Psychological wellbeing practitioners

Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PWPs), work with people who are experiencing a range of psychological difficulties. They use techniques based on Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy (LI-CBT). The research has evidenced that this psychological approach is an effective treatment for mild to moderate mental health conditions.

The PWP will offer you a LI-CBT package. This can be delivered as part of a computer programme, a course, a telephone treatment or through face-to-face sessions.

PWPs can help you in a number of ways:

• Help you gain an understanding of how anxiety and depression symptoms are maintained
• Help you work through a variety of self-help materials and techniques to tackle your symptoms
• Advise you on how to implement these techniques on a daily basis to overcome your difficulties
• Signpost you to access other services which you may find useful, for example advice services and alcohol services
• Help you  structure and increase physical activity in your life
• Help you manage your medication

When you first meet your PWP a joint plan of how to use the sessions will be agreed. This structure will be followed during the course of your treatment and your progress will be reviewed at each contact. During your time with the PWP, you will work towards gaining a better understanding of your difficulties and how to manage them.

The LI-CBT treatment delivered by the PWP is a practical treatment. This means that the techniques taught in session need to be implemented at home between appointments. To ensure that you are able to manage these tasks, at the end of each session homework goals will be agreed between you and the PWP. You will be expected to complete these before the next session, this is important for the treatment to progress. Putting into practice what you have learnt in the session is the core component of the treatment because it teaches you to manage your own difficulties in the long term.

What problems do PWPs assess?

PWPs are trained to assess a range of mental health conditions and advise you on the most appropriate treatment. If your symptoms are not suitable for steps2change they will be able to signpost you to the most relevant service that can help. In certain circumstances they will be able to make a referral based on the information they have collected at your assessment.

What problems do PWPs treat?

• Mild to moderate depression
• Mild to moderate anxiety problems including symptoms of Generalised Anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Eating difficulties, Panic and Health related anxiety
• Stress
• Sleep issues