Courses

  • NHS Buckinghamshire Talking Therapies run a variety of courses to support people to manage low mood, stress and anxiety
  • Informed by Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), the courses support individuals to begin to recognise the relationship between their thoughts, feelings and behaviours, with guidance to make practical changes
  • The courses are led by two clinicians who will guide the you through the session materials
  • The courses run over 6 weeks as weekly sessions for 2 hours each. We are currently running all of our groups and courses via Microsoft Teams or in face to face venues.
Anxiety and stress management course
  • Session 1 – Introduction to CBT
  • Session 2 – Management of physical symptoms
  • Session 3 – Managing worry and solving practical problems
  • Session 4 – Noticing and challenging unhelpful thoughts
  • Session 5 – Understanding and dealing with avoidance
  • Session 6 – Maintaining change and planning for the future
Mood management course
  • Session 1 – Introduction to CBT
  • Session 2 – Exploring low mood and decreased activity
  • Session 3 – Overcoming barriers and identifying our values
  • Session 4 – Noticing unhelpful thoughts
  • Session 5 – Challenging negative thoughts and improving sleep
  • Session 6 – Maintaining change and planning for the future
Insomnia support

We offer Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for insomnia through signposting to self-help information and materials.

Engaging in these materials, you will learn different skills to help break the patterns of insomnia by:

  • Helping you understand and manage your sleep
  • Getting a helpful routine in place
  • Managing periods of wakefulness during the night
  • Improving depth and quality of sleep
Computerised CBT – Space for Sleep

If suitable, we can also offer the above programme. During treatment, you will be invited to complete interactive modules and receive weekly support from your assigned clinician.

The programme usually takes about 6 weeks to complete and you will be offered a telephone appointment at the beginning and end of the treatment.

  1. Getting Started
  2. Good Sleep Habits
  3. Improving Sleep Association
  4. Sleeping Less To Sleep Better (Shift work option available)
  5. Managing Thoughts & Worries
  6. Keeping Your Sleep Cycle Healthy
Long term health conditions

We offer a Long Term Conditions (LTC) Self Management Course for anyone living with a long term physical health condition. The course aims to help people to manage their condition better and improve their physical and emotional wellbeing. This course consists of eight weekly sessions.

Learn more

Benefits

Your digital consultation

You do not have to travel to a clinic to get treatment from NHS Buckinghamshire Talking Therapies. Many of our services can be accessed online.

Joining your digital consultation or course/group session using a Smart phone or tablet device? You will need to download the Microsoft Teams app beforehand, below are some guides to assist you when downloading the app:

Before joining your digital consultation or course/group session please ensure the following:

  • That you are in a confidential space where your video and audio cannot be seen or heard by others around you to protect your confidentiality and others’ if you are attending a course/group session
  • That you have completed your Outcome Questionnaires via the Talking Therapies portal – please contact us or your clinician if you do not have a log in for this. If you are unsure how to use it please see the Guide to Using theTalking Therapies Portal
  • That you have watched the videos below if needed
  • That you have a phone available in the event of any technical problems

Groups

As well as our courses, we regularly run a number of therapy groups for a variety of difficulties. These are currently being run via Microsoft Teams.

Building self-esteem
You will:
  • Learn about the nature of low self-esteem: how it develops, how it affects our emotions and thoughts, and how it influences how we lead our lives. We will look at how this all fits together in common patterns of interactions
  • Understand what keeps low self-esteem going
  • Build experience and confidence in situations which you find difficult and which trigger self-critical or anxious thoughts
  • Develop a more positive and accepting attitude towards yourself
  • Plan for managing future difficulties and challenges
Carers of people with dementia
You will understand:
  • More about dementia and how it affects your loved one
  • More about managing stress and low mood that can occur in the role of being a carer
  • How to respond when your relative is distressed and how to cope with the behaviours you find most difficult
  • The opportunity to share experiences with others
Long term health conditions

Many people with physical health difficulties can have times when they feel down or worried about it. Feeling down or worried can, in turn, make it harder to manage your LTC the way you want to.

The Live Well team can help with managing the emotional impact of living with a long term condition. Please click here for further information.

Managing obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
You will:
  • Learn about the nature of OCD, including intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviours and how this fits together in a common pattern of interactions
  • Understand how making unhelpful assessments of our thoughts can cause these thoughts to become intrusive and cause behaviours to be repeated
  • Develop strategies to cope with thoughts and life events, and use behavioural experiments to break the vicious cycle of OCD
Mindfulness for depression
You will:
  • Learn daily meditation practices
  • Have the opportunity of applying these ideas to your own experience, through regular meditation practice, through discussion with other participants, through exercises done in class and through weekly home practice
  • Have access each week to audios to guide your meditation practice to help you consolidate what you have heard in class
  • Have the unique opportunity of sharing your experiences and ideas with others who understand the issues caused by depression
Mindfulness for long term health conditions (LTC)
You will:
  • Learn daily meditation practices
  • Have the opportunity of applying these ideas to your own experience, through regular meditation practice, through discussion with other participants, through exercises done in class and through weekly home practice
  • Have access each week to audios to guide your meditation practice and handouts to help you consolidate what you have heard in class
  • Have the unique opportunity of sharing your experiences and ideas with others who understand the difficulties caused by health problems
Move your Mood

Move your Mood is a 10 week Step 3 depression course which has protected time for physical activity incorporated into every session. The aim is to share with our patients the many benefits of moving our bodies to aid our mental wellbeing whilst providing evidence based treatment. In it you will learn:

  • Learn CBT strategies and techniques to manage and overcome low mood
  • Learn about the link between low mood and physical activity
  • Have 30 minutes protected time for movement and physical activity as part of the group

Testimonial from a group member:
“I enjoyed the group thoroughly and found the social interaction good. It was really good to see and hear from others going through similar things to me as well as seeing everyone getting involved with the physical side of things. It made me adjust my thinking process around ‘smiley fitness instructors’ e.g. Joe Wicks. I looked forward to attending the group and the facilitators were excellent. I’ve made a friend out of the group as well which I’m pleased about. I found it all brand new but really interesting, the content was thought provoking and got me thinking in different ways, particularly about my Rules for Living.”

Postnatal wellbeing group

This is a 10 week structured group designed to help mothers struggling with depression and anxiety after birth. The course is facilitated by a CBT Therapist, Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner and Health Visitor. We also offer one session just for partners.

The group provides an improved understanding of postnatal depression and anxiety and learning to look after yourself again. We also learn to apply practical strategies using a CBT approach.

Weight Management Support

Way Forward Bucks (WFB) is a year-long programme for people who have previously been unable to lose weight or maintain previous weight loss using community services, such as WW or Slimming World. The programme includes dietetic support, physical activity guidance, and has a strong emphasis on psychology to support behavioural change which in turn encourages individual health gains.

All referrals to this programme need to be made by a registered GP or another medical professional, such as a practice nurse.

Please note that due to the medical information required, only professionals can refer to WFB.

Page last reviewed: 23 May, 2024