Gwynedd CAMHS Assessment / Therapy
We are a team that see children and young people up to the age of 18 years. We support people who need help with their thoughts, feelings and emotions.
Is this service for me?
We see people with complex and longer-term mental health needs that are stopping them from doing the things they want to do and living a full life. These might be things such as not going to school, not looking after yourself, struggling with relationships at home or in school that may make you upset, obsessive and repeating behaviour such as thoughts that make you feel out of your control and/or hearing voices in your head that aren’t your own.
We work with you to understand what matters to you and identify your goals. These goals may be how you change things to be safer or go to the shops without worrying, not hurting yourself when you feel overwhelmed and dealing with stresses and worries. We also support you with other goals such as managing eating difficulties, identity and relationships with our bodies, feeling sad all of the time and not doing what we want to do, personal relationships or understanding how your neurodiversity affects your mental health.
Who (services) will we see?
The team is made up of:
- Mental Health Nurses
- Psychotherapists
- Art Psychotherapist
- Psychologists
- Psychiatrists
- Social Worker
- Family Therapists
- Team Administrators
- Health Care Support Workers
- Eating Disorder Specialists
How do access the services?
If you’re feeling you need support with your mental health, your GP, social worker, school nurse, paediatrician or a teacher from your school can refer you to our team. Somebody from our team will look at the referral to see if we can offer you the help you need. We will then contact you and your carer to complete a telephone triage to think about what support would help you.
Sometimes there are other services that may be more helpful to you and we will write you a letter and let you know.
If we think you need our help we will invite you to a choice appointment where you will meet with one of our team who will ask you lots of questions to find out how things are for you such as school, family life, social life and friendships including your worries. Your first appointment will take around one and half hours and you will have the opportunity to speak to us on your own and with your family and carers.
You can choose to have your family or a supportive adult with you in your appointments if you feel this would help you. We understand if can be difficult to talk to people you don’t know about your thoughts and feelings and you are welcome to bring any distraction objects with you that you may feel help to make you more comfortable. You are also always given the option to speak to us while your parents or carers waits in the waiting room.
From your choice appointment, we will help you to decide if our service is going to be the most helpful for you as there may be help from another service available or or we will place you on the waiting list for a partnership appointment.
A partnership appointment is a 1:1 meeting with your named clinician and your family if you choose. Appointments are usually an hour long and either weekly or fortnightly and may vary depend on who you are seeing. We use different resources in the sessions including self-help guides, videos, art and crafts and things you can take away to do in-between sessions.
The appointment will be a talking therapy. You can find out more about therapies by following this link: (link to therapies page).
Safety Planning
We will work with you and support you to complete a safety plan that will help to reduce any thoughts or triggers you may have so you can feel more in control. The safety plan may include ideas for:
- Calming techniques
- Friends, family and carers support
- Coping mechanisms
- Safe spaces
- Helpful ideas, support services and helplines
What to do if you feel you are in need of urgent help and support?
During the hours of 9am-5pm you can call our Duty line for support and advice and out of hours you can call 111+2. However if you are at immediate risk of harm or feel you cannot keep yourself safe then we would advise you call an ambulance or go to your local A&E.
How do I find you?
Our team is based in Talarfon, Holyhead Road Bangor. There is a small car park located at the back of the building which can be accessed from Holyhead Road.
You will need to go through the main door at the front of the building, where you will be greeted by a receptionist.
We offer both face to face and online sessions depending on your needs or circumstances.
How do I tell you I have arrived?
When you get to reception there is a buzzer/intercom for you to use and the receptionist will let your clinician know that you have arrived and are waiting.
The waiting area is located next to reception. If you have been waiting for longer than 10 minutes for your appointment, please let someone in reception know and they will chase this for you.