Groups and Courses

What is the Improving Mood Course?

The Improving Mood Course is for people who are experiencing symptoms of mood disorders, such as persistent sadness, low mood, or depression. These difficulties can have a significant impact on daily life and make it harder to function. Common symptoms can be a loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed, reduced motivation, fatigue, withdrawal from social contact, or changes in energy levels and sleep.

What does this programme involve?
This programme is a structured course based on the principles of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). It includes 6 weekly sessions, each lasting two hours. The sessions are educational and follow evidence‑based CBT techniques.

Each week includes time for discussion, which you will be encouraged to take part in these conversations to help deepen your understanding. You will also be given home practice tasks to complete between sessions, this is an important part of treatment and helps you apply what you learn. All sessions are confidential.

How will this help me?
During this course you will:

• Learn about the common cycles that maintain low mood
• Practise strategies to manage symptoms, including techniques for challenging thoughts and managing unhelpful behaviours
• Build skills to take back control of your mood and improve your overall wellbeing

Who runs the sessions?
The course is delivered by two Wellbeing Practitioners, trained in providing guided self‑help using CBT‑based approaches. They will support you throughout the programme and help you apply the techniques in a way that works for you.

What is the Overcoming Stress and Anxiety Course?

The Overcoming Stress and Anxiety Course is for people who are experiencing General Anxiety Disorder and or feel very stressed. This can mean worrying a lot, having anxious thoughts, or feeling tense, and these feelings can start to affect everyday life. People may notice physical symptoms like a fast heartbeat, sweating, feeling sick, shortness of breath, or finding it hard to relax. Many also have problems with sleep, concentrating, feeling irritable, or calming down.

What does this programme involve?
This programme is a structured, educational course based on the principles of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). It consists of 6 weekly sessions, each lasting two hours. 

The sessions follow evidence‑based CBT techniques and include opportunities for group discussion around the techniques, which you will be encouraged to take part in these conversations to help deepen your understanding. You will also be given home practice tasks to complete between sessions, an essential part of treatment that helps you apply what you learn in your everyday life. All courses are fully confidential.

How will this help me?
During this course you will:

• Learn about the common cycles that maintain stress and anxiety
• Practise strategies to manage symptoms, including techniques for challenging thoughts and managing unhelpful behaviours
• Build skills to regain control over your stress and anxiety symptoms and improve your overall wellbeing

Who runs the sessions?
The course is facilitated by two Wellbeing Practitioners, trained in delivering guided self‑help using CBT‑based approaches.

What is the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Group?

The Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) group is designed to help you develop two core skills:

• Acceptance of unwanted thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations
• Commitment to taking action and engaging in new, meaningful behaviours

ACT is a modern, evidence‑based psychotherapy grounded in research on how the human mind works. It has been shown to be effective for a wide range of psychological difficulties. The name reflects one of its central ideas: learning to accept what is outside of your control, while committing to making changes in areas you can influence to improve your life.

What does the programme involve?

The ACT group runs for 10 weeks, with two‑hour sessions each week. It is an active, skills‑based therapy where you will learn practical tools to enhance your quality of life.

The programme has two main aims:

• To help you build a rich, full, and meaningful life
• To teach mindfulness‑based skills that enable you to handle painful thoughts and feelings more effectively, reducing their impact and influence over you

How will this help me? 

ACT may be helpful if you are ready to:

• Learn skills for managing difficult thoughts and emotions
• Break out of “stuck cycles” of anxiety or depression
• Set meaningful behavioural goals aligned with the life you want
• Reflect on who and what truly matters to you

 Who runs the sessions?

The group is facilitated by a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist, trained in delivering ACT and other CBT‑based approaches.

What is the Overcoming Worry Group? 

Do you often find yourself:

• Worrying about many different things in everyday life
• Believing that worrying helps you prepare, plan, or shows you care
• Getting caught up in lots of “What if…?” thoughts about the future
• Feeling like you were “born a worrier”
• Experiencing muscle tension, especially in your neck and shoulders
• Struggling with sleep
• Feeling restless, on edge, irritable, tired, or easily exhausted

If so, you may be experiencing Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) or excessive worry. The recommended psychological treatment for GAD is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Taking part in CBT within a group setting can be especially helpful, as it allows you to meet others with similar experiences while learning practical ways to manage worry more effectively.

What does the programme involve?

The Overcoming Worry Group delivers CBT in a supportive group environment. The programme includes nine weekly sessions, each lasting two hours.

You will be encouraged to take part in discussions and share your experiences, as active engagement helps you get the most out of the course. Everything shared in the group is treated with strict confidentiality, agreed collectively during the first session.

There is also an expectation that you will practise the coping strategies between sessions, as applying these skills in daily life is an important part of treatment.

How will this help me? 

The Overcoming Worry Group will support you to:

• Build a clearer understanding of anxiety and worry
• Learn practical skills and techniques to manage worry
• Identify the difference between current worries and hypothetical worries
• Set meaningful goals based on how you want your life to be
• Make positive changes to improve your wellbeing

Who runs the sessions?

A Cognitive Behavioural Therapist will guide you through the programme using a proven CBT‑based approach called 'Guided Self‑Help'.

Find out more about Overcoming Worry by watching the video below: