Our Pathways and Clinics

CHOICE Clinic  

The CHOICE Clinic is where most young people have their first CAMHS appointment. A clinician will explore your strengths and current challenges to help decide if CAMHS is the right service for you. If not, we’ll guide you to other services. If CAMHS is appropriate, we’ll help match you with the right clinician for ongoing support.   

CHOICE and Partnership  

After a CHOICE appointment some young people will then meet with an individual clinician from our CAMHS team. Partnership appointments involve working together to understand your difficulties and develop a plan for change. CAMHS provides assessments, psychological formulations, and evidence-based interventions. 

Enhanced Care and Assessment Team (ECAT) 

ECAT supports young people who need urgent or intensive mental health care, including those at risk of harm to themselves or others. The team also carries out urgent assessments, particularly following hospital admissions. ECAT includes nurses, doctors, psychologists, and healthcare support workers. 

Medication Clinic 

This clinic reviews and monitors medications for mental health disorders e.g. antidepressants for severe anxiety. Medication is usually only considered after other approaches have been tried. If you and your CAMHS clinician agree that medication may help, you may be referred here for further support. 

ADHD Clinic 

The ADHD Clinic supports young people diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. If you start medication, you’ll be seen regularly by this clinic for ongoing review and care. 

Eating Disorder Pathway 

This specialist pathway supports young people and families affected by eating disorders, such as Anorexia Nervosa. They offer tailored interventions and ongoing support. 

Intellectual Disability Pathway 

This team works with young people who have a diagnosed Intellectual Disability. They offer assessments and evidence-based interventions to support the young person, their family, and the wider support network. 

Complex Case Consultation Pathway 

This team collaborates with other agencies to provide expert advice for young people and families experiencing complex or multi-layered challenges. 

CAMHS Early Intervention Pathway 

Grampian CAMHS additionally has an Early Intervention Team aimed at promoting mental health and wellbeing through proactive, community-based support. This service works in partnership with schools, third sector organisations, and other local agencies to strengthen early responses to emotional and behavioural difficulties in children and young people. 

The Early Intervention team offers training and consultation to professionals working with young people, helping them build confidence and skills in supporting mental health. This includes support around recognised programmes such as LIAM (Let’s Introduce Anxiety Management) and BBA (Brief Behavioural Activation), which are designed to help children and young people manage anxiety and low mood effectively. 

In addition to training, the team provides group work opportunities for young people. These groups are designed to offer structured support in a safe and inclusive environment, helping participants build coping skills, improve emotional regulation, and connect with others who may be experiencing similar challenges. 

Who Works in CAMHS Grampian? 

Allied Health Professionals 

• Occupational Therapists – Help children develop everyday skills and routines. 

• Physiotherapists – Support physical development and movement. 

• Speech & Language Therapists – Assist with communication and language challenges. 

• Dietitians – Provide guidance on nutrition and eating concerns. 

Clinicians & Psychotherapists 

• Child Psychotherapists – Use talking or play to explore emotional and behavioural difficulties. 

• Systemic Therapists – Work with families to understand relationship patterns and improve communication. Family therapists work with families to explore emotions, relationships, and communication in a safe and supportive space. The focus is on building strengths and making helpful changes together. 

• Play Therapists – Use play to help children express emotions and process experiences. 

• CAMHS Clinicians - Provide structured, evidence-based psychological support   

Applied Psychologists 

• Clinical Psychologists – Assess and treat complex mental health difficulties using a range of psychological approaches. 

• Psychology Practitioners (PPs) & Advanced Psychology Practitioners (APPs) – Provide structured, evidence-based psychological support for mild to moderate difficulties. 

• Assistant Psychologists (APs) – Support assessments and interventions under supervision. 

Medical Team 

• Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists – Medical doctors who assess and treat complex mental health conditions taking a biopsychosocial approach, with roles in prescribing medications and use of the mental health act. 

• Physician Associates – Assist with CAMHS assessments and treatment . 

• Specialist Pharmacists – Initiate and review medication under supervision as well as advise on safe prescribing. 

• Paediatrician with special interest in mental health and neurodiversity - Medical doctors who assess and treat complex mental health conditions taking a biopsychosocial approach, with roles in prescribing medications and use of the mental health act. 

Nursing Team 

• CAMHS Nurse Specialists - nurses who assess, support, and treat mental health needs, often working closely with families, schools, and other services. Often have roles to deliver psychological interventions and non-medical prescribing 

• Health Care Support Workers - support assessments under supervision.   

Students & Trainees 

CAMHS Grampian supports the training of future professionals, including Registrar (Child and adolescent Psychiatrist), Core trainee in Psychiatry, Clinical psychology course trainees, Child Psychotherapy Trainee, Medical students, students in psychology, nursing students, and Occupational Therapy Students.   All trainees work under supervision. 

Business and Administrative Support Team 

Our administration team is your first point of contact. They manage appointments, referrals, and communication between families and professionals, helping ensure everything runs smoothly.