Access Local Counselling and Psychological Support

---

Overview

Counselling can help individuals tackle emotional and psychological challenges by seeking to expand understanding of problems and identify effective ways to deal with them. It can be helpful for individuals to share and talk about what they are worried or stressed about, for example issues of self-confidence, self-esteem, depression, anxiety, bereavement, relationship breakdown and addictions.

The Yorkshire and Humber Deanery funds access to the following counselling and psychological support for all Postgraduate Doctors and Dentists in Training (PGDiTs) based within the region, accessible by self-referral directly to the provider.

Both Take Time and Workplace Wellbeing are standalone, confidential services.

PGDiTs based in the South may access Workplace Wellbeing, those based in the West, East and North may access Take Time.

 

---

Supported concerns

Indicative examples of concerns both services can provide support with include, but are not limited to:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Burn out
• Issues around work/life balance
• Interpersonal difficulties at work and at home
• Adjustment difficulties
• Examination stress
• Inquiry/clinical incident stress
• Trauma (past or present)
• Bereavement/loss

---

Workplace Wellbeing

Based in South Yorkshire, Workplace Wellbeing is a professional counselling and consultancy service to help doctors and dentists in difficulty deal with personal or work-related stress and psychological trauma relating to work roles. 

The service aims to help PGDiTs improve psychological health and stay psychologically healthy. They provide short term, one-to-one counselling which can be accessed face-to-face, by telephone or virtually.

They also provide access to resources and deliver group-based psychoeducational workshops on topics such as stress and coping with burnout; coping with traumatic events; and coping with the effects of racism. 

The service aims to offer a first appointment within ten days of referral submission. 

 

---

Take Time

The Take Time service offers PGDiTs a space and an opportunity to explore their difficulties; professional and/or personal in a safe and confidential manner with a trained therapist. 

You will be offered up to two initial assessment appointments to gather further insights of you, your difficulties, and your ongoing psychological needs.

Interventions vary depending on the therapeutic approach of the clinician, however they are always tailored to the individual in the context of a supportive relationship. Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Psychoanalytical psychotherapy
• Integrated counselling
• Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
• Trauma focussed therapy (such as brief EMDR for single event trauma)

The Take Time team is comprised of highly qualified and experienced clinicians in the area of mental health and psychological wellbeing in relation to occupation. They have a combination of medical and non-medical staff, allowing for a valuable multi-disciplinary approach. Each clinician brings their own areas of expertise to provide a well-rounded service and are registered and accredited by professional bodies in their own area of practice. 

All psychotherapeutic work is brief with a focus on gaining a deeper understanding with the aim to help you attend to yourself and experience less psychological distress. PGDiTs usually access up to four therapy sessions. After a collaborative discussion with your therapist, further sessions can be offered if thought to be helpful. 

The Take Time service operates out of two locations: St Marys House, South Wing and University of Leeds, 19-21 Clarendon Place. Sessions are ordinarily face-to-face but remote sessions can be facilitated based on individual need and therapeutic approach. 

If there are any risk issues elicited during assessment and/or therapy, the clinician will discuss with you whether you consent to sharing this information with other services involved in your care.

---