About the team
The team is made up of mental health professionals including: clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists, mental health practitioners, mental health therapists and primary care counsellors. The NHS is an organisation that supports training. In the PCMHT you may be offered an appointment with a therapist in training. If this happens you will be informed. All qualified staff and trainees receive supervision of their clinical work in accordance with professional guidelines.
PCMHT staff practice 10 core values. These core values are as follows:
- Working in partnership
- Respecting diversity
- Practising ethically
- Challenging inequality
- Promoting recovery
- Identifying needs and strengths
- Providing person centred care
- Making a difference
- Promoting safety and positive risk taking
- Personal learning and development
Information for patients
Service Criteria
The service is for adults experiencing common mental health difficulties, such as depression and anxiety. The remit of the service is to provide brief evidence-based psychological interventions.
Access to the North West PCMHT will be dependent on having a GP within the North West sector. If you are not part of the North West catchment area you will be advised of how to access your local PCMHT.
How to be referred to the service
You can be referred to the service by your GP or by another health professional.
Following a discussion with your GP you can also self-refer by contacting our office by telephone on 0141 232 9270. During the referral process you will be asked to provide some details to the administration staff including your name, address, contact details and GP details.
Accessibility
We can arrange for an interinterpreter, if required.
If you require wheelchair access please let us know and we can make appropriate arrangements.
What to expect at your assessment
After you are referred into the service, a clinician will phone you for an assessment to discuss your mental health needs. This telephone assessment will usually last up to 30 minutes. Typically this assessment will be by telephone but, if necessary, other options may be available. Please advise your GP or the service if you cannot be contacted by telephone.
Your telephone call will not be at a set time. Please feel free to advise us of any times you are unavailable. If we are unable to get you we will typically leave a voicemail asking you to call back. Our NHS telephone number will appear as an ‘0800’ number. If you think you have a missed call from the PCMHT please call back on 0141 232 9270 to rearrange.
During your initial assessment you will speak to a clinician who will seek to understand your current difficulties as well as understanding previous experiences that might have affected your mental health.
The clinician will use this information to consider the most appropriate next step. All options will be discussed with you.
This might involve:
- Providing advice and relevant information
- Suggesting referral to another service
- Offering psychological intervention within the PCMHT
Therapeutic options
Therapeutic options will have be discussed with you at assessment. This is typically Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) but other therapies will be available. All therapies require a commitment to completing tasks between sessions to get most benefit from the therapy.
Therapy can be delivered in different formats, frequently these are delivered in a group environment.
Note: all therapies are currently being offered virtually due to the Covid-19 pandemic. If you are referred to our service during this period, one of our clinicians will discuss with you what this will entail.
Therapeutic options might include one of the following:
- CBT in Action Course: This is a 7 week class utilising cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) skills to improve your mental health and wellbeing. The aim of the class is to help you understand the connection between your thoughts, emotions, behaviours and physical symptoms, and to provide you with techniques to help you manage stress/anxiety and low mood.
- CBT for Insomnia: This is a 6 week class for people who struggle to sleep or who wake up during the night and find it difficult to get back to sleep. The aim of the class is to provide you with techniques to improve your sleep using a cognitive behavioural approach. It focuses on lifestyle factors, changing sleep patterns, and exploring and challenging the thoughts that interfere with sleep
- One to one therapy sessions: This involves talking about your difficulties with one of our clinicians. It typically consists of 6-8 therapy sessions lasting up to an hour. Our clinicians are trained in approaches such as person centred counselling, CBT and other psychological therapies.
We sometimes run additional therapeutic options throughout the year, you will be advised of these as appropriate.
We may also advise you of other services that are suited to your needs.
FAQs
Will the information discussed be kept confidential?
What you tell us will be treated in confidence. We do not share information with family, friends or other agencies unless you give us your consent. However, we will advise your GP of your progress. In exceptional circumstances where we are concerned about your welfare, or the welfare of others, it will be necessary for us to share information. Your clinician would discuss this decision with you.
What is a telephone assessment?
The service operates a telephone assessment system to ensure all referrals can be responded to in a timely manner. This telephone assessment typically lasts around 30 minutes and during this call the clinician will seek to understand your current mental health needs.
How long will I need to wait?
Telephone assessment – The majority of patients will have received their telephone assessment within two weeks of their referral being made. Unfortunately it may not always be possible to contact you within this time frame. If you have any questions please feel free to contact us and we will be able to give you a more accurate estimate of when you will be contacted.
Individual therapy – The service aims to meet waiting list targets set by the Scottish Government, which requires services to offer treatment within 18 weeks of referral.
Waiting times can vary depending on a number of factors, for up to date information please phone the service where our admin staff will be happy to advise.
What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)?
CBT is a form of psychological therapy used for a range of mental health disorders. CBT is based on the concept that your thoughts, feelings, physical sensations and actions are interconnected, and that negative thoughts and feelings can trap you in a vicious cycle. You will work with your therapist to agree goals that you would like to work on. CBT is highly structured and focuses on current problems. There will be tasks to complete between your sessions to put what you have learned into practice.
What is Counselling?
Person-centred Therapy (PCT) is delivered on an individual basis by our counsellors. PCT is non-directive, but has a structure which allows the client to freely explore their issues, and process their past and present difficulties. It can encourage a better perspective and understanding of themselves and others through challenging their thoughts and behaviours. There are reviews at each session to help the client focus effectively on their therapeutic journey.
Useful Resouces
Self Help Materials
If you wish to learn more about your mental health or ways to cope with your difficulties, you can access information online on the following websites
Other Services
It might be that the PCMHT is not the most suitable service for your current needs and we often advise people during the referral process to more appropriate services.
Some services we typically recommend are:
Computerised CBT (referral from GP)
We Are With You (previously called Addaction)
Useful websites
Anxiety UK
Charity providing support if you’ve been diagnosed with an anxiety condition.
Phone: 03444 775 774 (Mon-Fri, 9.30am-5.30pm)
Website: www.anxietyuk.org.uk
Bipolar UK
A charity helping people living with manic depression or bipolar disorder.
Website: www.bipolaruk.org.uk
CALM
CALM is the Campaign Against Living Miserably, for men aged 15-35.
Phone: 0800 58 58 58 (5pm-midnight)
Website: www.thecalmzone.net
Men’s Health Forum
The Men’s Health Forum is a charity supporting men’s health in England, Wales and Scotland. Website: www.menshealthforum.org.uk
Mental Health Foundation
Provides information and support for anyone with mental health problems or learning disabilities.
Website: www.mentalhealth.org.uk
Mind
Promotes the views and needs of people with mental health problems.
Phone: 0300 123 3393 (Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm)
Website: www.mind.org.uk
No Panic
Voluntary charity offering support for sufferers of panic attacks and OCD. Offers a course to help overcome your phobia/OCD. Includes a helpline.
Phone: 0844 967 4848 (daily, 10am-10pm)
Website: www.nopanic.org.uk
OCD Action
Support for people with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Includes information on treatment and online resources.
Phone: 0845 390 6232 (Mon-Fri, 9.30am-5pm)
Website: www.ocdaction.org.uk
OCD UK
A charity run by people with OCD, for people with OCD. Includes facts, news and treatments.
Support queries (advice line): 03332127890 (Mon-Fri, 9am-4:45pm)
Website: www.ocduk.org
PAPYRUS
Children and young people (under the age of 35) suicide prevention society.
Phone: HOPElineUK 0800 068 4141 (Mon-Fri,10am-5pm & 7-10pm. Weekends 2-10pm)
Website: www.papyrus-uk.org
Rethink Mental Illness
Support and advice for people living with mental illness.
Advice service: 0300 5000 927 (Mon-Fri, 9.30am-4pm)
Website: www.rethink.org
Samaritans
Confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair.
Phone: 116 123 (free 24-hour helpline)
Website: https://www.samaritans.org/
Sane
Charity offering support and carrying out research into mental illness.
SANEmail email: sanemail@org.uk
Website: www.sane.org.uk
YoungMinds
Information on child and adolescent mental health. Services for parents and professionals.
Phone: Parents’ helpline 0808 802 5544 (Mon-Fri, 9.30am-4pm)
Website: www.youngminds
Service user feedback
Testimonials:
“Friendly, understanding, exactly what I needed”
“Very beneficial, a good first insight into helping myself.”
“Was very wary at the start but glad I saw it through to the end”
“Been made to feel safe since first coming along – which was very important to me”
“My life has changed 100% for the better”
“To be honest i didn’t think the group session would be beneficial but it was incredibly helpful.”
The course has given me some excellent techniques in how to manage mood and sleep.
“Encouraged me to challenge myself and find out what I am capable of with a more positive outlook.”
“You get out of it what you put in.”
“I feel I have a set of skills which will definitely help me manage in future.”
“I felt much less anxious which is mainly what i wanted”
Where to find us
The NW PCMHT has clinics throughout North West Glasgow and you could be offered an appointment at any of the venues below (route links attached).
If you have any questions about accessing appointments at our community venues please contact the service on 0141 232 9270.
Sandy Road Centre
12 Sandy Road
Glasgow
G11 6HE
Drumchapel Health Centre
80-90 Kilfauns Drive
Glasgow
G15 7TS
Woodside Health and Care Centre
891 Garscube Road
Glasgow
G20 7ER
Maryhill Health and Care Centre
51 Gairbraid Avenue
Glasgow
G20 8BZ