Dundee Adult Psychological Therapies Service

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Dundee Adult Psychological Therapies Service (DAPTS)
15 Dudhope Terrace
Dundee
DD3 6HH

Opening hours: Monday-Friday 9am-5pm
Telephone: 01382 346 556
Email: tay.dundeeapts@nhs.scot

Who do we help?

Our service provides treatment for people with mild to moderate mental health problems. These may include:
  • Anxiety (generalised anxiety, social anxiety, health anxiety, specific phobias, panic disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - OCD)
  • Depression
  • Bulimia Nervosa
  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other trauma-related difficulties

What professionals are in the Service?

Our team has Clinical Psychologists, Counselling Psychologists, Accredited Psychological Therapists, Clinical Associates in Applied Psychology (CAAPs), Enhanced Psychological Practitioners (EPPs) and Assistant Psychologists. We are a teaching service and have a number of trainees observing and working alongside clinicians. We are also supported by a number of Administrative staff.

How is the Service accessed?

You will need to be referred by your GP or another mental health professional within NHS Tayside. The Patient Assessment and Liaison Mental Health Service (PALMS) is available within some of the GP practices across Dundee. This service can provide you the option of being assessed by a mental health specialist to determine where your needs are best placed. The outcome of this assessment could provide you with self-help resources or a possible referral to Dundee Adult Psychological Therapies Service (DAPTS) or other services across the area. 

Where will appointments be and what does the first appointment entail?

You will be offered at least one assessment appointment lasting up to 60 minutes. We offer telephone appointments, Near Me (video consultation) appointments, and also face-to-face appointments; the mode of therapy is dependent on clinical need. A summary of assessment meetings will be discussed with you and a report sent to your General Practitioner. If the assessment indicates that you would benefit from psychological intervention, treatment options will be discussed with you. Should our service be unable to meet your needs, we will discuss alternative treatment options that may best meet your needs and support you to achieve your goals.

What treatment does the Service provide?

Following assessment of your difficulties, you can discuss the best evidence-based treatment options for you with your therapist.

Treatment within DAPTS is provided in a number of ways:
  • Supported self-help
  • Individual treatment
  • Digital therapies (computerised Cognitive Behavioural Therapy - CBT) 
    • Please visit the following link to find out more information about digital therapies Silvercloud, Sleepio and Daylight that you can access remotely  https://www.nhstayside.scot.nhs.uk/DigitalTherapies(cCBT)/index.htm
  • Group treatment
    • the Building Confidence Course which is a 10-week group course for low self-esteem that uses principles from CBT. This is currently being run remotely via video conferencing
    • Survive and Thrive which is a 10-week group programme for individuals who have experienced interpersonal trauma
    • ChangeUp which is a 10-week transdiagnostic remote group course for individuals to learn strategies to manage mental health problems using strategies from CBT, mindfulness and exposure therapy

To make the most out of treatment, regular attendance and commitment to engage in each session is required. In most interventions, you are encouraged to explore your difficulties with your therapist and set goals for what you wish to achieve. In collaboration with your therapist, a treatment plan will be agreed that can support you in achieving your aims and that will provide you with strategies to manage your difficulties. 

How long are people in contact with the Service?

Individual sessions typically last between 45 and 60 minutes, while group sessions last for two hours. Sessions are conducted on a weekly or fortnightly basis. Treatment is time-limited; you are likely to be seen for somewhere between 6 and 10 sessions. Treatment is also guided by the goals that you wish to achieve within this time.

Progress depends on regular attendance. It is important that you attend all appointments given to you. If you need to cancel or change an appointment, please do this as soon as you possibly can. Individuals who miss two separate appointments without prior or sufficient notice of cancellation will be discharged from the Service. Our attendance guidelines will be discussed more fully at your first appointment.

Confidentiality

All NHS staff have a legal duty to keep information about you confidential. This includes ensuring that your paper and electronic records are held securely and are only accessed by those involved in your care. We provide reports to the clinician(s) that referred you to the Service and we may discuss your care or exchange information with them as appropriate. We also discuss our work, using non-identifiable information, with clinical supervisors. On occasion, we are required by law to share confidential information out with the NHS. If this happens, we will make every effort to keep you informed. More information about confidentiality is outlined at your assessment appointment.

Service Developments

Suggestions and Feedback
We welcome feedback about our service, and if you have any suggestions about how we could do things better, please let your clinician know. Alternatively contact the team by email on tay.dundeeapts@nhs.scot or contact the Lead Clinician by telephone or writing at the address below.

If you have not been satisfied with the service, please let your clinician know or contact the Lead Clinician as above. Alternatively you can make a formal complaint by emailing Complaints and Feedback Team at tay.feedback@nhs.scot or by writing to the address above.

How to get here

Public Transport
Bus routes 28, 57 and 59 take you from the town centre to the area of Dudhope Terrace, taking approximately 15-20 minutes.

No. 28, No. 57 and No. 59: Caird Hall - St Mary's Street 

Please check timetables and bus routes should you be travelling from a different area within Dundee.

Parking
There is a free car park outside the department. When this is full, there is on-street parking nearby, although this can get busy so please leave time to find space.

The Building
There are three NHS buildings on the Dudhope site. DAPTS is based in part of the oldest building, the middle of the three. The entrance (which is signposted) is via a shallow ramped path (wheelchair accessible) up the door which will have a buzzer to get through to reception on the outside.

There is an accessible toilet that is available to use. Should you have any further queries about accessing the building or its facilities or if you would like to find out more about where sessions would take place, please phone the department on 01382 346556 and we would be happy to speak with you.

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