Following the success of the North Powys project, Ponthafren is expanding its blended online cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) system into Brecon, Hay, Talgarth, Sennybridge and Crickhowell.

Ponthafren originally piloted Silvercloud with fortnightly face to face appointments with a practitioner. This blended approach to SilverCloud online cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in North  Powys is a great success and has led to it being offered more widely in Powys.

The blended approach includes access to the platform for up to a year. Coupled with fortnightly face to face appointments with a practitioner, to help those who need support to use the Silvercloud platform, need some help with motivation or setting goals and who wanted some face to face support.

What is Silvercloud?

Silvercloud is an online service that offers computerised cognitive behavioural therapy (cCBT), and programmes aimed at benefitting well-being and promoting positive health.

Eight programmes are available:

1. Space from Anxiety and Depression,
2. Space from Depression,
3. Space from Anxiety and
4. Space from CHD (coronary heart disease),
5. Space from Diabetes Well-Being,
6. Space from Chronic Pain,
7. Space from Stress
8. Space from COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).  

Clients also have access to six additional modules to help with other issues to better their well-being:

1. Employment,
2. Behavioural Experiments,
3. Sleep,
4. Relaxation,
5. Self-Esteem
6. Anger Management. 

Who is it for?

Silvercloud is for anyone aged 16 and over! The platform has been developed for people who mild symptoms. Clients will need to have some computer skills.

SilverCloud is an online programme that helps you to develop ways of managing your own emotional wellbeing.  It is based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) which focuses on the way in which thoughts can influence feelings and behaviours. Thoughts can be helpful and sometimes they can be unhelpful.

If you are feeling anxious, depressed or stressed you are more likely to have ‘negative thinking’ and SilverCloud encourages you to develop a more balanced way of thinking that is more helpful to you.

For example, if you wake up in the morning and think “today is going to be rubbish” chances are you are going to feel rubbish; however, if you wake up and think “today could be an ok day” then you are more likely to have an okay day. The way you think can influence the way you feel. It sounds straightforward but it takes practice to change the way you think, but it’s worth it to feel differently!

You work through the online programme for 12 weeks with fortnightly reviews providing you with support and guidance.

SilverCloud could be right for you if:

• You are over 16
• You recognise that sometimes your own thinking can work against you, for example you have overly negative thoughts
• You experience symptoms of Anxiety, Depression, Anxiety and Depression or Stress
• You have an e-mail address and ongoing access to the internet
• You have the time to access the programme for 3-4 times a week minimum for 15-20 minutes at a time
• You are open to exploring and changing the way you think and to doing things differently
• You are registered with a GP in Powys

You can make a referral to our blended online cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) here. If you would like to know more about this and other services Ponthafren offers, please get in touch.