Towards: Behind the scenes at forward-thinking new mental health service in Leeds with expert therapist

Towards, which has just opened its first hub in the city centre, is a pioneering new provider that’s aiming to deliver accessible, high-quality therapy on the high street.

Inside the welcoming and carefully designed space on Albion Place, visitors will find lead therapist Sally Charles who is heading up the growing team of experienced mental health workers.

On any given day, she might be leading a therapy session, supporting a trainee, designing new courses, or fine-tuning how the team works together.

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It’s a role that draws on her experience in the NHS, while giving her the chance to do things differently. Having worked in CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) across Yorkshire, she’s seen first-hand the impact of long waiting lists.

“I don’t like that people have to wait a long time to access support,” she said. “It means that issues can become much more complex, complicated and harder to address. That can be really distressing for a person to live with.

“It also means that patients can’t easily get to the root of the problem or receive the amount of support they need in the typical number of sessions, which is usually six.”

By contrast to traditional services, Towards offers clients the option to receive as many sessions as they feel they need - something that Sally described as crucial when it comes to treating more complex conditions.

Working with children and young people remains a major part of Sally’s role at Towards. She explained that many of the young clients she sees are struggling with anxiety, low mood, or the effects of trauma - and that early intervention can make a huge difference.

“We want young people to know that support is out there for them,” she said. “When you can step in early, it can help stop issues from becoming entrenched and impacting their education, relationships, and long-term wellbeing.”

Towards offers therapy for young people in a welcoming and non-clinical environment, something Sally believes helps break down barriers to seeking help. She said: “We make it clear that our hub is a safe and friendly space.”

And it’s not just the clients who benefit from the new approach. For Sally and her fellow therapists, the supportive environment is what makes the job feel sustainable - and even joyful.

“In the NHS, there is a lot of burn-out among therapists,” she said. “But here, it feels like we’re at the start of something new. The team is so inclusive, which makes it exciting to be a part of.”

The rhythm of the working day has been carefully considered. Towards ensures that no therapist sees more than six clients per day - a limit that gives them time to properly prepare, reflect, and recharge.

Sally continued: “If clients consent to having their sessions recorded, we have the technology to immediately transcribe our sessions - so the notes are ready to review straight away. That gives us the time to start planning our next sessions and focusing more on our clients.”

The transcripts play a key role in quality assurance. Every session can be reviewed, with client consent, to ensure that the therapy being delivered meets the highest professional standards.

“This means that all of our work is quality assured,” said Sally. “It gives us the opportunity to reflect on sessions, share learning as a team, and make sure we’re consistently delivering the best possible support to every client.”

Towards was founded by leading figures in the mental health sector who believe the current system is failing to meet the needs of many people. Its Chief Clinical Officer Sarah Bateup was the first researcher to access verbatim transcripts from 1,000 psychological therapists. Her investigation revealed that a third of the therapists were not fit for purpose.

As a result of that research, Towards has focused on recruiting and training people with innate therapeutic qualities - empathy, calmness, and the ability to reflect - through a practice-based programme in partnership with the University of Exeter.

The new hub on Albion Place, the organisation’s first, is set across three floors and has been designed to feel warm, modern, and discreet. Inside, the team includes a mix of experienced professionals, including therapists specialising in children and young people, adults, and niche clinical areas.

Sally added: “We want everyone to have a really good understanding of what Towards can offer. People often live with conditions that they don’t have to put up with - and they don’t realise they can get help for them.

“For a therapist, it’s a bit of a dream to be working here. It’s about being the best therapists that we can.”

Towards is now open at 12A Albion Place, Leeds, LS1 6JS. Therapy is available both in-person and online, with the team aiming to keep services as affordable and accessible as possible. Sessions can now be booked directly via the Towards website or through the free Towards app, making it even easier for people to access the support they need. For more information, visit www.wearetowards.com