Speek Health is a digital service that helps families overcome adolescent self-harm, so your young person develops healthy coping mechanisms.

We wanted as many families as possible to have access to specialist adolescent mental health support. The kind that fits their lifestyle, circumstances and need for help. So we created flexible programmes using proven DBT-A interventions, where both young people and parents can be seen and understood, break the cycles of unhealthy coping mechanisms like self-harm, and rebuild that resilience and self-esteem.

During our 16-week programme, your child and you work with trained specialist clinical psychologists who offer evidence-based DBT-A therapeutic interventions. Between your sessions, you’ll receive personalised digital support through our platform with psycho-educational content, chat support and peer community access focused on your specific needs and recovery goals. The sessions with your dedicated clinical team help you integrate what you’ve learned into everyday life.

We wanted Speek Health to meet the most rigorous standards of scientific evidence and clinical effectiveness. Research has shown that psycho-educational content combined with continuous digital support can accelerate the progress young people make in therapy session by giving them the skills they need and safe spaces to practice them (diary cards, crisis planning, family communication tools). Our partnership with UCL ensures every intervention is grounded in proven clinical science.

Speek employs a clinically integrated approach in its work, combining several evidence-based psychological frameworks to support clients in a flexible and tailored manner. While our current programme offering for self-harm is centred mainly around Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), clinicians adapt their approach based on individual client needs, in 1:1 therapy and elsewhere in our services. The core therapeutic modalities used at Speek include:

DBT-A (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for Adolescents): Central to Speek’s programme, DBT-A provides the foundation for teaching emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness skills—especially effective for individuals who experience intense emotions, feel controlled by their emotions, self-harm, and/or have difficulty with impulsivity.

CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy): Used to help clients identify and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviours, CBT supports problem-solving and adaptive coping mechanisms.

ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy): ACT techniques help clients build psychological flexibility, which is described as the ability to connect with and be open to experiences while living in-line with one’s values, even in the presence of potentially distressing internal experiences. ACT supports you in building psychological flexibility by accepting difficult emotions and committing to values-based actions, supporting long-term behavioural change and self-awareness.

CFT (Compassion-Focused Therapy): CFT helps people develop kindness toward themselves to reduce self-criticism, shame, and emotional distress. It’s especially useful for those who struggle with feeling stuck between constant pressure to achieve and feelings of threat or anxiety, helping them find balance.

RUBI Method (Research Units on Behavioural Interventions): Especially relevant for clients with Autism or developmental differences, the RUBI method is a parent training programme rooted in behavioural principles to reduce challenging behaviours and teach new skills.

Together, these modalities allow Speek clinicians to provide individualised and neurodiversity-affirming care, meeting clients where they are while promoting growth, self-understanding, and resilience.

At Speek, we believe it’s important to address the root causes of self-harm and to provide families with lifelong recovery.  Self-harm is often linked to emotional dys-regulation and a way people cope with overwhelming emotions when they haven’t yet found safer or more supportive ways to manage their distress. DBT-A has been developed to directly address this head on. 

We offer DBT-A because it’s the gold standard treatment for self-harm. In the UK, DBT-A is the NICE recommended treatment for young people with experience of self-harm and emotion dys-regulation and is the only recommended treatment in NHS CAMHS in response to rising self-harm and suicide rates in adolescents.  

We also believe it’s also important that families learn DBT-A skills together. This will give everyone a common language and understanding of how to handle uncomfortable and overwhelming emotions. 

We currently offer two types of courses to support families dealing with self-harm, tailored to meet families at different stages of readiness:

Parent-Only Course.  If your child isn’t ready for therapy, we offer a Parent-Only course that focuses on empowering parents with tools, strategies, and understanding to support their child safely and compassionately. The aim is to build your confidence, reduce feelings of helplessness, and equip you to respond in ways that de-escalate distress and strengthen your relationship with your child.

Child/Young Person (CYP) and Parent Course.  This is a joint course where both the young person and their parent(s) participate. It combines therapeutic skills and psycho-education, creating a structured space for both parties to learn, communicate, and develop emotional regulation and coping strategies. The course helps young people manage urges to self-harm, while supporting parents in becoming responsive, informed allies in their child’s recovery.

Neurodiversity-Informed Support.  Both modules are delivered in a neurodiversity-affirming way, with adaptations made to suit individual communication, sensory, and processing needs. Our team has extensive experience working with neurodivergent children and young people, including those with autism, ADHD, and other developmental differences.

These courses are rooted in evidence-based approaches such as DBT-A and designed to promote safety, emotional understanding, and long-term resilience.

It’s completely understandable to feel that way. Our Child/Young Person (CYP) + Parent course, based on DBT-A principles, does require a meaningful commitment from both adolescents and their caregivers. Between weekly sessions, skill-building, and practice at home, it can feel like a lot—especially when life is already busy or overwhelming.

Of course, life comes in way and you can take breaks when needed with prior agreement with your clinician.

That said, here’s why many families tell us the investment is worth it:

• It’s structured, time-limited, and evidence-based.
  This isn’t open-ended therapy. Think of it as an emotional education programme—a focused 16-week course designed to teach practical, life-changing skills that help families better manage emotions, relationships, and crisis moments.

• It gives your family a shared language.
  Parents and young people learn to communicate more clearly and compassionately, reducing conflict and building emotional safety. The tools learned can be used for years to come.

• It may save time and stress in the long run.
  Many families come to us after experiencing ongoing emotional distress, repeated crises, or relational strain. Investing in learning these skills now can prevent escalation, reduce emergency service use, and help families get unstuck from difficult patterns.

• You’re not doing it alone.
  Families consistently say that learning alongside others going through similar experiences is validating and empowering. The sense of community and shared insight becomes a key part of the journey.

More Flexibility with the Parent-Only Course. We know that not every family is ready or able to commit to the full CYP + Parent programme. That’s why we offer a Parent-Only course—a more flexible, lower-intensity option designed specifically for busy caregivers.

• Tailored content around your specific goals: We adapt the content based on your needs, offering practical tools and strategies you can use right away—without requiring your child’s direct involvement.

• Flexible scheduling: We offer a range of delivery options, including evening groups or self-paced resources, so you can fit learning around work, family, and other responsibilities.

• Powerful outcomes: Even without your child participating, parents often report major shifts in how they understand, respond to, and support their young person. These changes can reduce conflict, increase emotional connection, and create the conditions for healing at home.

If the full CYP + Parent course doesn’t feel doable right now, we’d love to help you explore what feels realistic and helpful for your family’s current situation. Whether you start with the Parent-Only course or jump into the comprehensive CYP + Parent programme, what matters is taking that first step toward connection, understanding, and growth.

To attend an online therapy session, you or your child simply need a device with an internet connection. Online therapy offers the flexibility to access support from a location and at a time that suits you—eliminating the need for travel at inconvenient hours. It also allows us to match you with a highly experienced psychologist who specialises in your needs, rather than being limited to local options. 

Research shows that video therapy is as effective as in-person sessions, and our secure, custom-built platform ensures complete confidentiality. Please set up a quiet, private space free from distractions for your session. 

Please note, unless agreed to, your child should attend their 1:1 sessions alone–attending sessions alone gives young people the chance to build trust and rapport with their clinician.

We currently support children and adolescents from ages 12 to 19 years.

At the moment, our focused area of specialty is self-harm experiences. However, we are trained to support a range of mental health issues, including Anxiety, Depression, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Conditions, Behavioural Problems, Trauma, and more. Please note that our support programme is currently focussed on self-harm management–if your child’s psychologist feels this is not the primary need then we will discuss this with you.

Speek is designed for every family of a young person who is self-harming. Many families find the programme helpful regardless of their child’s diagnosis, stage of support, or length of time since self-harm began. However, there are certain situations where Speek may be more or less suitable.

Speek may be suitable if:

1. Your child is neurotypical or neurodivergent, including those with an Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC).

2. You have recently discovered your child is self-harming, or have known for some time.

3. Your child is receiving support from services, waiting to receive support, or is not yet engaged with any formal help.

Speek may be less suitable if:

1. Your child is non-verbal or has a severe intellectual disability, where standard communication-based strategies may not apply.

2. You have little or no contact with your child, making it difficult to apply the relational aspects of the course.

3. You do not have regular access to the internet or digital devices, as our courses are delivered online.

4. Your young person is currently experiencing active psychosis or has a clinically acute eating disorder. That said, we do still work with parents of young people with disordered eating or eating-related distress, depending on the level of need and support.

If you’re unsure whether Speek is right for your situation, we’re happy to talk it through with you. Our aim is to support as many families as possible, and if we’re not the right fit, we’ll do our best to signpost you to a more appropriate service.

It’s important that you’re comfortable with the expert clinical match we make for you based on the information you’ve provided. Please let us know if you are not. Rest assured, all our therapists are Clinical Psychologists and are fully registered with the appropriate professional accrediting body, Health Care Professionals Council (HCPC). If you’d like to change your therapist or have any concerns about your experience, we encourage you to discuss them with your therapist if you feel comfortable. Many challenges can be worked through together. If you decide to switch therapists, your current therapist can support you in finding a better match and ensure a smooth and safe transition of your care.

Of course. We want your child and you to feel connected and comfortable with your clinician, and sometimes that takes more than one try. Reach out to our team at clinicalteam@lets-speek.com, and we will help you find the right specialist for your family.

We currently do not accept insurance.

NHS referral: Free at point of care (where referred by a NHS Trust)

Private families: Starting at £75/week (16-week DBT-A programme)

Insurance patients: We currently do not accept insurance.

At Speek, we are committed to making our services as accessible and cost-effective as possible. We understand the financial pressures families may face and strive to offer high-quality, evidence-based support at a fair and transparent price. Where possible, we also aim to provide flexible options and discounts to help meet your needs. Please reach out at payments@lets-speek.com 

Start your recovery journey here.

We understand that circumstances change. Please contact our clinical team at subscriptions@lets-speek.com and we’ll discuss your options whilst ensuring continuity of care for your young person’s wellbeing.

We know that your family’s mental health journey is deeply personal, and we have absolute respect for your privacy. We do not share any of your information with third parties outside of necessary clinical safeguarding requirements.

We only use platforms that are secure, encrypted and meet NHS data protection standards. All information is protected within our clinical systems, and we will never share or sell your information to outside parties.

Our clinical team treats what you share with complete confidentiality under professional therapeutic guidelines. We only use information to improve your family’s care and invite you to ask any questions about our privacy practices at privacy@lets-speek.com

No. If you and your young person have smartphones, desktop or laptop, you can access our full platform. Our apps work on all iOS and Android devices.

We understand privacy concerns are important for young people. Our platform allows secure access whilst maintaining appropriate clinical records. We follow strict safeguarding protocols and will only share information where there are safety concerns, which we’ll always discuss with your family first.

Your family  will have access to our platform for 6 months following completion of the programme and can download any materials they have created and used with their therapist.