THE BRIDGE

It is no secret that NHS mental health services are struggling to meet demand. Limited funding and long waiting lists leave many without support for months or even years, and access is often limited to specific, short-term modalities such as CBT. Many people find these approaches do not fully address their needs, particularly those with complex trauma, neurodivergence, or those within marginalised communities. The result is a system where many people fall through the cracks and have nowhere to turn to.​ The cultural expectation is that those in caring professions will go above and beyond for those in need. So the responsibility of making services accessible frequently falls on individual therapists, who are expected to absorb the emotional, financial, and logistical strain of a broken system. Whilst we do this as much as possible from a place of care and commitment to helping others, it is not a sustainable solution. It leads to burnout, devaluation of therapeutic work, and ultimately, fewer therapists able to continue offering support. We believe that true accessibility should not come at the expense of therapists’ wellbeing or professional value. Everyone needs a more sustainable approach, and this involves collective support to enable those who need therapy to access it without undervaluing the people that make it possible.​ At Alinea Therapies, we will always offer as many sessions as we can at a reduced cost and provide discounts wherever possible. If you would like to help bridge the gap, this is a simple, pay-it-forward initiative where anyone can contribute as much and as often as they'd like, and we promise to match your donation.