The Complex Emotional Needs Service facilitates a structured peer support group for family &
friends. This is for people who are supporting those accessing the Gloucestershire Health and Care (GHC) mental health services, particularly for complex emotional needs.
Complex Emotional Needs (CEN) – Umbrella term describing emotional distress that has a significant impact on an individual’s ability to function.
These needs can result in desperate struggles that can at times be life-threatening.
The group aims to:
- Provide a confidential and low-pressure environment to family & friends so they can feel supported and listened to.
- Provide a chance for informal peer support with others who understand the situation.
- Draw on the strengths, skills and resources that family & friends already have in coping with difficulty.
- Provide an opportunity to develop practical coping strategies, drawing from relevant psychological therapies, including mindfulness, compassion, and conflict resolution.
- Provide strategies for understanding and managing emotions, including strategies to manage crises and de-escalating difficult or risky situations.
- Improve the relationship and feelings of connection for the person you care for.
What is it?
A peer support group that meets weekly for two hours over a total of twelve sessions. The group will be a maximum of fourteen family & friends and is supported by two practitioners
from the CEN service.
Who can attend?
Any family & friends of people who are accessing NHS primary or secondary care within Gloucestershire for help with overwhelming emotions.
When?
For details of how to refer, dates and venues please speak to the care coordinator or named person within the GHC team
Benefits?
Comments from some past group members…
“I feel safe, not so alone and no one is judging you”
“I think it’s given us the ability to rationalize and process what’s been going on”
