The Level 2 course, which launched at the local college last year, produced 22 graduates this January. So far, enrolment for Level 3 in September is promising ‘a big group’ of keen students, with applications flooding in.
‘The Guernsey college hasn’t run this before,’ said course tutor Jana Noyon, who has worked at TGI for more than 20 years, teaching 16- to 19-year-olds office administration.
After studying counselling skills herself, as a way to develop as a teacher, she and her colleague, Lucy Mallett – who also took the course – decided to introduce it to the island’s college curriculum.
She is now the co-tutor, along with TGI’s resident psychotherapist Karla Rumens.
‘It’s become such a popular course and I think that’s due to a growing awareness of mental health issues and an increasing wish to talk and share,’ said Ms Noyon.
‘This course enables you to use the skills for active listening to help in everyday life. It’s really transferable and some people do it purely for personal development.
‘Now we’re moving on to Level 3 in September, and I’m tutoring Level 2 again in March. It’s been fantastic, the students rave about it. A lot of them said it was almost life-changing. It’s really lovely to see them grow in understanding of themselves and others, and watch all these light bulb moments that pop up throughout the year. I think the biggest one that hits first is not to give advice. You’re not the expert in someone else’s life – they are. You’re there to listen.’
The course is designed to provide knowledge and the ability to use counselling skills in a variety of contexts and roles. Though ideal for those considering a future in counselling professionally – many of the local graduates joined the course to enhance their everyday life. This includes 51-year-old Mich Le Messurier, who works as a financial administrator.
‘It’s been really helpful,’ she said. ‘I’ve got OCD, and the course has given me more understanding about my perceptions, why I behave the way I do. We also learned about active listening, which has been so useful in general life.
‘It’s been great for work, for personal life – it’s just given me so many new skills which I hadn’t expected to come out with.’
A large part of the course requires students to explore their own emotional and behavioural patterns, through journalling. No one is required to share this work, but the personal therapy is an important aspect of the training, as counsellors need to understand themselves, before they can help others.
‘It was probably more in depth than I expected,’ said Mrs Le Messurier.
‘But actually, I got a lot out of it and I know a lot of the others on the course did too. Having had therapy and counselling myself, mental health has become a subject that I’ve been really interested in. Going back into a school environment, I didn’t know what to expect.
‘It was very new and different, and that initial change to my routine actually triggered my OCD. But because of the nature of the course, I was able to be honest about that and talk about how I was feeling. With all the cathartic journal writing and group discussion, I noticed that now, I’ve massively gained confidence in myself. It’s been such a good personal journey.’
Jodie London, who also works full-time in finance, is hoping to develop her skills this year, with aspirations to one day change career paths.
‘Ultimately I’d really like to work in counselling,’ she said.
‘But I’m not qualified yet. I’m hoping to get on the Level 3 course in September. It’ll be a heavier workload, but I’ll just get up early to study before work, and at the weekend, and I take advantage of the library’s late-night openings.
‘It’s a dedication but it’s something that I really enjoy. And as a mum, I’ve found that it’s really helped with having conversations.
'It made me realise that sometimes you can be too quick to jump in with advice, and actually, you form a better bond by just sitting down and using active listening skills – empowering people to find the solution themselves.’