Mental Health Support for Older Adults

Later life brings change — retirement and loss to health concerns and shifting roles in the family — and sometimes, those changes can feel heavy.

Mental health for older adults is just as important as it is for younger people.

At Kent and Medway Talking Therapies, we understand that growing older doesn’t mean you stop needing support for your mental health. In fact, it can be the most important time to talk. Whether it’s talking to a loved one, a friend or a qualified therapist, we can provide guidance on how to look after your mental health and mental wellbeing in later life.

Many people aged 55 and over carry on silently, sometimes believing that “others have it worse,” or that asking for help is a sign of weakness. It’s not. Reaching out is a quiet act of strength, and it’s never too late in life to feel lighter.

What are Talking Therapies?

Whether you’re feeling low, not sleeping well, worrying more than usual, or just don’t feel like yourself lately, we’re here to listen. Maybe you’re feeling anxious, stressed or lonely, we are here for you. Our free-to-access talking therapies are designed with you in mind.

Getting support for your mental health is easy. At Kent and Medway Talking Therapies, we can help you if you are coping with long term illness, like a chronic condition or dementia, or looking for support with men’s mental health.

For many people, therapy might sound unfamiliar, or even unnecessary, especially if you’re used to “just getting on with things.” But talking therapies aren’t about weakness. They’re about reflection, relief, and rediscovering a sense of calm in a world that may feel like it’s moved on.

Flexible Therapy Options — Your Way

There are a range of talking therapies available to support you with your mental health in later life. At Kent and Medway Talking Therapies, our mental health services are designed to support you as you deal with mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. We provide the following mental health support:

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), which deals with your current problems instead of previous ones
Counselling for Depression, which looks at the emotional problems underlying depression to help you make sense of and overcome them
Digital Talking Therapies, which can be delivered online or in individual or group face-to-face sessions at a time that suits you
Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT), which looks at your past experiences, particularly in previous relationships, used if you’ve tried CBT before and it hasn’t necessarily worked
Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing (EMDR), which is used to process traumatic memories through simulating typical eye movements to help the brain file these memories away
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), which looks at why past relationships have broken down and why you might be feeling sad, lonely or depressed
Talking Therapies for Couples, including Behavioural Couples Therapy (BCT) and Couple Counselling for Depression (CCfD), which help you understand how and why difficulties have happened in past and present relationships
Employment Support, which can support you if you are experiencing employment-related difficulties due to stress, anxiety or depression

We also offer other areas of help for mental health problems impacted by finances, housing, employment worries, a long-term condition or caring responsibilities. From talking to a qualified therapist face-to-face or using our digital talking therapies service through mental health webinars or SilverCloud Self Help, our services can support you as you work through your mental health conditions in a way that suits your lifestyle.

Looking after Mental Health for Older Adults

We know that as we get older, we can be seen as the ones who hold everything together — the carers, the wise voices, the steady hands. But even those who support others deserve to feel supported themselves. Our service is here for you— with time, kindness, and no judgement as you navigate later life.

You don’t need to be in crisis. You don’t need a diagnosis. And you don’t need to explain everything. If life has been feeling heavier lately, let us help you share some of that load. You are not alone.

You can choose what feels right for you; whether you’d prefer to talk face-to-face, over the phone, or online from the comfort of home, we’ll find a way that suits you. There’s no one-size-fits-all, and no pressure. Just real conversations, your way, at your pace.

Starting a form of talking therapy is simple. Just self-refer via our Limbic Referral Assistant or by calling us on 0333 091 0414. Your GP or a healthcare professional can refer you via our professional referral form.

Live your life to the fullest and don’t let your mental health slow you down with Kent and Medway Talking Therapies. If you are wondering if talking therapies are a potential option to support you through your mental health problems, our FAQs can help you make an informed decision before you get in touch.

Accessing NHS Talking Therapies is easier with support from Age UK

Age UK can also provide support and guidance on navigating life, mental health and the concept of care for older adults.

Age UK is here for you as you prepare to begin with NHS Talking Therapies. Age UK in Kent & Medway offer weekly wellbeing calls to people aged 55+ on our waiting lists – a friendly voice to check in, listen and help you feel more connected, completely free of charge. If you’re not sure where to start, we can guide you through the first steps. There’s no pressure, no jargon, just someone on the other end of the phone, ready when you are.

Contact us today

Age UK Thanet
Email: info@ageukthanet.org.uk or phone: 01843 223881
Age UK Kent Rivers
Email: iaenquiry@ageukkentrivers.org.uk 01634 572616
Age UK Maidstone, Sevenoaks and Tonbridge
Email: info@ageukmst.org.uk or phone: 01622 753618
Age UK Hythe, Lyminge & Ashford
Email: admin@ageukhla.org.uk or phone: 01303 269602

If you need urgent mental health support, you can get urgent help now.