Youtherapy

A long established Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust counselling service has a new name, thanks to its clients aged between 11 and 25.

Formerly known as the Connect Counselling Team, based at Talbot Road Blackpool, Youtherapy offers all the same services, but has a brand new name.

Young clients were asked for ideas for a new name before a vote took place. ‘Youtherapy’ was by far the winner.

Counselling Team Leader Helen Hardacre said: “The change of name has come about because of the centre becoming part of the Children and Young People’s Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme (CYP IAPT), which focuses on collaborative working and participation by young people.”

“We are changing and expanding some of the services here, so it seemed a good time to change the name.

“The change of name represents listening to the young clients, involving them in shared decision making and starting 2017 off on a positive note.”

CYP IAPT is a service transformation programme delivered by NHS England that aims to improve existing Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) working in the community. Youtherapy is part of the local CAMHS collaborative.

The service started around twenty years ago and was initially linked to the Sexual Health Service, offering counselling around emotional experiences such as teenage pregnancy.

Now the service has grown to include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) plus counsellors offering a range of interventions. Complex issues can also be referred onto other services if necessary.

Additional ‘Walk and Talk’ counsellors, as part of the Big Lottery funded HeadStart programme, have been added to the service. This is offered to 10-16 year olds to help to build resilience and reduce mental health difficulties in later life.

With both late and early appointments available several days of the week, this popular therapy service allows youngsters to self-refer so is very accessible to anyone within this age group to get help with a range of issues.