Clinical Psychology and Psychological Therapies

The Clinical Psychology and Psychological Therapies Department aims to provide accessible, effective and efficient psychological services to the local population, on a Trust-wide basis, with the aim of promoting psychological health and well-being.

The Clinical Psychology and Psychological Therapies Department provides services across a range of specialisms, as listed below.

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• Adult Autism Service

  The Adult Autism Service is managed through the Clinical Psychology department. This multidisciplinary team comprises of staff from Psychology and Occupational Therapy backgrounds. The service offers diagnostic assessment and intervention for adults with a diagnosis of autism. The service also provides staff training, support to carers and participates in research activity.

  For further information please contact: the Consultant Clinical Psychologist on Tel: (028) 9250 1326

• Adult Psychological Therapies Services

  We offer a Clinical Psychology and Psychological Therapy service (both individual and group therapy) for adults aged 18-65. The service is mainly outpatient based but also in-reaches to the Trust Mental Health Inpatient Units when requested.

  We see a wide range of acute and chronic problems including Panic Attacks, Agoraphobia, Depression, Generalised Anxiety (excessive worry), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Sexual Abuse, Self-Esteem, Occupational Stress, Sexual Problems, Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge-Eating, Personality Difficulties, Emotional Instability, Trichotillomania, those with a diagnosis of Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder, Body Dysmorphia, Health Anxiety and Social Anxiety.

  We accept referrals from 2 sources only:

  • From Mental Health Assessment Centres (GP referral).
  • From Professionals within Mental Health Services already working with the patient/client.

  If you would like to be referred to our service please speak to your GP or Mental Health Professional.

  If you have any queries regarding our service you can contact us on Tel: (028) 44 513 880

• Children’s Paediatric Clincal Psychology Services

  The Clinical Psychology Paediatric Service offers a specialist quality community based clinical psychology service to children up to the age of 18 years with emotional, behavioural, social and psychological difficulties related to medical conditions.

  Services provided include individual based psychological assessment and neuropsychological assessments; a range of individual and group therapeutic interventions for children/young people and families; consultation, supervision, support and reflective practice; training; service development and research, service evaluation and audit.

  Referrals will be accepted through the Child Health single point of entry from a specific range of professionals involved in caring for children and young people. Intervention from a Step 1 and Step 2 service is required prior to acceptance of a referral for intervention.

  RISE NI (Regional Integrated Support for Education) is a multidisciplinary team that supports children in school by working closely with parents and school staff to help children develop foundation skills for learning. Children from P1 – P4 can be referred to this service by teachers (with parental consent).

  If you have any queries about Children’s Paediatric Psychology Services you can contact the Consultant Clinical Psychologist on Tel: (028) 9260 7528 or (028) 9151 0190

• Looked After and Adopted Children's Therapeutic Services

  This service comprises of Clinical Psychologists, Social Workers and Mental Health Nurses. We are a therapeutic support service for Looked After and Adopted children and the network that surrounds them.

  We accept referrals from Field Social Workers for young people up to the age of 18 years where there are concerns about social, emotional and/or behavioral difficulties which are placing a significant strain on the family or placement; early childhood history of trauma and attachment difficulties is impacting upon current emotional and relational functioning.

  Referrals are made using the online referral form on the South Eastern HSC Trust intranet.

  If you have any queries about this service you can contact the team at Hilden Resource Centre, Lisburn on Tel: (028) 9266 7990

• Clinical Health Psychology Service

  The aim of this service is to offer psychological support to people who are experiencing emotional distress resulting from their physical health condition and its associated treatment/management. Services are offered to diabetes, ICU, chronic pain, oncology and plastic surgery patients who are aged 18 years or over.

  Services may be provided individually or in a group based format and include psychological assessment, individually tailored psychological therapies, consultation to health professionals and third sector organisations, training, and clinical supervision of staff offering psychosocial/psychological care.

  Referrals for diabetes, ICU, plastic surgery and chronic pain patients can be made by the person’s Consultant or a member of their hospital team only.

  Referrals to the service for patients with cancer can be made by the person’s Consultant, GP or any member of their health care team. Referrals can only be made for patients who are within 2 years of their cancer diagnosis or recurrence of cancer and who are being treated in the South Eastern Trust.

  If you have any queries about these services please contact:

  • Chronic Pain: (028) 9056 1340
  • Plastic Surgery: (028) 9598 8097
  • Diabetes & ICU: (028) 9055 3225
  • Cancer Services: (028) 9055 3112
• Clinical Psychology Learning Disability Service

  This service offers assessment and interventions for a range of difficulties including diagnostic assessment for learning disability, challenging behavior issues, mental health difficulties, interpersonal and sexual relationship issues, dementia assessments and complex capacity assessments.

  Referrals are accepted from a range of professionals e.g. GPs, social workers, psychiatrists and staff in day centres. For individuals who are referred to the service who have not already been identified as having a learning disability, assessment will be carried out to establish if they meet criteria for a diagnosis of learning disability before any psychological assessments and/or therapy will be undertaken.

  If you require any further information about this service please contact:

  • Children’s Services: the Consultant Clinical Psychologist Tel: (028) 4461 6915
  • Adult Services: the Consultant Clinical Psychologist Tel: (028) 9151 1190
• Clinical Psychology Service for Older People

  This service offers psychotherapeutic input to individual clients aged 65 years and over presenting with the full range of mental health problems but most commonly anxiety, depression, post traumatic stress disorder, personality difficulties, sexual abuse and adjustment difficulties.

  We also offer a neuropsychological assessment service to aid in the differential diagnosis of dementia in complex cases. As an adjunct to this service we provide advice in behavioural management for formal and informal carers. We also contribute to training programmes for carers of those who have a dementing condition.

  Referrals to our service come from Psychiatrists who work in Mental Health Services for Older People.

  If you have any queries about this service please contact Tel: (028) 9266 5141

• Neurodisability Services

  Clinical Psychology services are provided within the following Neurodisability services:

  Community Acquired Brain Injury Rehabilitation Team

  This team consists of a range of healthcare professionals. Its main aim is to maximise independent functioning, psychological wellbeing and social functioning.

  Referrals are accepted from any healthcare professional within any care setting for individuals over the age of 18 years.

  Thompson House Hospital, Lisburn

  Thompson House Hospital is a specialist unit in Lisburn which provides nursing care and support services to individuals over the age of 18 with complex neurological illness and acquired brain injury. Inpatient services include respite, assessment and rehabilitation. Services are provided through a multidisciplinary approach and aims to maximise functional ability and independence of patients, with the overall goal of returning to live in the community. Referrals to Thompson House Hospital can be made by any professional involved with the individual and all referrals will be considered by the multidisciplinary team who will determine if the individual is suitable for the service.

  Community Stroke Team

  The Community Stroke Teams are specialised, multidisciplinary teams that provide rehabilitation following stroke.  The Team provides in reach into the Downe hospital, early supported discharge to appropriate patients on discharge from acute hospitals (intensive rehabilitation based on clinical reasoning and patient choice), and needs-led rehabilitation within the home environment.  The service aims to maximise each individual’s functional ability and independence, and to facilitate re-integration in the community.

  For further information about Clinical Psychology Neurodisability Services please contact the Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist on Tel: (028) 9151 1192