We offer one to one counselling for individuals who are considering behaviour change with regards to alcohol, cocaine, NPS, cannabis, gambling and those affected by another’s use. Counsellors support clients to set goals and make changes.

Counselling typically lasts for 12 sessions but is dependent on each individual’s needs. Counsellors are both volunteers and paid staff who are qualified and trained to a minimum of four COSCA modules and a COSCA validated behaviour change module. Most of our counsellors have completed, or are in the process of completing, their postgraduate diploma in Counselling. All counsellors receive mandatory clinical supervision in line with BACP and COSCA guidelines.

If you would like to refer yourself for counselling in Dundee, please email teodor.omelasz@alcoholtayside.com or alternatively please contact our head office on 01382 456 012. You can also refer someone you know for counselling if you have their consent to do so.

We provide one to one counselling for children and young people in primary and secondary schools across Tayside aged 10-18. Support is provided for a range of issues connected to mental wellbeing including the impact of substance use, loss and grief, risk-taking, self-harmful behaviour, relationships, bullying and self-worth/self-identity.

Counselling can take place within the school, TCA office, or by video call/phone. We have a flexible approach depending on the preferences of the client. Counselling mainly takes place during school hours but can also be provided after school and in school holidays.

The counselling is government funded and currently includes schools in Dundee and Brechin. This provision forms part of Scotland’s Mental Health Strategy, locally connected to the Tayside Regional Improvement Collaborative and the Tayside Children and Young People’s Plan.

For more information please email ashton.julien@alcoholtayside.com or call 01382 456012.

Creative therapy is offered on a one to one basis to children, young people and young adults aged 3-26 years of age in our offices in Arbroath, Dundee and Perth. Creative therapy is a place to explore thoughts, feelings, relationships and beliefs in a safe supportive environment. The creative therapist helps clients to explore these things through talking and engaging in creative expression such as: art-making, dance & movement, music or improvisation and play. Sometimes things can be difficult to put into words; creativity helps us to express these things and feel heard and seen.

Creative therapy is a trauma informed therapy and can support clients through aspects of their lives which may feel complicated, difficult and painful. Creative therapy can help clients to make sense of experiences, thoughts or feelings and help to improve their mental health and wellbeing. Clients don’t need any particular creative skill or interests to take part in creative therapy. The therapist will take things at the clients’ pace and will help them engage with their creativity and express themselves.

To refer yourself or someone else for Creative Therapy please contact Fiona McFarlane: Fiona.McFarlane@alcoholtayside.com / 01382 456012.

SMART Recovery

SMART Recovery is a UK wide programme that helps people to recover from any addictive behaviour using a science-based therapeutic programme of training. The support is provided in the form of weekly group meetings.

Dundee group: Mondays from 1pm – 2:30 pm at our Dundee office.

For more information about TCA SMART groups contact Teo Omelasz on: teodor.omelasz@alcoholtayside.com / 01382 456012.

Read more about the content of SMART Recovery groups on the smartrecovery.org.uk website.

Women only Zone (WoZ)

Women only Zone (WoZ) is a peer support group for adult females considering behaviour change with any problematic behaviour related to alcohol use. The core ethos of the group is to create a safe space for people built on trust and confidentiality in a non-judgemental setting. The focus is on growth and empowerment as part of the process of change. The sessions are about sharing personal experiences to help others, taking part in activities, having fun, learning new skills with an emphasis on health and wellbeing.

Group members who have been through their own personal recovery journey are able to offer support and share their personal experiences to help others, and the group is also co-facilitated by a trained TCA worker. WoZ group sessions are held weekly at TCA’s Dundee office on Wednesdays at 11am-1pm. If you would like to join the group, give us a call on 01382 456012 or email enquiries@alcoholtayside.com.

We provide weekly group input during term time for young people who are affected by substance use, and who may also be experiencing wider issues in the community, at school and in the home. Although groups are aimed at varying age ranges and in some cases are gender specific, all groups offer the following sessions monthly: issue-based session, social activity, community session, in-house session.

Groups at our Dundee office:

Motiv8 – for young people aged 8-14 on Tuesdays from 5-7pm
Boost is for young males aged 11-17 on Wednesdays from 5-7pm
The Klub is for young females aged 11-17 on Thursdays from 5-7pm

As well as these term-time groups, we also offer holiday provision for the group members, and this can include residential trips to places outside of their local community, a summer programme or team-building activities.

For more information contact Georgia Kinghorn: georgia.kinghorn@alcoholtayside.com / 01382 456012.

Young  people’s mentoring is an early intervention programme that uses a voluntary mentoring approach to engage with young people aged 8 to 19 years who are affected in some way by drugs/alcohol or anti-social/offending behaviour. Our Mentoring services match young people with trained volunteers to build positive, trusting, supportive and secure relationships. These relationships are expected to last for the long term, with frequent and regular meetings.

We recruit a diverse group of volunteers with a range of skills and life experience, who are matched with a young person based on similar interests. Mentors develop positive and trusting relationships and work with the young people to set and achieve goals through trying new things and learning new skills in the community. This helps them to gain confidence, self-esteem and a positive perception of their community. Young people attend the mentoring voluntarily and referrals to the service mainly come from Social Work, schools and other third sector organisations.

For more information contact Georgia Kinghorn: georgia.kinghorn@alcoholtayside.com / 01382 456012. If you would like to volunteer for young people’s mentoring please email volunteering@alcoholtayside.com.

TCA’s Kith n Kin project provides support to:

• Children and young people aged 0-18, who are living in Kinship Care arrangements due to Parental Substance Use.
• Carers of the children and young people, who may be a family member or someone with a significant prior relationship connection.

Support is offered in one to one settings and in groups. The frequency of one to one support is based on the needs of the individual. One to one support can be provided in family homes, in community spaces, in educational setting throughout Tayside, and at the Kinship hub in Dundee.

We offer both emotional and practical support. Examples of carer support include: advice on routines and boundaries within the home, guidance on positive parenting, attending Team Around the Child/multi-agency meetings, advocacy, and signposting to other relevant services.

Children/Young People’s issues often present themselves through difficulties with: managing emotions, making friends, building trusting relationships, abandonment anxiety, and patterns in behaviour. We provide the opportunity for the children and young people to develop a positive relationship with their worker, who will support them to explore the causes of these difficulties and work to overcome them in a child-centred and child-led manner.

Weekly Kith‘n’Kin groups take place in Arbroath, Dundee and Perth, giving families the opportunity to meet others in their community who live in similar circumstances, which can help to reduce isolation and build wider peer support networks.

Group meetings in Dundee:

Children and carers group: 4:30-6pm on Tuesdays at Douglas Community Centre, Dundee.

Carers Group: 9:30-11:30am on Wednesdays at Ormiston Crescent, Dundee (Angus Housing Association).

For more information contact Laurie Cook: Laurie.Cook@alcoholtayside.com / 01382 456012.

The mentoring for men project offers outreach mentoring across Dundee and Perth & Kinross for those who are at risk of failing to comply with community based justice sentences and are at risk of short custodial sentences. Mentors provide one to one support to clients and work with them to address the causes of their offending, for example substance use or inadequate support networks.

Mentors work in an outreach capacity and meet clients in the community to provide support, help with taking part in activities and build on their confidence. The mentoring process enables clients to believe in their worth and reach their potential with help and support. Mentoring helps clients to feel empowered, work toward their goals, discover their potential and integrate in to the community.

For more information contact Mark Harris: Mark.Harris@alcoholtayside.com / 01382 456012.

The Women only Mentoring project (WoM) offers one to one support to women aged 16+ living in the Dundee area who are involved in the Community Justice System. The women meet with trained TCA mentors weekly out in the community and also receive support over the phone when needed. The women create positive goals and work towards achieving these with the help and support of their mentor.

The mentoring helps the women to move on from the past, find their self-worth and feel valued in their community. This could include accessing training, attending appointments and rebuilding relationships with family. The mentor works with other organisations to assist with any life difficulties that the women may be experiencing for example with housing, food, substance use or welfare. Women are referred to the service through the local Community Justice System.

For more information contact Mark Harris on 01382 456012 or email Mark.Harris@alcoholtayside.com

The Beyond Mentoring service offers support to disadvantaged women in Dundee aged 18+ who have been involved with the Community Justice System and/or substance services. This service is designed to support women as they are coming to the end point of working with statutory supportive services, but may not yet feel ready to move on. Beyond mentoring helps bridge this gap supporting the women to continue to make progress on their recovery journey and become more connected with the wider community and helping to avoid repeating past behaviours. A range of support is offered including one to one support, group support, peer-led recovery groups, drop-ins and activity groups.

The service uses a holistic approach and is tailored to each individual client. This could include accessing local services, activity groups, access to training, volunteering and employment opportunities. It can also include accessing organisations for specific support relating to difficulties with housing, benefits or domestic abuse.

For more information contact Sarah Healy: sarah.healy@alcoholtayside.com / 01382 456012.

Safe Zone works in partnership with other agencies to support communities in Dundee, helping alleviate immediate crisis and where needed signpost and refer people to access the services and support that they need. This includes Keep Well Health, Homelessness Services, Parish Nurses, Social Workers, The Corner, Transform and DVVA.

The service is open to members of the public on Friday and Saturday evenings in Stobswell and Lochee.

For more information email Arwen Elder at arwen.elder@alcoholtayside.com or call 01382 456012.

Street Outreach locations/times

Fridays: 6-8:30pm – Court Street, Stobswell, Dundee (at the lower half of the street, at the bottom of the hill)

Saturdays: 6pm-8:30pm – Farmfoods carpark, Flights Lane, Lochee, Dundee