1. Debbie Whitehead. 2013

2. What is counselling? Many people will, at some point in their lives, find themselves in the role of a counsellor without having a true understanding of the concept of counselling or what the role of the professional counsellor entails. There is a big difference between a professional counsellor and a person who uses some counselling skills as part of their role, for example their role as a friend or colleague. A professional counsellor is a highly trained individual who is able to use a different range of counselling approaches with their clients. A Definition: The process of assisting and guiding clients (or others) to resolve personal, social, or psychological problems and difficulties.

3. Counselling is Not: Giving advice. Judgemental. Attempting to sort out the problems of the client. Expecting or encouraging a client to behave in a way in which the counsellor may have behaved when confronted with a similar problem in their own life. Getting emotionally involved with the client. Looking at a client's problems from your own perspective, based on your own value system.

4. Values & Skills Building the client-counsellor trust relationship Self awareness - Counsellors need to be aware of their motivation because this will influence their effectiveness. Establishing the same goals. Client expectations may differ and some ask for direct advice and solutions to their problems. Empowerment - aim to help clients become self-sufficient and discover their own solutions rather than be dependent on some one elses advice. Goals of the counselling process include working collaboratively with the client to help sort out their problems and discover solutions. Helping the client to change their thinking and/or behaviours, empowering the client to become self-sufficient, and helping the client to feel better.

5. Communication Skills Necessary Qualities & Attitudes Joining & Listening Reflection of content (paraphrasing) Reflection of feelings Reflection of content & feeling Use of questions. Summarising Creating comfortable closure

6. Questioning techniques Open questions Closed questions Questions that are useful for specific purposes Dangers of too many questions: The counselling session may become more like an interrogation. Thee counselling session may deflect the client from the real issue by controlling the direction of the session. The client may stop exploring their own world and instead wait for the counsellor to ask more questions.

7. Video Counselling skills - The 5 min training course from Richard Barton (3.5min) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9RuMujWhXY How to help a colleague with a problem. Want more? Find '21 Ways to Build Relationships' on Amazon and more Five Minute Training Courses on YouTube

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