Therapeutic Skills for Clinicians

32 Skills

We have distilled complex psychological theory into highly effective evidence-based skills that are engaging and memorable. The skills are delivered in an original, fun and creative style using role play, props, imagery and music that makes them easy to learn and easy to teach. Demonstrations bring the skills to life. Manuals, handbooks, posters, workshops, training videos, apps, website and online resources provide a complete programme for individuals and for whole organisations.

The Decider is different: a whole systems approach – winning strategies for mental health.

The Programme

The Therapeutic Skills programme offers everything you need to introduce and embed The Decider Skills in your practice and/or organisation

Workshops
Online training
Manuals & Handbooks
Posters & Props
Training videos
Apps & Online resources

The Decider iceberg model

Organisations

We serve a wide variety of organisations and services:

Mental health services
University support services
Charities
Health and social care
Early intervention services
Prison, police and probation services
Military and veterans

Benefits for Organisations

The Decider Skills are effective, evidence based skills for ALL mental health staff:

Upskills clinicians and improves client/service user outcomes
Empowers clients/service users – builds resilience and independence
Cost effective, quality training
Complements all psychological approaches and modalities
Develops a common language – a whole systems approach
Waiting list intervention

Benefits for Individuals

The Decider Skills help us to be more resilient, resourceful, responsible, robust and reflective. Other benefits include:

A shared common language between clients, clinicians and carers
Ability to manage emotions and own mental health
Improve emotional intelligence
Develop and strengthen new neural pathways
More skilful, less impulsive life
Increase mind-body connection

Learning Styles

Visual (spatial): we use demonstrations, real life examples, pictures, images, props and spatial understanding.
Aural (auditory-musical): we use sound and music, rhythm and repetition (including our ‘Ask The Decider Song’!)
Verbal (linguistic): We use words, both in speech and writing. Didactic teaching, rote learning and repetition.
Physical (kinesthetic): We use demonstrations and mime. We develop the mind-body connection (The FIZZ)
Logical (mathematical): We tell clients why we are teaching them and ask them to think about how they might change their future thoughts, feelings and behaviours to become more confident and composed. We use logic, reasoning and systems.
Social (interpersonal): The skills can be taught to groups (small 3-4 people or large groups e.g. whole school assemblies). This instils hope and increases universality; being part of a group of people who have the same experiences helps people see that what they are going through is universal and that they are not alone. We teach Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills.
Solitary (intrapersonal): We offer the ability to learn the skills alone with self-study. https://www.thedecider.org.uk/who-we-help/individuals /

Our Programme Our Training

Mental health problems are increasing.

The effects of stress, anxiety, depression and suicide are impacting our whole society.

1 in 4 of us will be affected by mental health problems every year (Mind).
10% of all children aged between 5-16 have a diagnosed mental health problem – that is 2 or 3 in every classroom (Kessler et al).
50% of all mental health problems are established by the age of 14 and 75% by the age of 18 (Gov.uk).

Mental health care has traditionally been reactive. Evidence now supports a proactive, preventative, more positive approach to mental health and well-being.

"Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose. In our response lies our growth and freedom."

Our Solution

The Decider Skills use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to teach children, young people and adults skills to recognise their own thoughts, feelings and behaviours, allowing them to monitor and manage their own emotions and mental health. The skills were designed to enable participants to make effective changes to help manage distress, regulate emotion, increase mindfulness, promote effective communication and help to live a more skilful, less impulsive life.

How we do it

We have used our clinical expertise and proven strategies to enable both experts and non-experts to effectively teach the skills required to proactively reduce the impact of emotional distress. We have distilled complex psychological theory into highly effective, evidence based skills that are engaging and memorable. The Decider Skills are delivered in an original, fun and creative style, using role plays, props, imagery and music, that makes them easy to learn and easy to teach. The demonstrations bring the skills to life. Manuals, handbooks, posters, workshops, training videos, apps, website and online resources and training provide a complete programme that can be adapted to suit a range of organisations and services.

Workshops & Online Training »
We recommend that clinicians complete a workshop or online training.

The skills are taught in a highly original and innovative way. Didactic presentation and demonstrations bring the skills to life - group discussion and skills practice embed the skills for personal and professional use.

Our Programme »
Manuals, client handbooks, posters, workshops, training videos, apps, website and online resources and training provide a complete programme that can be adapted to suit a range of organisations and services.

The Decider Skills for Self Help online course also available

Did you know?

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

Workshops and Training

Find out more