Who we see

The Learning Disability Psychological Therapies Team accepts referrals for adults (aged 18 and over) with a learning disability. A learning disability is a life-long condition present before adulthood (before age 18) and is associated with the following issues:

• A significant impairment of intellectual functioning (e.g. the ability to understand new or complex information, to learn new skills, or to problem solve.)
• A significant impairment of adaptive behavior (i.e. the ability to cope independently with social, educational, and/or practical tasks)

The Learning Disability Clinical Psychology Service with not accept referrals for:

• Individuals that have specific learning difficulties only, such as dyslexia or dyscalculia.
• Individuals who develop learning impairments or problems with everyday tasks after the age of 18 (an acquired cognitive impairment)

What do we do

The Learning Disability Psychological Therapies Team adopts a person-centered approach in working with individuals with learning disability (and their carers) that may experience the following:

• Mental health problems e.g. anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, phobias, psychosis, post-traumatic stress disorder.
• Physical health problems e.g. diabetes, sleep, pain, epilepsy, etc.
• Challenging behavior
• Relationship problems or personality issues
• Complex or atypical bereavement
• Trauma as a result of neglect or abuse (sexual, physical, emotional)

We can also offer standardized assessment and relevant interventions for the following:

• Capacity for specific things e.g. parenting, making decisions.
• Dementia and neurological Changes
• Behavior and offending risks
• Neuro-developmental disorders e.g. autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, etc.
• Cognitive strengths and needs e.g. attention, learning, memory, problem solving etc.

N.B. An assessment of an individual’s cognitive strengths and needs will only be undertaken when:

• Basic checks regarding cognitive ability have been undertaken by the referrer prior to referring for specialist assessment.
• There is sufficient evidence that the individual may have a formal cognitive deficit.
• The individual is not waiting/open to or does not have access to another psychology team.

Where is Learning Disability Psychology based?

The Learning Disabilities Clinical Psychological Therapies is located at:

Mayfield Building, Falkirk Community Hospital, Major’s Loan, Falkirk, FK1 5QE

Phone: 01324 614 347
Email: FV.psymailbox@nhs.scot

How we can be accessed

Referrals for people with a learning disability may be made by GPs and members of community learning disability teams direct to the Learning Disability Clinical Psychology Service, Falkirk Community Hospital, Majors Loan, Falkirk, FK1 5QE, which serves both hospital and community patients.