1. NCFE Level 3 Diploma in Counselling Skills
Lesson 4 Beginnings
NCFE Level 3 Diploma in Counselling Skills

2. Learning Objectives Beginnings
Refer or not refer …… that is the question
Establishing a counselling relationship
Keeping yourself and the client safe
Practice beginnings

3. Beginnings
Why are they important?
How do they work?

4. Boundaries What boundaries should we put in place? Cancellation policy
Supervision
Data protection
Payment
Safety
Next appointment
Contact details/ information organisation

5. Confidentiality
“Confidentiality is considered fundamental to counselling because by its very nature counselling is an intimate relationship which often involves the client in divulging information about their current and past situations as well as their opinions and innermost feelings.”
Bond, T (2015) Standards and Ethics for Counselling in Action, Fourth Edition, Sage Publications LTD
Function(s) of confidentiality?
What does the law say?
Why is it important?
When do we breach confidentiality?
How do we keep our clients safe?

6. Breaching Confidentiality vs.
Prevention of serious harm to client or others
Prevention or Detection of Serious Crime
Terrorism
Drug trafficking and money laundering
Road Traffic Act
Missing or abducted child
Holding documents about a serious crime
Professor Tim Bond and Dr Barbara Mitchels,
BACP Ethical Framework

7. Starting up the 1st session
Refer or not refer that is the question?
Addressing the difference in power?
Do clients’ expectations need to be discussed?
What are the therapeutic goals?
How do you start up the 1st session?

8. Range of opening statements
“We have about 50 minutes now. How would you like to use the time together?”
“Well, what has brought you here? We have about 50 minutes now for us to use.”
“When you’re ready, please feel free to start where you want.”
Mearns, D. (2013) Person-Centred Counselling in Action,
Fourth Edition, Sage Publications LTD

9. Range of opening statements
“You have my full attention. It’s over to you to let me know how you want to use the time we have.”
[smiles] “ Hello, then. It’s all yours. Where would you like to begin?”
[smiles] “How can I be of use to you?”
Mearns, D. (2013) Person-Centred Counselling in Action,
Fourth Edition, Sage Publications LTD

10. Duration of the ‘beginning phase’
Quote from D. Mearns & B. Thorne:
“The duration of the beginning phase is directly linked to the readiness of the client.”
Mearns, D. (2013) Person-Centred Counselling in Action,
Fourth Edition, Sage Publications LTD
Do you agree/ disagree? Why?
What makes a client ‘ready’ for counselling?

11. 6 necessary and sufficient conditions by Rogers
A way to establish the therapeutic
relationship.

12. What do you remember

13. The client and the therapist must be in psychological contact
The client and the therapist must be in psychological contact. It is about discussing inner feelings focused on the self. 1

14. The client is in a state of incongruence
The client is in a state of incongruence. A discrepancy between the client’s self-image and actual experience leaves him or her vulnerable to fears and anxieties. The client is often unaware of the incongruence. 2

15. The therapist is congruent in the relationship
The therapist is congruent in the relationship. The therapist is genuine and aware of their own feelings. This implies that the therapist is true to himself within the therapeutic relationship. 3

16. The therapist experiences unconditional positive regard for the client
The therapist experiences unconditional positive regard for the client. Therapists must not judge the client but value them, accept them without any conditions. They have worth simply because they exist. 4

17. The therapist experiences an empathic understanding of the client's internal frame of reference and endeavours to communicate this experience to the client. 5

18. The client perceives that the therapist understands what is going on for him. This is communicated through the words and behaviours of the therapist. 6
Non-verbal communication of the counsellor
Bodily behaviour: Posture, body movements and gestures.
Eye behaviour: Eye contact, staring and eye movement.
Facial expressions: Smiles, frowns, raised eyebrows, twisted lips.
Voice-related behaviour: Tone of voice, pitch, volume, intensity, inflection, spacing of words, emphases, pauses, silences and fluency.
Observable autonomic physiological responses: Quickened breathing, blushing, paleness and pupil dilation.
Space: How far or close a person chooses to be during a conversation.
General appearance: Grooming and dress.
Egan Egan, G (2002) The Skilled Helper, Seventh Edition, Wadsworth Group

19. Practicing with ‘beginnings’

20. Feedback sheets Don’t worry about seeing everything Remember BOOST
15 minute session
2 minutes observer feedback, 2 minutes client (how was it for you?)
Once complete give the feedback form to “practitioner” who can then reflect on how they felt it was

21. Did we cover this? Beginnings
6 necessary and sufficient conditions by Rogers
Establishing a counselling relationship
Keeping yourself and the client safe

22. Homework
MOODLE Reflection: how did it feel to be in the case study group? What is your relationship like with your counsellor/your client?

23. Assignment 4
You are starting your counselling case study with your peers. You need to have a written contract with your client. Produce the contract
Reflection: why do we need a contract?

24. H/W: Worksheet
6 necessary conditions by Roger – answer the six questions.

25. Closing