A FREE course helping people in the county to deal with low mood and anxiety is all set to begin in October.

The free 10 week workshop is being run by Worcestershire Healthy Minds, part of Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust – the main provider of mental health services within the county.

The sessions teach skills in managing difficult thoughts and feelings and encourage people to move towards a life which has meaning and purpose through a focus on values and goal setting.

The sessions are based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

ACT Therapy helps you to stand back and notice your thoughts, open up to and allow for difficult emotions and make changes to what you do to enable purpose and meaning.

Some of ACT is based on mindfulness approaches which is an integrative, mind-body based training that helps people to relate to their thoughts and feelings differently. 

Bridget Maddison, a cognitive behavioural therapist with Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, said: “This kind of therapy can help people in a number of ways: A course can remove the shame of feeling anxious and depressed.

“This course helps people notice and relate differently to their distressing thoughts and feelings so to pursue valued goals in life.

"I would really encourage people to get in touch with us and see if the course is for them.”

The sessions in Malvern will run on Wednesday afternoons, 1pm to 3pm, starting in October at St Andrews Church on Churchdown Road.

If you are interested in attending one of the groups you don’t need a GP referral but please phone 01905 760837 to book a confidential consultation appointment.

For more information about Worcestershire Healthy Minds please visit hacw.nhs.uk/healthyminds