Midlothian Wellbeing Service
Supporting individuals living with long-term health conditions and challenging life situations.
Thistle Foundation Midlothian Wellbeing Service is based in all twelve Midlothian GP Surgeries. We work with people age over 18 living with a variety of long-term health conditions including neurological conditions, and/or facing challenging life situations.
Midlothian Wellbeing Service
The wellbeing service offers a space for people to explore and plan non-medical ways of managing their health or difficult life circumstances. Our supported self-management uses a solution-focused approach which concentrates on the future and on what matters most to the person. We also connect people into activities and other support and services in their community.
We offer:
1:1 wellbeing coaching
Support to develop a wellbeing plan
Group-based Lifestyle Management Course
Group based mindfulness courses
Group based new beginnings course for people struggling with bereavement
The Lifestyle Management course is a ten week course designed to support adults who are dealing with long-term health conditions and/or difficult life situations, and who want to increase their ability to live as full a life as possible.
The course helps you gain control over your situation by making use of and building on your own coping and recovery strategies. It aims to boost confidence and self-esteem by acknowledging and celebrating the small successes you achieve along the way.
The 10-week programme consists of 10 group sessions lasting three hours with a break half way for tea and coffee. These sessions involve discussion, safe and appropriate exercise and therapeutic relaxation.
Our wellbeing teams can support you to start to think about what you are already doing to manage living with health difficulties. In the group you can continue to focus on how these “self-management strategies” can be used to help manage daily life.
Lifestyle Management Course
Mindfulness Based Living is an eight-week course. Mindfulness training helps us to know ourselves better and to develop a kinder attitude towards ourselves. We can learn to surf the ups and downs of life and to cope with unpleasant physical sensations, thoughts and emotions in a different way.
The course begins with techniques to settle the mind and to bring mindfulness into daily activities. It includes practices of; mindful movement, mindful walking, the body scan, developing loving kindness towards self and others, and developing a compassionate response to difficult sensations, thoughts and emotions.
You are encouraged to practice at home with guided audio on the Mindfulness Association app. You will also be given a course manual so that you can continue to practice mindfulness once the course is complete.
Mindfulness Based Living takes place locally in Midlothian venues and we offer remote courses.
Mindfulness Based Living
Mindfulness in Nature
Mindfulness in Nature is a five-week course that invites participants to spend some time in nature within a group. To slow down and notice. To tune into our different senses and to use these to anchor the mind gently in the present moment – rather than dwelling on thoughts about events in the past or jumping into the future, worrying about things that may never happen.
We provide you with a course manual and hope that you can continue to do the practices on your own or with friends and family, and that you can bring mindfulness and nature into your everyday lives so that you can truly flourish.
Frequently Asked Questions
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The courses take place locally in Midlothian venues and we offer remote courses.
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Courses are open to people who have been referred to the Wellbeing Team and have attended an appointment with a wellbeing practitioner and explored if a course will help them to work towards their best hopes.
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Courses and consultations are currently offered both face to face and remotely.
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Referrals can be made by GP surgery clinicians including.GPs/nurses/physiotherapists/ pharmacists/health visitors and secondary care clinicians. The waiting time from referral to first appointment offered is usually 3 weeks from us receiving the referral.
The service has an inclusive inclusion criteria but we are not able to provide the service to people who are in a mental health crisis or who are seeking a mental health diagnosis or treatment.
Stories of support
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Anna
“I wanted to know how to explain what I was feeling and thinking to friends and family, how to talk about what was going on.”
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Elspeth
“It’s made such a difference speaking to someone who is understanding and can give you advice that is helpful.”
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Callum
"Thistle is a light at the end of the tunnel – the support has given me a framework to manage my illness.”
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Dawn
“With small steps, I started to develop my physical and emotional health.”
Get in touch.
All referrals in Midlothian are made via health and social care professionals. If you would like to access support in Midlothian please speak to your GP.
Visit Us
Centre of Wellbeing, 13 Queen's Walk, Edinburgh EH16 4EA
Hours
Monday–Friday
9am–5pm
Phone
0131 661 3366