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Complex emotional needs pathway

Located in Doncaster and North Lincolnshire.

The complex emotional needs pathway to help people with complex emotional needs or dysregulation to manage their condition and relationships.

People accessing the service may have a diagnosis of personality disorder however you do not need a diagnosis to access the treatment as we focus on what your needs are, not the diagnosis alone.

How we can help

Personality refers to the way we think, feel and behave. Due to life experiences, difficulties can arise in these areas and someone may develop complex emotional needs and personality difficulties. If the difficulties cause you great distress, are long lasting, and impact on many aspects of your life then you may need help from mental health services.

The complex emotional needs pathway works with you to help you:

  • understand and accept your difficult feelings
  • learn skills to manage your emotions, mood and feelings
  • problem solve
  • become able to make positive changes in your life
  • manage impulsivity (acting without thinking), relationships, self harm and suicidal thoughts
  • work with you to increase the skills, and receive treatment, to be able to lead a life outside mental health services

The complex emotional needs pathway includes a range of treatment offers including but not limited to psycho-education, structured clinical management (SCM), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) and individual therapies. We are working to incorporate more lived experience and peer support into the pathway.

SCM and DBT are treatments that are more likely to work if you are committed to make positive changes in yourself, if you are ready to work hard at treatment and if you are ready to focus mostly on your present and future, not your past.

Please be aware that the most effective treatment for emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD) or complex emotional needs occurs in the community. At the moment there is no medication proven to treat emotionally unstable personality disorder or personality difficulties. You may have been offered medication for other related needs or problems and if so, it is best that this is reviewed by a psychiatrist or your GP as required.

Non-urgent advice: How to get help

Referrals into the service come via your Community Adult Mental Health team.

Contact the service

Doncaster

Open weekdays, 9am to 5pm.

Doncaster Central

  • Forest Gate
    Tickhill Road Site
    Tickhill Road
    Balby
    Doncaster
    DN4 8QN

  • Phone

    03000 212 031

Doncaster North

Doncaster East

  • The Heathfield centre
    Ash Hill Road
    Hatfield
    DN7 6JH
  • Phone
    03000 211 653

Doncaster South

  • Forest Gate
    Tickhill Road Site
    Tickhill Road
    Balby
    Doncaster
    DN4 8QN

  • Phone

    03000 211 842

North Lincolnshire

  • Elizabeth Quarter

    High Street
    Scunthorpe
    North Lincolnshire
    DN15 6BF

  • Phone

    03000 216 300

  • Online

    You can use our online system, SystmConnect, to get in touch with us and manage many of your requests online. Learn more about SystmConnect.

    Contact North Lincolnshire

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Page last reviewed: May 12, 2026
Next review due: May 12, 2027

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