In the lead up to International Women’s Day 2025, we speak to Jemma Meeson, Founder and Director of The Family Treatment Service about the inspiration behind her business, some of the highlights to date, and her aspirations for the future.
Q: Can you tell us about your business and what inspired you to set it up?
I set up the Family Treatment Service after the COVID pandemic, when demand for mental health services was at an all time high. I know from experience the NHS does an amazing job, but in light of the pressure they are under, I wanted to address a need for access to high quality, flexible mental health service provision. As a private not for profit practice, our goal is to re-invest surplus funds into the sector, supporting access to mental health services for all. We also hope to relieve some of the burden on the NHS by providing treatment options for those that are able to pay for it.
Q: What do you think makes the service unique?
Our not for profit values drive our work, and we are very proud to be clinically, not commercially driven. This means we can give entirely unbiased advice about mental health care plans, always putting our clients’ best interests first. We have an amazing clinical triage team, who take the time to understand the difficulties clients are facing, so we can tailor their care to individual needs. Evidence-based practice and expertise is also paramount for us – we are lucky to have a team of highly experienced clinicians who are leaders in the fields of Psychiatry and Psychology. This has created a great sense of trust and safety amongst the families, adults and children we see.
Q: You recently celebrated the 4th birthday of The Family Treatment Service – can you share your highlights so far?
A special highlight was our recent expansion in 2024. In August we launched a new Psychiatry and Prescribing service at our original Wimbledon clinic on Church Road. This has given our clients even wider access to assessments and treatments for conditions including eating disorders and ADHD. In September we opened our beautiful purpose built therapy centre on Ridgway Mews. It was wonderful to invite our local community to our opening event and it has since become a familiar, safe space for our clients, support groups and community partners. This year we are continuing to grow our services, with recent additions including a new educational support service and dramatherapy.
Q: How does your service support our local community?
Although we welcome clients to the clinic from across London and beyond, serving the Wimbledon community is at the heart of our business. We work closely with local schools, equipping educators with the tools to support young people’s wellbeing and development. We are lucky to have a warm, welcoming building where we host community members for workshops and support groups. This year we also launched a free monthly webinar series covering topics including body image, neurodiversities, managing emotions and exam anxieties.
Q: What are your future aspirations for the service?
I would like us to be able to further support those unable to access mental health treatment, and to work together with other agencies in our community to provide a comprehensive package of care to those facing disadvantages.
Find Out More About The Family Treatment Service
