Priory Chelmsford private CAMHS inpatient service
- Private adolescent inpatient service in Essex
- Support for young people aged 12 to 17
- Highly qualified specialists
- Mental health assessment for £186
Situated in the heart of Chelmsford, Essex, Priory Hospital Chelmsford provides specialist inpatient care for young people experiencing a range of mental health difficulties. Our dedicated child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) inpatient provision – Willow Ward – supports up to 12 young people, offering expert, compassionate care within a safe and supportive environment.
The service provides evidence-based treatment for 12 to 17-year-olds through flexible, person-centred programmes, delivered in surroundings designed specifically with young people in mind.
In summary, we offer:
- A therapeutic environment where young people can focus on recovery
- Care from an experienced team of specialists, led by consultant psychiatrists
- A comprehensive range of therapies, tailored to each young person’s needs
- A convenient location within Priory Hospital Chelmsford, with access to an on-site education provision
- Flexible access through self-funding or private medical insurance (PMI)
Contact us
Priory Hospital Chelmsford Stump Lane Springfield Green Chelmsford Essex CM1 7SJ
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Flexible Essex-based mental health treatment for young people
At Priory Hospital Chelmsford, we provide flexible, evidence-based inpatient treatment for young people experiencing a range of mental health challenges.
Each young person receives a tailored therapy plan built around their individual needs, circumstances, and goals, ensuring the care they receive is both person-centred and highly effective.
Our CAMHS inpatient service has been created specifically for young people who may be experiencing:
- Depression
- Anxiety disorders
- Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)
- School-related anxiety, including school phobia and school refusal
- Emotional instability or difficulty managing emotions
We also offer assessments for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism, with tailored one-to-one therapy available after diagnosis. As a trusted provider of specialist inpatient mental health services for young people, we’re dedicated to delivering the highest standard of care in a supportive, age-appropriate setting — helping each young person feel safe and understood.
Inside Willow Ward
Willow Ward has been carefully designed to offer a calm, welcoming and therapeutic environment for young people receiving inpatient care. We understand how important surroundings are in supporting recovery, and our modern facilities provide a safe and nurturing space where each young person can focus on their wellbeing and personal growth.
The ward features bright, modern spaces and 12 comfortable, single-occupancy bedrooms with en-suite facilities. As well as shared areas that encourage positive interaction and promote wellbeing, recovery and personal growth.
Housed within a beautiful Grade II listed 19th-century building, the hospital is set within three acres of private gardens, offering a calm and therapeutic setting for recovery.
Our young people’s inpatient service includes:
- A bright, purpose-built ward designed specifically for young people
- Comfortable communal areas that encourage social connection and relaxation
- Daily housekeeping and high standards of cleanliness
- Nutritious, freshly prepared meals and quality catering options
- Access to snacks and drinks at any time, with a small kitchen available on the ward
- Modern, en-suite bedrooms that offer comfort, privacy and a sense of security
- A variety of leisure activities, including games, reading materials, puzzles and a TV, to support relaxation and recovery
- An outdoor courtyard for our young people to relax and spend time in
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Treatment approaches
Therapy options
At Chelmsford, our experienced clinicians deliver a wide range of evidence-based therapies for young people, offered through both individual and group sessions. Depending on each young person’s needs, therapy can take place face-to-face or remotely via secure online platforms, ensuring flexible access to care.
Our multidisciplinary team brings together a wide range of professionals, including psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, occupational therapists, a social worker and a family therapist. They work alongside assistant practitioners and specialist therapists to ensure that each person receives care tailored to their specific needs, supported by our dedicated nursing and medical teams who provide co-ordinated, holistic care.
Using a holistic bio-psycho-social model, we focus on the whole person – their mental, emotional and social wellbeing – to create a truly rounded recovery experience. Every treatment plan is structured around clear goals, guided by thorough assessment and tailored to the individual to ensure the best possible outcomes.
Therapies available:
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT)
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
- Trauma-focused CBT
- Exposure and response prevention (ERP)
- Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR)
Core therapeutic interventions include:
- Weekly one-to-one sessions with a psychologist or therapist
- Weekly check-in with a psychologist
- Group therapy
- Family therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Regular keyworking sessions with a named nurse
- Medication reviews
At Willow Ward, our goal is to combine expert clinical treatment with a compassionate, age-appropriate environment – helping young people regain stability, build resilience and move forward with hope and confidence.
Accessing treatment
You can access high quality treatment at Chelmsford by:
- Visiting your GP, who will be able to refer you to us. This can be through private medical insurance, via medical secretaries or through any known Priory contacts
- Contacting Priory Hospital Chelmsford directly
Our admissions team at Chelmsford respond to all enquiries as promptly as possible, to ensure that people can access the best possible support, when they need it.
Referrals are reviewed by our multidisciplinary team, which includes a doctor, nurse, and psychologist, to determine the most appropriate next steps. If we need additional information, we may gather this through an email or phone call.
We may also consult with other professionals involved in your child’s care to ensure a co-ordinated and supportive approach to the proposed plan
For further information on how our young people's mental health inpatient service at Priory Hospital Chelmsford can help young people to overcome their mental health concerns, call us today and our dedicated team will be able to advise on the next steps to receiving treatment.
As a trusted psychiatric hospital for teenagers, we're here to support young people through every stage of their recovery.
Education provision
Alongside therapeutic treatment, young people at Priory Hospital Chelmsford have access to high-quality on-site education. Our dedicated teaching team understand the challenges that can come with learning during recovery and provide a nurturing, structured environment where each young person can continue their studies with confidence.
Lessons are delivered in small, supportive groups and are tailored to individual abilities and needs, helping students maintain academic progress while also developing key life skills and self-belief.
Key features of our education provision:
- Ofsted-registered and fully approved learning environment
- Individualised teaching, with 1:1 support available where required
- Personal development sessions integrated into the timetable, covering topics such as career guidance, social skills and emotional wellbeing