Crystal Pathways Support for people with Social Anxiety & Depression course do i have to go on it

Steboro

Had a message in my universal credit journal to go on a Crystal Pathways Support for people with Social Anxiety & Depression course do I have to go on it ? I haven't even got my first payment yet so don't know what group I'm in. Had my assessment only last Monday.. It doesn't say it's compulsory to go on it but don't want it stopping before I get it

Andi66

https://www.crystalpathways.co.uk/

Hi I just googled it for you, They are a nhs based, and helping dwp

Zipz

I've just googled it, too.

It is quite troubling to see a health-related organisation that works with both the NHS and the DWP. (I wonder about CAB and "social prescribers" with GP surgeries.)

I'd be questioning whether their No 1 priority in the patient's wellbeing or the claimant's future employability.

Catherine21

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1051732#Comment_1051732

Have you had your uc migration yet andi

Catherine21

IIf you don't mind me asking is your claim for mental health sorry if being personal because I think alot of us with MH will get this if was me I would respond and say I am not well enough thankyou

Catherine21

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/137018/crystal-pathways-support-for-people-with-social-anxiety-depression-course-do-i-have-to-go-on-it

Sorry I skim words ofcourse MH

Andi66

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1051789#Comment_1051789

No, don't want it

Catherine21

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1051810#Comment_1051810

I just want mine done now the anxiety

Andi66

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1051818#Comment_1051818

Try not to think about it.

Steboro

It is part of it, but mostly it's a bladder problem, my bladder doesn't empty so I leak urine, i use intermittent catheter's but still leak and also have epilepsy with weekly seizure's through an head injury while at work

chiarieds

Hi @Steboro - I've had a chat with my friend this evening who knows a lot about benefits (poppy123456) & thought to mention your query at the end. She reassures that this 'Crystal Pathways' invitation has been sent out to UC claimants for several years, but it's not compulsory.

Thank you for the link @Andi66 as I'd not heard of them before.

Santosha12

Bit of a strange outfit imo, I definitely wouldn't be trusting them to help me with my mental health as I'd only deal with companies which were transparent and whose qualifications were checkable.

The three owners (listed at Companies House) are an accountant, media consultant and a 'pyschologist'. The latter states 6 years experience although updated Companies House in 2023 with Job Title change to Pyschologist so don't know what they were before. Also only an MA so not a clinical pyschologist. And not checkable or registered with any of the UK registers for qualified psychologists under either of the two names he's registered under.

The 'phone number for Crystal Pathways takes you to the CALM Helpline which I can't see any connection/ownership between the two.

Another link takes you to Crystal Pathways in Australia which is an online shop selling crystals.

Most importantly, they are not transparent on their website and don't detail who any of their so-called professionals are. Job reviews are written by a Wellbeing Support Practitioner, Business Development Manager, a senior Mental Health Nurse. Jobs advertised showed a Teacher of English for Ukranian and Afghanistan refugees and a more recent one in Leeds for a Wellbeing Practitioner I think it was - only a year's experience in social work/pyschology type work but basically, no solid qualifications or experience in mental health or pyschology.

Finally, none of the presentations/information on their website indicates who has written it (apart from a first name/no job title or qualification).

Any company worth their salt would not hesitate to show absolute transparency. I found a brilliant psychotherapist via the British Association of Counselling/Pyschology (BACP) which, like very many other bona fide companies also do have full transparency.

For people who cannot self- fund (and many offers concessions) any counselling or therapy there are alternatives to BACP like MIND.

I personally think that any of us with any mental health problems - whether depression, anxiety etc, are perfectly entitled to know who we are being 'let loose' on and, very importantly, that we owe it to ourselves to ensure these individuals are most suitably qualified and experienced, for our needs. Wouldn't touch them with a barge pole myself.

Call me cynical but it makes me wonder how these people get such contracts. Uuum 🤔.

Edited to add most importantly - please check their Privacy Policy if you're thinking of using them to help you, seems to me more holes than a sieve but seriously, worth checking that.

Steboro

Thanks everyone I will not be attending