

6. Waiting Times

Waiting times vary depending on therapist availability.

We’ll let you know about any waiting times when we schedule your consultation.

Because we’re a small organisation, and many of our therapists are newly qualified or establishing their private practice, there may be times when the support we can offer isn’t the right fit for what you need. If that happens, we’ll be transparent and help you find care that holds you well, rather than keeping you in a space that doesn’t meet you fully.