Ian Bartholomew joined ITV soap opera Coronation Street in 2018 as character Geoff Metcalfe – a character that has become embroiled in a domestic abuse storyline this year. And last month, the 66-year-old’s performance won him Best Villain at the Inside Soap Awards.
Geoff Metcalfe has now met his demise, but the abuse role led to some problems for Bartholomew.
He found it difficult to switch off after filming, and to help, he resorted to weekly therapy sessions.
Speaking on ITV’s Lorraine he explained: “I had to find a way of disassociating myself from Geoff every day.
“Luckily I’ve got a very, very understanding family but sometimes you need a bit of professional help, and I asked the producers if they could supply me with somebody who I could talk to.
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“I had a few sessions just before we went into lockdown actually, and it helped greatly.
“I could just offload – I’m literally coming in here to dump on you now, sorry about that, but here you are, take that.
“And he was fantastically understanding and very, very helpful.
“It was good. It did me good.”
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Taking therapies on the NHS
Talking therapies, or psychological therapies, are accessible on the NHS and can help with common mental health problems like stress, anxiety and depression
Which therapy you are offered depends on which one has been sown to be most helpful for your symptoms.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a family of talking therapies all based on the idea that thoughts, feelings, what we do, and how our bodies feel, are all connected, explains the NHS.
It adds: “CBT works to help us notice and challenge patterns of thoughts or behaviours so we can feel better.”
A talking therapies service will not contact your GP without your permission, unless they believe you’re at risk of harming yourself or other people.
If you or a loved one are experiencing a mental health crisis, you can call a local NHS mental health helpline for 24-hour advice and support.
You can and a local NHS urgent mental health helping here.
If someone’s life is at risk or they cannot be kept safe, call 999 or go to A&E.