About

We are passionate about improving mental health outcomes. 

We developed the Decider Skills to change and save lives. That's why we reinvest and donate much of our profit to impact positive social change. We have a strong social conscience and we believe in working for the greater good.

TEDx talk by Michelle and Carol 2015

Developing The Decider Skills

Michelle Ayres and Carol Vivyan, are Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapists, with a background in mental health nursing, from Guernsey, Channel Islands.

They developed The Decider Skills based on their own clinical experience in mental health.  Following an initial pilot study, client experiences and feedback were included to develop this structured, evidence based skills programme.  The aim was to reduce impulsivity whilst increasing resilience, coping and confidence, by learning 32 evidence based skills.  Participants presented that the lack of early skills training in how to recognise and manage their own emotions and mental health, meant that they had formed unhelpful habits in their thinking, feeling and behaviour, which maintained their mental health problems.

They chose the name “The Decider” as it became apparent that learning the skills was empowering the service users to “decide” for themselves how to react in difficult circumstances.

The Decider Skills are different

Traditionally, mental health has received reactive treatment.  This needs to change. We need to be proactive in our approach. 

"If you always do what you always did, you'll always get what you always got."

Clients reported that their experience of mental health services was often problem-focused, revisiting past trauma and not future-focused.  They asked for skills to manage their own emotions and mental health so that they could live a more skilful, less impulsive life.

The skills are designed to enable participants to make changes to help manage
distress, regulate emotion, increase mindfulness and effective communication.
The skills are delivered in an effective, fun, and creative style that makes them
easy to learn and teach.

A passion to teach proactive mental health

Children are taught fire drill from an early age.  Fire drill is embedded and reinforced throughout our lives.  We are equipped with the skill to react effectively in the event of a fire.  The Decider Skills are for our internal fire of emotion.  We believe that good foundations are made by learning The Decider Skills early in life, resulting in better mental health outcomes.

We are inspired by Frederick Douglass who said:  "It is easier to build strong children than it is to fix broken adults." Just like fire drill, we believe that The Decider Skills could be embedded and reinforced throughout our lives.

The greatest gift we can give children, young people and adults is the skills to manage their own emotions and mental health.  Vivyan & Ayres 2017

Our dream is that every child will have the chance to learn Decider Life Skills so that they can manage their own emotions and mental health and improve their future mental health outcomes. This will impact not just our children, but our society as a whole.

Michelle and Carol won The British Journal of Nursing 2015 Mental Health Nurse of the Year Award for The Decider

The 12 Life Skills: Proactive mental health

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Our Authorised Trainers

CAROL & MICHELLE

Guernsey

Creators of The Decider Skills. Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapists

MARGARET & GINA

Ireland

Based in Co. Offaly, Republic of Ireland The Decider Skills (2 day) and The Decider Life Skills (1 day)

GWEN & ALLEN

Scotland

Based in Aberdeen, Scotland (NHS Grampian) The Decider Skills (2 day) and The Decider Life Skills (1 day)

RUTH & TARA

Northern Ireland

Based in Belfast, Northern Ireland (NHS) The Decider Skills (2 day) and The Decider Life Skills (1 day)

PIP & DAMIEN

New Zealand

Based in Dunedin, New Zealand - The Decider Skills (2 day) and The Decider Life Skills (1 day)

NHS TAYSIDE

Scotland

Keren and Michael - based in Dundee CAMHS

NHS TEES, ESK & WEAR VALLEYS

NE England

Emily and Breege - based in Darlington

NHS HIGHLAND

Scotland

NHS Highland lead: Dr Tim Agnew

NHS LOTHIAN

Scotland

NHS Lothian leads: Karen Darroch and Rachel Brown

NHS FORTH VALLEY

Scotland

NHS Forth Valley lead: Katherine Roseweir

NHS FIFE

Scotland

NHS Fife leads: Marie Boilson & Andy Summers

HSE IRELAND

Ireland

Eimear and Shannon - based in Dublin

BARNARDO'S

South West England & Jersey

Julie, Charlotte and Nick - The Decider Skills (2 day) and The Decider Life Skills (1 day) for adults and young people

WESTERN ISLES COUNCIL

Western Isles, Scotland

Ruth Macleod, Educational Psychologist - The Decider Life Skills for young people

CHARLIE & EMMA

Guernsey

Based in Guernsey, Channel Islands - The Decider Life Skills for young people

NHS AYSHIRE & ARRAN

Scotland

Stacey and Dawn - based in Ayshire

HEALTH & COMMUNITY SERVICES

Jersey

Government of Jersey lead: Jake Bowley

Help

FAQs

Answers to common questions on teaching and learning the skills.

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Resource

Client Resources

Access your account for downloads, print materials and references.

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Evidence

Client Stories

Decider is helping people take control of their mental well-being.

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