advanced counselling skills
1.1
The three stages of a counselling skills session are the beginning; here, the ‘ice’ is broken and the listener should try to make the speaker feel at ease. An introduction is made which helps the speaker understand what counselling skills are and the process of using them. Reference should be made to the BACP framework and the speaker should be invited in by use of gentle questioning. The beginning also gives the speaker the chance to introduce the topic they wish to discuss, and the listener to gather together information. It is of vital importance to have an appropriate opening to a session so that a contract can be made between speaker and listener that doesn’t allow for misunderstandings, e.g. the listener thinks that the speaker is going to tell them what to do.
The middle; this part of a session is about allowing the speaker to explore their thoughts and feelings. It can be used to focus on an issue and the speaker might challenge the listener and encourage them to feel safe to take risks. It is used to build rapport and strengthen the relationship between speaker and listener.
The end; the end of a session is used for the listener to sum up and check understanding with the speaker. The listener should make the speaker aware that the session is drawing to a close. This time can be used to briefly reflect upon the content of the session and how it might be used; perhaps the listener might suggest some work that the speaker could do before the next session. The listener should always check that the speaker is feeling grounded in the here and now and is mentally and emotionally safe before they leave.
1.2
It is important to open a session appropriately with your speaker. At the beginning, boundaries can be set, a contract agreed if need be, the speaker can let the listener know of the limitations of talking therapy and what and how it is used, in addition to how it works and what the process may feel like. It is a chance to break the ice and
The three stages of a counselling skills session are the beginning; here, the ‘ice’ is broken and the listener should try to make the speaker feel at ease. An introduction is made which helps the speaker understand what counselling skills are and the process of using them. Reference should be made to the BACP framework and the speaker should be invited in by use of gentle questioning. The beginning also gives the speaker the chance to introduce the topic they wish to discuss, and the listener to gather together information. It is of vital importance to have an appropriate opening to a session so that a contract can be made between speaker and listener that doesn’t allow for misunderstandings, e.g. the listener thinks that the speaker is going to tell them what to do.
The middle; this part of a session is about allowing the speaker to explore their thoughts and feelings. It can be used to focus on an issue and the speaker might challenge the listener and encourage them to feel safe to take risks. It is used to build rapport and strengthen the relationship between speaker and listener.
The end; the end of a session is used for the listener to sum up and check understanding with the speaker. The listener should make the speaker aware that the session is drawing to a close. This time can be used to briefly reflect upon the content of the session and how it might be used; perhaps the listener might suggest some work that the speaker could do before the next session. The listener should always check that the speaker is feeling grounded in the here and now and is mentally and emotionally safe before they leave.
1.2
It is important to open a session appropriately with your speaker. At the beginning, boundaries can be set, a contract agreed if need be, the speaker can let the listener know of the limitations of talking therapy and what and how it is used, in addition to how it works and what the process may feel like. It is a chance to break the ice and
References: The University of Tennessee Libraries Diversity Committee Spring 2001; Revised January 2003. (Online). Available from www.lib.utk.edu/diversity/diversity_defination.html Accessed on 03.04.2013