'Innovative' counselling service could see waiting times reduce to less than a week

Hopes that Brighter Teaching therapy model will be successful on Island

Plans for a new counselling service - which could see people wait just seven days for support - are underway on the Isle of Man.

It’s hoped the ‘Brighter Teaching’ model, which has already been rolled out in the UK, can be successfully implemented on the Island to help reduce waiting lists for people needing therapy.  

Accredited training opportunities are being offered to student counsellors who, as part of their placements, will provide hundreds of hours of counselling therapy under supervision.

The initiative is being run by Brighter Things founder Tommy Silvester and Ann Shimmin of Ann Shimmin Learning – who helps provide training courses for Manx people.

Currently people on the Island who wish to become a counsellor can only study for a Level 2 certificate in counselling skills; Level 3 and Level 5 qualifications are only available off-Island.

Under the Brighter Teaching model nine students are already studying, on Island, for their Level 3 – they’ll progress to Level 5 in December.

“It is our belief that individuals reach out for counselling after deliberating for some months, sometimes years.

“Often those that need support are on the brink of breaking and this is their cry for help; existing counselling services on the Island are over-stretched.

“As such we anticipate that our service will be able to offer a turnaround time of just seven days from individuals being referred to them being put in touch with a counsellor.

“Given the surge in numbers of individuals who are waiting to access our mental health services on island it is our belief that this service will align with the new Mental Health Strategy and help improve positive outcomes for our Manx community.” Ann Shimmin and Tony Silvester

It’s hoped 12 students a year will be put through a Level 5 diploma, over a three-year period, with each student committing to providing 200 hours of counselling, starting at the end of year one.

This, the duo says, will result in 2,640 hours of free counselling being provided over 36 months.  

Mr Silvester - who is also the lead for counselling and mental health for the Birmingham Adult Education Service - told Manx Radio the model has a number of benefits:

Mr Silvester, and Mrs Shimmin, say they want to work with the Department of Health and Social Care to find appropriate accommodation for the service.

They add they would also like to secure funding to help pay qualified staff to manage it and to ensure that all students are well supported in their placements