Talking Therapies on the move

Wednesday 29 September 2021

Jersey Talking Therapies is planning to expand its group services as it moves to a new premises next week.

From Monday 4 October, the Government-operated counselling service will be situated in 40 Don Street.

“The move to 40 Don Street will allow Jersey Talking Therapies (JTT) to expand its services as there is an additional room which will provide extra space. This will also allow the front and back office functions to work out of the same place,” a spokesperson explained.

Until now, the service has run been headquartered at Regus House, above Liberation Station.

The Government had hoped to expand the service and bring both its counselling and administrative functions into the same location, but was unable to find a suitable location in its own property portfolio. 

40 Don Street was identified as a possibility earlier this year, and Infrastructure Minister Deputy Kevin Lewis indicated his intention to sign a lease that would run until 1 December 2025 back in April.

Pictured: The location of JTT's new premises.

At the time, he said 40 Don Street would “provide an improved venue for Jersey Talking Therapies (from their existing hired accommodation)” and generate “a significant cost saving”, but did not quantify this.

Pressure was put on Talking Therapies during the pandemic, with the Health Minister revealing in January that the waiting list was at its longest for 13 months, with more than 100 people on it. 

A Government spokesperson said the move to 40 Don Street plus changes to covid gathering rules would enable Talking Therapies to expand its group services in particular.

According to Talking Therapies’ webpage:  “Groups are made up of 10 to 15 people with similar symptoms. They focus on finding out about those symptoms and learning how to manage them in a variety of ways.

The current groups on offer are: mindfulness, mood tools, emotional coping skills, [and] treatment for depression.

“They can be very effective in helping psychological symptoms.” 

“The move to 40 Don Street will allow Jersey Talking Therapies (JTT) to expand its services as there is an additional room which will provide extra space. This will also allow the front and back office functions to work out of the same place.

JTT is planning to expand group services following changes in COVID-19 restrictions. JTT will be moving to 40 Don Street on Monday 4 October.”