Enquiries from under-18s or people in crisis

Guidance for Therapy Circle members. It is general guidance, not a replacement for your own professional body’s code, your safeguarding training or your supervisor. Follow your own profession’s standards first.

If an enquiry seems to come from someone under 18

• Introductions on Therapy Circle are for adults. Enquirers confirm they are 18 or over, but someone younger may still get through.
• Reply kindly and briefly. Do not ask for more personal detail than you need, and do not arrange sessions directly with a child without the consent and involvement that your profession and the law require.
• Point them to services built for young people: Childline (0800 1111, free, 24 hours), Shout (text 85258), The Mix (for under-25s), their school or college, or their family doctor. They can also ask a parent or carer to get in touch.
• If anything suggests the young person is at risk of harm, follow your safeguarding duties. Contact the local authority children’s services, or the police on 999 if a child is in immediate danger.

If someone seems to be in crisis

• Therapy Circle is not a crisis service, and messages may not be read quickly. Reply as soon as you reasonably can.
• If someone says they are at immediate risk, tell them to call 999 or go to an emergency department now.
• For urgent help that is not an emergency: NHS 111 (option 2 for mental health in England), Samaritans free on 116 123 (24 hours), or Shout by text on 85258.
• Do not try to give crisis care by message. Keep a brief note of what you did, and talk it through with your supervisor.

Telling us

If an enquiry looks like fraud, abuse, or a risk to a child or vulnerable adult, please tell us through the contact form or the Report link in Messages. We follow a written report-handling procedure and pass serious concerns to the right authority.