What is 1:1 emotional support?
Our Recovery Practitioners support people in Devon experiencing a variety of mental health difficulties. They aim to help you develop skills and strategies that will enable you to work towards improving your wellbeing and recovery.
Adopting a trauma-sensitive approach, Recovery Practitioners can support you in developing a goal that you wish to work towards. The support provided aims to empower people to start to feel in a more positive place to manage things day-to-day, no matter how small this may be.
Some people may be interested in accessing activities run by other organisations, but feel daunted by the idea of attending these — Recovery Practitioners can also use some of the sessions to help explore what steps people can take to enable them to participate fully in activities that they feel would have a positive impact on their mental health.
What we do offer:
Support to develop skills and strategies to enable you to work towards improving your emotional wellbeing
Tailored, person-centred, strength-based 1:1 support
Short-term support — up to 5 sessions scheduled weekly or fortnightly (including the initial assessment session)
Wellbeing activities to help promote physical and mental wellbeing whilst building community connections
Support with recognising and managing emotions that can include struggling with anxiety, anger, shame, and guilt
Support around isolation and avoidance behaviours
Support with developing confidence and building resilience
Support to develop self-help strategies by identifying possible triggers and using tools including CBT strategies, DBT skill techniques, wellness recovery action plans, and grounding and mindfulness techniques
Support recognising the importance of self-care and compassion
Support with linking into local community activities and services
Collaborate with other services that may be supporting you to try and ensure that support is coordinated and meeting your needs
Testimonials:
What we don’t offer:
Immediate crisis support/response — If you are in need of urgent help, please refer to our Urgent Help page
Support with medical diagnosis — We are not able to provide a diagnosis for a mental health or other condition
Information and advice relating to medication
Acute therapy sessions
Long-term support (our support offer is up to 5 sessions)
“I felt like I was in a place in my life where I was stuck in my anxiety and grief, but this support felt so personal, and life has finally become colourful again.” — Sara, May 2025
“My Recovery Practitioner managed to make me understand how my brain works personally and that it wasn’t my fault. It was the first time in my life that I felt enlightened and able to understand my brain. It has been life-changing for me, as nothing has ever worked for me before. I’ve never felt that I can be as open before as I felt with [my RP]. The coping mechanisms have been life-changing, and when I can implement them, they really help. Thank you!” — Anonymous, June 2025
“My Recovery Practitioner is an excellent therapist and person! She is very supportive, kind, understanding, informative, gentle, full of empathy, and just a very lovely person. I’ve seen a lot of therapists in my life. [My RP] is the best person I’ve ever had the privilege to meet.” — Zoe, August 2025
“My Recovery Practitioner did an excellent job in the support she provided me. I don’t feel that she could have done anymore; it is now up to me. I still have a lot of work ahead, but I ended the sessions with some extra tools and understanding a bit more in-depth of some of my issues.” — Anonymous, September 2025
“My Recovery Practitioner was very well informed on trauma, neurodivergence and neuroscience. She has helped me to understand my brain better and understand why my brain reacts and acts in certain ways. She has helped me see different pathways to start to self-regulate.” — Anonymous, October 2025
“Excellent support, empathy, and understanding of my needs to move forward. Great to have someone to listen to me and be able to signpost me to the correct support and be a great advocate for me and my needs.” — Jo, May 2025
“[My RP] cared, and I am thankful for her support. I do not feel like I am in crisis at present… She did not make me feel like I was on a conveyor belt; I felt this was personalised. She helped me and opened my eyes to things I could do. Thank you.” — Mark, January 2025
“I have been to different services and didn’t find them helpful. My Recovery Practitioner was amazing; she listened to me and guided me to a different direction, and took the time to see how she could help… I am about to start a Saturday job after not wanting to work for so long. I never realised there was so much out there and that is all down to [my RP]. I also feel empowered to make my own decisions without relying on family.” — Amanda, June 2025
“I would thoroughly recommend a Recovery Practitioner. I found mine invaluable in so many ways. They helped me to plan goals, access services, negotiate things that felt too overwhelming and were a listening ear when I really needed someone.” —Anonymous, September 2025
“My Recovery Practitioner first came to me when I was really unwell. Her understanding, care, and compassion has had a huge impact to my life and allowed me to recover and heal. She gave me the support I desperately needed to live my life in its new reality.” — Alison, October 2025
“I found that because it was so easy to open up, my Recovery Practitioner was able to find ways to support me. She always checked in with me and was so positive. [My RP] also took an interest in not just my autism but my life and me as a person. Thank you so much for everything. I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me and helped me achieve. It’s been great working with you, and thank you for seeing me as a person and not a statistic. It means a lot.” — Amelia, October 2025
“My experience with Devon Mind Recovery Practitioners has changed my outlook on life and improved not just my own wellbeing but that of the people around me, providing strategies for me to manage daily life struggles.” —Anonymous, August 2025
Images are for illustrative purposes only — they do not represent actual Devon Mind clients
How our support process works:
The first step to accessing our 1:1 emotional support is to fill out the registration form below. This will give our team of Recovery Practitioners the important information they need to prepare for an initial triage discussion with you to explore your current support needs.
Once we have received your registration form, one of our Recovery Practitioners will take a look at your details and schedule an initial triage phone call with you to explore the options available to you. We aim to make this initial call as soon as possible, within 4-8 weeks of receiving your registration form.
If our Recovery Practitioner cannot reach you, they will endeavour to leave a voice message to advise that they have called, and for you to contact the office. We will also send an email to you advising you to call us. Please note: If we do not hear back from you within 10 working days of the initial call being made, we will look to close your registration, as it will be assumed that you no longer wish to pursue our support at this time.
The initial triage phone call will last approximately 10 minutes, during which one of our Recovery Practitioners will discuss your support needs with you — this might include chatting about what you’re currently experiencing and how you’re feeling, what support you might’ve had in the past, what support you currently have, and any extra information that could be important to them.
The Recovery Practitioner you speak to will then advise you what they think the best course of action is to help you with your mental health needs. This may be one of Devon Mind’s own services, or they might connect you with another organisation or one of our trusted partners, depending on your current needs.
If it is agreed that our 1:1 emotional support is the most appropriate option, you will be allocated to a Recovery Practitioner. We will endeavour to allocate a Recovery Practitioner to you within 3—4 weeks from the initial triage call. Please note: During some periods, this may take slightly longer, however, we will try to inform you if this is the case. (currently up to a 12-week wait from triage call)
Whilst you are waiting to be allocated a Recovery Practitioner you will receive an email containing our Working Agreement. This outlines the support you can expect from your Recovery Practitioner and what is expected from you. Please read through this if you can and your Recovery Practitioner will be able to answer any questions you may have once allocated.
Once a Recovery Practitioner has been allocated, they will arrange an initial meeting to look at your support needs in more detail and put together a tailored plan of support with you.
Register for support
Please complete the form below to enquire about support. All information is stored securely and not shared with any third parties. By submitting the form, you agree to the terms of our Privacy Policy. If you need the form in another format, please contact us.
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