A mental health expert says he hopes to help “heal” Bermuda on his return to the island.

Maxim Alkon, from South Shore, is looking to launch a series of affordable two-hour workshops, addressing all manner of emotional and social issues affecting the community.

This would include specialised sessions for parents (single and couples), those struggling with addiction, adolescents, gang members, couples preparing for marriage, business professionals and people from the LGBT populace.

“I want to make this easy and convenient,” said Mr Alkon, who aims to find locations across the island to host his workshops.

“People spend a lot of time working hard, and they don’t really take care of mental health.”

Based in Philadelphia, the 37-year-old has an extensive background in counselling and psychotherapy — with masters degrees from The University of Edinburgh and Johns Hopkins University in Maryland.

On the island, he has worked for the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute, the Employee Assistance Programme of Bermuda, the Men’s Treatment Centre in Dockyard and Residential Treatment Services in Devonshire. Mr Alkon, who also holds executive coaching sessions at Fortune 100 companies, said: “Like in all small communities, people in Bermuda don’t speak up about what happens and suffer in silence instead.

“If you want to heal the society, you have to talk about things that nobody wants to talk about. I will create an environment where people can begin to experience this openness.”

Although each workshop will comprise ten to 15 people, Mr Alkon is quick to clarify that the sessions are not a form of group therapy.

“I’d like to offer something very different,” he said, adding that he intends to adopt a multidisciplinary approach which caters to each individual’s needs and preferences.

Having worked in prisons with the likes of Ku Klux Klan members, neo-Nazis and Bloods, Mr Alkon is confident in his ability to help even the most difficult cases.

“There are a small number of people in the world that truly understand the therapeutic change process,” he said. “People need to learn about change if they want to affect change in the community.”

And he is eager not to price out Bermuda’s general population — with each workshop costing $60, and those bringing someone along receiving their next session for free.

“I want to reward people for supporting my work, but also creating awareness and healing on the island,” Mr Alkon said. “Bermuda needs this desperately.”

For further details or to register your interest in the workshops, e-mail maximalkon@gmail.com