West Dunbartonshire Primary Care Mental Health Team

This service is for adults experiencing common mental health problems, such as anxiety or depression. We provide psychological assessments as well as short term evidenced-based talking therapies.

We are a trauma informed workplace and our team are trained to level 2 and above on the National Trauma Training Program.

Our team are primarily trained to deliver Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

Those attending therapy in our service will work 1:1 with one of our clinicians. A range of clinicians work in our team, including Clinical Psychologists, Mental Health Practitioners, Mental Health Therapists, Cognitive Behavioural Therapists, and Clinical Associates in Applied Psychology (CAAPs).

You may be offered an appointment with a therapist in training. The NHS is an organisation that promotes training. All qualified staff and trainees receive supervision of their clinical work in accordance with professional guidelines.

You can be referred to the service by your Wellbeing Nurse, GP, or by another health professional.

Access to our service will be dependent on having a GP within the West Dunbartonshire or Helensburgh and the Lochside area. If you are not part of this catchment area you will be advised of how to access your local PCMHT.

All of our clinic spaces are wheelchair accessible, and appointments can be delivered via video call, telephone, or face to face. We can also arrange for interpreters for those who do not speak English as a first language, or a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter for those with hearing impairment. 

If you have been referred to our service and have any accessibility concerns or requirements, please let your referrer or a member of our team know.

We currently work across the following locations:

Vale Centre for Health and Care
Main Street
Alexandria
G83 0UA

Clydebank Centre for Health And Care
Queens Quay Main Avenue
Clydebank,
G81 1BS

What you tell us will be treated in confidence. We will advise your GP of your progress but we do not share information with family, friends or other agencies unless you give us your consent.

However, in exceptional circumstances where we are concerned about your welfare or the welfare of someone else, it may be necessary for us to share information. If this happens, your clinician will aim to discuss this decision with you first.

For initial assessment appointments:

• We review every referral we receive to check whether our service is the best fit.
• Most people who are screened as suitable for the service will be offered an assessment appointment within five weeks of their referral being received.

For individual therapy:

• Our service aims to meet the waiting list standards set by the Scottish Government. Most people who have been accepted for treatment within our service will be offered a treatment appointment within 18 weeks of their referral being received.

Waiting times can vary depending on a number of factors. If you are on our waiting list and have any concerns, please contact us for a more accurate estimate.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a talking therapy that helps people to understand the links between their thoughts, feelings and behaviours. It aims to identify and change unhelpful patterns and teaches practical skills to help improve wellbeing. CBT is a recommended treatment for many mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression.

In CBT, you and your therapist will work together towards agreed treatment goals. Sessions are weekly and focus on the difficulties affecting your day-to-day life. You will be encouraged to practice what you have learned between sessions. CBT is a short-term therapy, and most people are offered 8 to 10 sessions, although this may vary depending on your needs.

We are not a counselling service. However, there are some local counselling organisations which you can contact directly:

• Stepping Stones
• Cruse Bereavement Care
• Relationship Scotland
• CRISIS Erskine Counselling

It is helpful to use the time you are waiting to prepare for therapy. If you are on our waiting list, the person who assessed you may have recommended engaging with self help materials. We also encourage people to ask themselves the following questions:

• What is it I want to achieve by engaging in therapy?
• What would I be doing if I was not suffering with depression, anxiety, or another specific condition?

You may also wish to visit the following website for self care advice and support: Mental wellbeing | NHS inform

If you are in urgent need of support with your mental health please contact the following services:

• Your GP practice
• NHS 24 (111)
• Breathing Space (0800 838 587)
• Samaritans (116 123)

If you are in danger you should contact Emergency Services (999).