1. Introduction to counselling for health and social care
Unit 24

2. Today we will... Set group ground rules
Examine and discuss what counselling is and is not
Identify and describe the use of counselling in professional and personal circumstances
Research reasons why people may need to go to counselling
Write a case study

3. Group ground rules It is important to set a group contract
Ensure confidentiality of anything that is shared.
What other rules should be within our group contract to help support your learning environment during this unit?
Make a list (5 min) be prepared to share.

4. Over to you...(10 min)
Using the unit 24 specification provided discussion in your small group and draw a mind map to answer the following question:
What is counselling?

5. What is counselling? The BACP definition of counselling
“Counselling takes place;
when a counsellor sees a client in a private and confidential setting to explore a difficulty the client is having”
A distress they may be experiencing
or perhaps their dissatisfaction with life, or loss of a sense of direction and purpose.

6. What does a counsellor do?
The counsellor can begin to perceive the difficulties from the client's point of view and can help them to see things more clearly, possibly from a different perspective.
Counsellor can problem solve with the client to explore choices, help with change or of reducing confusion by allowing them to explore their difficulties.
Works within a team to identify other organisations who can help their client
Has a developing wealth of professional knowledge.

7. What counselling is not...
Being a friend.
Caring in a parental way.
Treating or healing people like a doctor.
Instructing or telling people what to do.
Giving direct advice.
Just using counselling skills.

8. Linking to professional practice...
Working in pairs make a list of at least Five careers/jobs/professionals you think are likely to use counselling skills?
Collate list- most professions will use some element of basic counselling skills.

9. Careers in counselling
Education
Health
Criminal
Alcohol and drugs
Workplace
Drop in centres
Help-lines
Some examples;
Cruse
Child-line
Samaritans
Explain the difference between using skills and being qualified counsellor.

10. Links to personal and professional development
Working in small groups you need to discuss and record notes to explain:-
How you imagine using counselling skills in your everyday life?
AND
In your future chosen health/social care professions. You must provide examples and be prepared to share.
Feedback discuss and share e.g. Working with client group- home care domiciliary nurse – reviewing Client’s care plan. Client is now struggling to cope with everyday care. Skills can help to identify what the problems are, what she can can’t do, work out the best support plan

11. Re-cap. Last session we examined/explored and discussed:
- what counselling is
- What counselling is not
- professions where counselling skills are necessary and when we may need to use them in our personal lives and future professional careers.
Write a short introduction (for task 2) to summaries the points above.

12. On your own construct a list of at least 3 reasons a person may go to counselling or need counselling (3 min)
Share your answers with at least 2 other people, add to your list (3 min)
Feedback and discuss/collate on list white board

13. Did you consider? Bereavement Emotional stress Work pressure
Depression
Health/illness problems
Abuse
Disabilities
Counsellors

14. In your role play groups you must now choose one topic from the list below
Bereavement
Alcohol/drug misuse
Mental health conditions (depression, Bi polar, dementia)
Diagnoses of disabling conditions (Cancer, HIV/AIDS, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Emphysema
Domestic Violence

15. Over to you...
You have 20 minutes to research your chosen topic, you must consider finding out the following:
- what the condition/circumstances are
- how the person would feel
- what options might they have
- how could they be supported
Feedback / discuss / share after 20 mins to find out how they are getting on. During your role plays for your assessment in this unit you will use this chosen topic to demonstrate your skills and abilities. How would you support someone struggling to manage with one of the conditions / circumstances above? What would help to support them better?

16. Case study
Using the information write a case study briefly outlining your scenario. This will be the case study you will use during your assessment role plays.
10 minutes
You will be able to use the beds/chairs in EF10 during your role play.

17. Johari’s Window This exercise enables you to raise your self awareness
-Open : is your public behaviour, how you allow yourself to be seen.
- Blind spot: how you think others see you
-Hidden: something about yourself that you don't let other people know.
-Unknown: includes feelings, thoughts and motives within you.
Students to complete the Johari window in pairs. Discuss how it feels to share and receive feedback from others, to disclose information about yourself. Gain insight about the environment for sharing, potential issues in counselling, and importance of communication in such relationships.