Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)

The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, also known as CAMHS, provides a multidisciplinary service to children and young people up to the age of 18 and their families.

Our team incorporates clinical and counselling psychologists, systemic family therapists and a range of other skilled and experienced psychological therapists who specialise in particular therapeutic approaches such as arts psychotherapy, play therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, and dialectical behaviour therapy. We provide psychological care to children, young people and families with a wide range of difficulties, and we will work collaboratively with you to agree the most useful approach to achieving your goals.

We work with children, young people and families to understand your concerns and how these are connected with the life experiences that you have had. We know that everyone has a collection of strengths, resources and talents, and that these positive qualities are really important in finding a way through difficulties.

We may meet with young people individually or with family members, and with your permission, we will often liaise with other professionals that you are involved with so that your care is joined up and as effective as possible. We value feedback and are always looking at ways to make our service the best it can be, so if you have an idea about how things could work better for you, please let us know. We know that meeting new professionals and talking about personal things can be daunting, and we want to let you know that we are a caring and friendly team who very much enjoy working with children, young people and families.

Alongside us, are our other CAMHS colleagues from the nursing and medical professions. We often work jointly, and you may have meetings with us together so that we can use our different trainings, knowledge and skills to best meet your needs.

We usually see children, young people and families at the Children’s Centre in Neath Port Talbot Hospital, or in Ty’r Meddwl in Swansea City Centre.

How to access our service

Our service can be accessed by asking your GP to consider making a referral to us.

Often, children and young people are best helped by those professionals who know you best and have existing trusting relationships with you.

Where this is the case, we will do our best to support those professionals who know you best rather than suggesting that you come and see us directly.

Your GP can talk with our CAMHS Single Point of Access Team about the best option for you depending on your circumstances.