Cynnwys

Cynnwys is a specialist service which aims to improve the care received by people who experience severe emotional, behavioural and relationship difficulties, often referred to using the diagnosis of Personality Disorder.

The service provides two functions:

1. To provide specialist support and therapy for individuals with a personality disorder diagnosis who require more intensive or flexible support than can be provided by secondary care services alone. 
2. To support the delivery of effective, evidence based care for individuals with a personality disorder diagnosis across the care pathway through providing consultation, advice and training to staff teams.

Who we are

The Cynnwys team is a multidisciplinary team, which includes

• Consultant Clinical Psychologist (Service Lead)
• Highly specialist Clinical Psychologist
• 5 Specialist Clinicians
• Sessional input from a Consultant Psychiatrist to provide second opinions on diagnosis, care and prescribing
• Administrator

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy

The Cynnwys Service offers a comprehensive Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) programme for individuals who are keen to stop self-harming and to reduce suicidal thinking.  DBT is a behavioural therapy, which aims to reduce harmful ways of coping through practicing new ways of responding to difficult emotions.  The therapy includes a weekly skills class where new skills for understanding and responding to problems are taught, weekly individual appointments with a therapist where the skills are linked to individual goals and targets for therapy, as well as access to telephone skills coaching between therapy appointments to support in applying the skills in context. Skills are taught in modules, with a cycle of skills taking 26 weeks.  Individuals who join the programme are asked to commit to completing two cycles of the skills (52 weeks excluding any breaks in the programme for holidays).   

The DBT skills class is currently held at Barry Hospital on a Tuesday morning. 

Referral and Assessment

Referrals to Cynnwys are accepted from secondary mental health services across the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board area, including the Crisis Assessment Ward and the locality wards.

To be considered for the DBT programme, you must have a care co-ordinator in secondary care and be attending any planned appointments with your Community Mental Health Team.  DBT is a community based therapy and therefore referrals for this programme are not accepted from the wards.  You must be motivated to stop self-harming and to practice new ways of responding to painful situations.  If you and your care co-ordinator both feel that it would be helpful, your care co-ordinator can make a referral to the Cynnwys team.  You will be invited to attend for an assessment, which will include a clinical interview and completion of psychometric measures to help us to understand your difficulties. There will be the opportunity to ask questions about the therapy.

Contact Information

Telephone: 029 21833011