Counselling Skills Course

Course Overview

Course Objectives

• To help develop an understanding of what counselling is and how it differs from other sorts of help and communication
• to introduce some basic counselling skills such as active listening, mirroring, reflecting back, non-judgemental approach, working with difference, etc
• to recognise and understand different forms of communication, verbal, unconscious, body language, etc
• To learn about the therapeutic framework and the importance of boundaries.
•  To learn about basic developmental theory based on psychodynamic principles
• To provide a space for self-exploration and self-development

Course Outline

• The Role of Counselling
  • Counselling defined; the purpose of counselling;
    why do we need counselling; how counselling grew.
• The Limits and Extent of Counselling
  • Varieties of counselling; qualities and attributes of an effective counsellor; maintaining and developing helping skills; limits of client/counsellor relationship.
• The Initial Counselling Session
  • The counselling process; overview of Egan’s helping model; attending; developing rapport; responsibility; relaxation.
• Active Listening and Empathy
  • Active listening; shadow side of listening;
    empathy as a communication skill; the uses
    of empathy; empathy as a core condition.
• Supplement: Basic Counselling Skills Readings
• Problem Exploration, Probing, and Questioning
  • Helping clients tell their stories; assessment and learning; reluctant and resistant clients; probing; questioning skills.
• Challenging and Confronting
  • The goals of challenging; what needs challenging; helping clients challenge themselves; difficulties and benefits associated with confrontation.
• Goal Setting
  • Developing programs for constructive change; helping clients create a better future; what do clients really want; what are clients willing to pay for what they want?
• Management Aspects of Counselling
  • Caseload management; records management; time
    and stress management.
• Action Planning
  • Helping clients develop strategies to get what they need and want; what’s best for the client; making plans.
• Action Skills
  • Introduction; helping clients become effective tacticians; getting along without a helper: developing social networks for supportive change; the shadow side of implementing change.
• Advanced Counselling Skills
  • Introduction; advanced counselling skills; when to refer a client; the process of referral; referral agencies.
• Supervision of Caseload Management
  • Supervision methods; transference and counter transference; caseload management; caseload management concepts.
• Assessment and Report Writing
  • Effective counselling; the value of experience; evaluating the effectiveness of counselling; observations; report writing