Supported self-help is a free, 6 session guided programme where you will be given materials to help you understand and manage your feelings, as well as giving you practical tools and techniques to use every day.
After an initial assessment with one of our trained practitioners, you will have a further 5 follow-up sessions. These can be face-to-face, over the telephone or via Teams (although we would recommend face-to-face).
This is a one-to-one guided self-help service rather than a counselling or therapy service, although our practitioners do use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Principles (CBT) in their support.
The aim of Supported Self Help is to give you the skills to understand, protect and improve your mental health.
Over the last 12 months, people who have accessed Supported Self Help through Guernsey Mind have reported very positive results.
92%
reduction in feelings of anxiety
83%
reduction in feelings of depression
84%
had an improvement in mental wellbeing
How does it work?
Together with your practitioner you will choose one of 8 of the following pathways:-
- Loneliness and feeling lonely
- Managing stress
- Understanding low mood
- Coping with grief and loss
- Managing anger
- Low self-esteem
- Anxiety and panic attacks
- Understanding menopause
You will then have five 20 minute follow-up sessions with your practitioner. Between sessions you will be given tasks and exercises to practice and implement into your daily routine.
Additional resources will be added in to support the main pathway, so you will end up with a “toolbox” of resources specifically for you to use in the future.
In the last session, we will review how you are feeling and discuss if any ongoing support is needed. We can then signpost and help you take the next step.
Gives strategies and honest direction/feedback and challenges the way you think/perceptions about the situation. The challenge and direction was blended with kindness
Our Supported Self Help practitioners Chris, Helen and Ariane
Who is it for?
Supported Self Help is for anyone over the age of 18 who feels their emotions are getting on top of them and wants to learn new ways to manage their mental health. There is no upper age limit – we have had people in their 80s using the programme.
Note: If you are receiving Specialist mental health Support already please complete your treatment first before contacting us.
“Talking about my problems and someone recognising the way I am feeling and then helping me build tools and strategies to help myself has been pivotal in me being able to feel better and handle situations in a much more positive and productive way”
Find out more about Supported Self Help
What if supported self-help is not for me?
If supported self-help is not suitable for you, Guernsey Mind can help you find other support. This might be signposting to another service locally, going to your GP or accessing some other groups on the Island.
I’m a bit worried about sharing information. Is this secure?
All meetings at Guernsey Mind are confidential and any personal data is stored in line with our privacy policy. Your journey will be tailored according to your specific needs.
How much does it cost?
We do not charge for any of our support services.
If you feel you would like to make a donation to Guernsey Mind, any amount you can give is welcome, and you will be supporting our work within the Bailiwick.
Can anyone access Supported Self Help?
The service is available to anyone aged 18 and over. You can contact Guernsey Mind directly and do not need a referral from your GP.
What is the difference between Supported Self Help and therapy?
Supported Self Help:
- The programme will help you learn skills to cope with how you feel today and ways you can cope in situations in the future.
- Although previous history may be touched upon in sessions, we will not go too deeply into any past experiences or trauma.
- Supported Self Help can provide different techniques and coping mechanisms to handle your current situation.
- The programme is suitable for mild to moderate mental health support.
- You will need to be motivated to complete all of your sessions and be actively trying to make changes and considerations to improve your mental health.
Therapy:
- Therapy gives more time to discuss and process past experience and the feelings/emotions linked to this.
- Therapeutic support is a long-term process to focus on deeper mental health
- Any level of mental health can have therapy.
Your practitioner will discuss the options with you at your initial assessment if they feel Supported Self Help is not for you at this time. They will do this by working with you to assess the severity of your issue and consider your goals and resources.
Supported Self Help involves working independently with different resources under the guidance of a practitioner whereas therapy is a collaborative process with a therapist to tackle severe mental health conditions.
Supported Self Help helped me realise that I was putting everyone else first and forgetting about myself. I now feel as though I can do what’s right for me and can finally flourish the way I know I deserve to.