Therapy Department

The Therapy Department at Cygnet Hospital Wyke provides a programme of care which is tailored to serve the specific needs of our service user group. This programme of care is informed by evidence based practice and is designed in collaboration with our service users.

Our overall philosophy is to contribute to the lives of those entrusted to our care by providing therapies which encourage a culture of self-sufficiency and independence. The Therapy department consists of many different professions which include:

Psychology

The psychology team at Cygnet Hospital Wyke includes a Consultant Forensic Psychologist, a Clinical Psychologist, and two Assistant Psychologists. The team work across all of all the wards to support the psychological well-being of service users throughout their admission.

The team work in line with the Cygnet Health Model of Care for each service line. We may complete a range of different assessments to get to know our service users better and to identify what support they might need. This could include assessments of well-being, cognitive abilities, or to screen for the presence of different mental health conditions.

The team also offer both group and individual therapies on the wards. We put the service user at the centre of decision making throughout their recovery journey, and want to empower them to decide which therapy they feel will be most helpful for them. Different options are available including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, and EMDR. Groups may include relaxation and mindfulness, mental health awareness, voice hearing, and coping with emotions. All wards also have psychology ‘drop in’ sessions each week, so people have an extra chance to access support in between their regular therapy sessions, or as a one off when they feel like it.

Alongside this, the team help service users, and those involved in their care, to better understand any difficulties they might be experiencing and the support they might need. A trauma informed approach to care is adopted throughout an individual’s recovery journey, and psychological formulations form a part of this. We also use the principles of positive behaviour support across all of the wards to help individuals develop more helpful coping techniques for them.

The team also help staff to support individuals by offering them ongoing support. This includes reflective practise sessions, ad hoc support, and regular staff training.

Social Work

Social Work is an important part of the Multi-Disciplinary approach at Cygnet Hospital Wyke. Social Workers help service users deal with a variety of issues within the context of Statutory Mental Health legislation and Safeguarding guidelines. They also use their therapeutic skills in order to facilitate improvements in our service users’ lives, for example helping the service user to become more empowered.

The role also involves problem solving and enhancing well-being by working with individuals and their families. This contributes to the Care Programme Approach of care delivery and can improve quality of life for both service users and their carers.

Occupational Therapy

The Occupational Therapists provide structured care for clients across all the wards at Cygnet Hospital Wyke. They specialise in the improvement and maintenance of function within the domains of work, self-care and leisure. Psychiatric illnesses often impair service users’ ability to perform their roles effectively within the community. For this reason, vocational, cognitive and psycho-social rehabilitation are necessary to enable the service user to be effectively reintegrated into the community.

Occupational Therapists and Therapy Assistants work with service users on an individual basis in order to identify their strengths and limitations. Specific Interventions are then planned.

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