Overview
Helping Groups to Grow provides psycho-social based treatment programmes for children, young people and adults with substance misuse and mild to moderate mental health problems. We aim to help support people to stop using or to remain abstinent and live a more healthy and balanced lifestyle.
History
Helping Groups to Grow has grown from the Drug Interventions Programme in Dyfed-Powys. It was recognised that many of the service users who accessed the service were experiencing anxiety and depression linked to their substance misuse but did not fit the criteria for mental health services. Having identified this significant gap in service provision Helping Groups to Grow has developed effective programmes and services to help address the needs of these people.
Pathways to Recovery
Following a successful application, in 2009 to the Big Lottery and with additional support from the Welsh Government, Helping Groups to Grow established the Pathways to Recovery 12 week treatment programme which is specifically designed to bridge the gap between substance misuse and mental health provision.
The Lifestyle Balance Model
The Pathways to Recovery programme incorporates what is described as the ‘lifestyle balance’ model. This enables participants to understand and address underlying psychological difficulties (such as depression, anxiety, low self-esteem) and a lifestyle which may perpetuate their substance dependence.
Pathways to Support
Pathways to Support is a bespoke service, based on the Pathways to Recovery model, for those people who are involved in the Criminal Justice system and have substance misuse and mild to moderate mental health problems and live in Llanelli. Individuals entering the service have access to counselling, our four-session foundation programme and Pathways to Recovery. This specific service has been funded by the Lloyds TSB Foundation for England and Wales.
Peer Mentoring
Key to the Helping Groups to Grow approach is the involvement of service users in the development and delivery of the programme. Service users who have undertaken the Pathways to Recovery programme can train as recovery champions and work alongside us in delivering peer support and mentoring.
Helping Groups to Grow are working in partnership with SMART Recovery UK to train staff and service users to deliver the Peer Support groups.
Structured Counselling Service
Helping Groups to Grow provides counselling to children, young people and adults through a network of self employed Counsellors. Counselling focuses on the issues underlying the individual’s substance misuse and referrals are taken from substance misuse services.