Counselling Skills

Counsellors are required to have adequate training and supervision to help maintain them throughout their professional lives. Counsellor must be respectful of their professional position and remain loyal to their clients.

The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) define counselling, along with psychotherapy, as being “umbrella terms that cover a range of talking therapies” (BACP, 2012: 1). In addition, counselling is provided by practitioners who “work with people over a short or long term to help them bring about effective change or enhance their wellbeing” (BACP, 2012: 1). Those who practice counselling in a professional manner undergo intensive training and personal development, the latter of which has been “defined in terms of self-awareness and change” (Wheeler, 1996: 75). These changes, according to Johns, “influence the

I understand counselling to be a helping practice that differs from other helping activities, such as teaching for example. Counselling requires professional training and is specifically contracted or explicitly agreed. It has a theoretical base and uses specific methods within an ethical framework. The relationship between the counsellor and the client is built upon mutual expectation and is central to the process of the client under-going significant change in their lives.

In this essay I will describe key elements of Psychodynamic theory, Person-Centred theory and Cognitive-Behavioural theory. I will also identify the key differences between the above theories. I shall also describe how counselling theory underpins the use of counselling skills in practise. I will then end with my conclusion.

However, it is not always that simple and there may be some instances when it is not possible to maintain total confidentiality and the counsellor my have to pass on certain information that was revealed. For example, if a crime has been committed or if there is a risk of harm to another person. In this case the counsellor must be clear with the client what information they may have to pass on and to whom.

In this assignment I intend to define ‘counselling skills and knowledge’ and then show how I actively employ these qualities during my everyday life. These include informal helping interactions with family and friends, in a supervisory capacity at work and during skills practice sessions as part of my counselling course. Finally I’ll analyse the effects that these helping interactions have on me personally and the various ways in which I deal with those effects.

Staff are made aware that they can approach me (informally) at any time, if they need to ask for guidance or if they have any issues /problems, or just need general advice or support. They can speak to me face to face or contact me by telephone. Informal support can also be sought when working, particularly during

Gerard Egan’s 3 Stage Skilled Helper Mode 1994, provides a basic guideline on how helping relationships should be carried out. It is important that helpers take into consideration the steps provided in the Egan’s mode as it provides structure and positive support to clients.

Carl Rogers, Born in Chicago in 1902 as the 4th of 6 children in a strict Fundamentalist Christian household.

A counselling relationship is likened to being on a journey - a beginning, middle and end (Smallwood, 2013). During the beginning phase the client develops sufficient trust in the counsellor and the relationship ‘to explore the previously feared edges of his awareness’ (Mearns and Thorne, 1988, p.126).

Every relationship, no matter the type is very complex. No matter how long two individuals have known each other, the relationship needs multiple things to survive and thrive. An effective helping relationship requires four necessary components: warmth, empathy, genuineness, and respect. During the course of this class I have learned of many skills which I must use to succeed in my chosen field and I have skills which I excel at and others which have room for improvement. To prepare for the upcoming exam I will tune in to all of the skills which I will utilize to pass the test. Through my preparations, I expect to learn more about my strengths and weakness and work on improving all of my skills to become a more effective counselor.

At times people going through difficulties that needs counselling therapy might sometimes make a negative conclusion about themselves being the source of their problems. Though, getting the clear approach from the counsellor may possibly reduce the worries and stress. For the duration of the 15 minutes DVD recording session I followed the code of ethics and conduct of BPS and counsellors code of ethics by introducing myself, what my role will be, I was able to explain the code of Bps and the ethics code of counsellors by clarifying the concerns surrounding confidentiality and the time arrangement of the session. I also clarified the limitations of the counselling session that she is very free to stop the session at any time, and I also checked her understanding of the contract that is her choice to carry on with the session.

This is the ‘how’ stage. How will the client move forward with the goals that they have identified in the previous stage? The counsellor will assist the client in finding ways of achieving their goals and how to focus on those that are practical in terms of the client situation and needs. The basic goals in the skilled helper model is relating to the clients is managing their lives more effectively and general ability to manage problems and develop opportunities. The view of the client in this model is that they are central to the therapy. (The client is the focus and the theory is the background and to use the model for the client, rather thee reverse).

For this essay there will be a critical evaluation of the counselling approaches and skills that are used which can guide the practice of education professionals and benefit relationships with children/ young people in supporting their social and emotional well-being. The approaches that will be looked at and compared are the Person-centred approach and the Psychodynamic approach. The approaches will be discussed and linked to the use in an educational context by teachers with children and young people. The strengths and weaknesses of these approaches will also be examined. It is important for teacher to support children and young people’s social and emotional development right for the start of their educational experiences in the early years. The statutory frame work for the early years published by the department for education in 2014 makes sure that every practitioner follows by law the learning and development requirements of every child. The DFE 2014 suggests educational programs have to include activities and experiences involving the children as suggested: personal social and emotional development entails assisting children to develop an encouraging view of themselves, and others; to make positive relationships and develop respect for others, progress on their social skills and acquire the skill how to deal and control their feelings, to know how to behaviour correctly in groups and to have self confidence in what they can do. From this practitioners can pick up on

Counseling skills has provided me with a valuable insight into the helping relationship and how it is both created and maintained in order to encourage growth and development in the client. The factors involved within the helping relationship include considering Roger’s core conditions, congruence, unconditional positive regard and empathy as the three main characteristics necessary in a helping relationship. In order to fully incorporate all three of Roger’s core conditions, I as the counselor must be self-aware, as a lack of self-awareness may inhibit truly listening and understanding the client; self-awareness can be enhanced through exercises such as Johari’s window. Counseling skills such as body language and active listening also