Children and Young People’s Emotional Wellbeing Service (12-18 years)

We are currently open to new LOW MOOD REFERRALS ONLY (for training purposes)

About the service

This service offers brief, focused, evidence-based mental health support for children, young people and families who are experiencing mild-moderate symptoms of low mood and is likely a recently emerging difficulty.

Young people suitable for support would experience no or very low risk to self or other people. Some possible difficulties they might experience could be:

• Stopped or reduced activities they enjoy on a regular basis
• Sleeping or eating more/less than usual
• Spending more time by self or isolating from others at home/different settings
• Poor motivation e.g. maintaining self-care, neglecting other tasks of daily living
• Negative thoughts about self/future, feelings of hopelessness  

The effective treatment is based on research and real-life evidence, working with lots of young people.

Our trainee Children’s Wellbeing Practitioners (CWPs) will assess and support children and young people with low mood.

Young people will receive between 6-8 sessions of treatment (each lasting 45-60 minutes). Sessions are usually weekly and held in person, on a 1:1 basis, at our premises at Highcliffe Court (Clifton), or can be accessed by videocall.

How can this help?

This low intensity intervention is based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and guided self-help. It focuses on setting and working towards agreed goals.

Our trainee CWPs aim to help children, young people and their parents/carers in the self-management of their recovery, to feel empowered and have tools for life.

Who can access?

Children and young people aged 12-18 years (for 1-1 sessions) experiencing symptoms of low mood.

Exclusion criteria

We are unable to work with young people where there is current, active self-harm and/or suicidal ideation or current, ongoing safeguarding concerns.

A young person might not be suitable for support if their difficulties are influenced by: wider family/systemic issues, co morbid difficulties or experiences of traumatic events.

Developmental or neurodiverse differences might impact efficiency of intervention and would be assessed on an individual case basis.

We cannot work with young people who are receiving therapeutic input from another agency (e.g. CAMHS / Social Care)

Please note that unsuitable referrals will be signposted back to primary services e.g. GP / School Pastoral Staff.

Referring in

To refer in, simply complete our referral form here and send to cwp@yorkmind.org.uk

We aim to be in touch within two weeks of receiving your referral.

We will not accept agency referrals into this service. We welcome agencies to support young people and families in completing a referral, but the primary contact details must be for the parent/carer and/or young person themselves.