Counselling Skills course (Level 3)

About this course

This Level 3 Counselling Skills Course is designed for anyone interested in acquiring the preliminary knowledge and skills necessary to become a professional counsellor; OR to utilise counselling skills in other areas of work (e.g. social work or support work) . These skills include:

Active listening skills
- Paraphrasing
- Reflecting
- Summarising
- Effective questioning
- Managing silence.
- Rapport building.

Continual Assessment

On-going assessment will be made via submission of written and verbal assignments; these consist of the following

Two essays (upper word limit 2000)
A recorded audio session demonstrating the use of counselling skills
A critique of the recording
Case Studies
A classroom presentation

Course Units

1. Introduction

Introduction to counselling
Defining counselling
Personal attributes of a counsellor

2. Working within an ethical framework for counselling

Practical application of an ethical framework in regards to counselling
The importance of working within limits of proficiency
The ethical, legal and procedural framework in which an agency should operate
Client assessment and referral in an agency setting
Contracts and data storage

3. The counselling relationship

The nature and constraints of the counselling role within different settings
Establishing and sustaining boundaries
The Structure of a counselling session
The stages of the counselling relationship
Client confidentiality

4. Diversity and empathic understanding

Identifying and reflecting on diversity within personal relationships
Identifying and reflecting on a range of diversity issues in the wider social context
Apply awareness of diversity issues to enhance empathic understanding

5. Work within a user-centred approach to counselling

Establishing the client’s needs and expectations
Maintaining a focus on the client’s agenda and needs

6. Use counselling theory to develop self-awareness in counselling practice

Using counselling theory to enhance self-awareness
Using counselling theory to understand personal history
Using counselling theory to understand personal relationships
Assessing how self-awareness contributes to our ability to empathise with others

7. Understand theories of counselling and mental health

Explain why theory is important in counselling work
Describe the main theoretical approaches to counselling
Use counselling theory to understand the client
Explain the nature of common mental health problems
Describe how counselling can promote positive mental health
Explain why research findings are important in counselling work

8. Use feedback, reflection and supervision to support counselling studies

Use feedback from others to develop understanding of counselling
Give constructive feedback to other counselling trainees
Describe the nature and use of clinical supervision
Use supervisee skills to contribute to, and learn from, case discussion

By the end of the course candidates should be proficient in the use of the following range of psychotherapeutic counselling skills:

Initiating a counselling interaction (contracting, confidentiality with limitations, time boundaries, organisational requirements)
Using active listening skills learned to function competently in the counselling interaction.
Concluding each individual session and ending a series of sessions.
Presenting an adequate understanding of the counselling process, including client assessment and intervention planning.
Demonstrate a commitment to anti-oppressive practice and non-discriminatory use of counselling skills.
Reflect constructively on themselves, their own life experiences, and their interactions with others and evidence their own personal and professional growth processes

Progression

Students who complete this qualification are able to progress to the Level 5 Diploma in integrative Counselling.

Qualification

Upon completion students will receive a (level 3) certificate in Counselling Skills accredited by ACCPH. All certification fees are included in your course fees.