1. #5: Counselling stages, context, and goals
CHCCSL501A
Work within a structured counselling framework
#5: Counselling stages, context, and goals

2. Stages of the counselling interview
Lesson outline
Stages of the counselling interview
Setting up the context for counselling
The goals of counselling

3. Stages of Counselling Interview
1. Beginning Opening & rapport building, explore client expectations, common anxieties and needs 2. Middle Emotional work-time with counsellor, role of micro skills to help client tell their story, determining client’s feelings, importance of observing the client 3. End Closure process that allows clarification and summary Refer to Stages of Counselling Process model in Geldard 7th ed, p152

4. Setting the Context with Clients
Explain to your clients the following so they understand the nature of the counselling service
Explore their previous counselling history with them
Explain their rights as clients
Inform them of the rules of confidentiality
Tell them about mandatory reporting
Get informed consent (usually by signing of consent form)

5. Setting the Context with Clients
Clarify, confirm or modify clients’
expectations of the counselling
service
Explain the structure of the service:
eg: frequency & length of sessions, how many weeks/months it can last, cost, type of service/therapy offered, limits to service

6. Setting the Context with Clients
Ask the client about any anxieties they may have about
the counselling process
Developing rapport
Use of attending skills
Active listening
Open and closed questions
Reflecting
Paraphrasing and summarising

7. Acknowledge and respect your clients’ immediate Concerns & issues
Counselling Process
Acknowledge and respect your
clients’ immediate
Concerns & issues
Role of summarising to assist the client to clarify and focus on their concerns
Youtube video: The Counselling Process.

8. Clarify both expectations
Counselling Goals
Clarify both expectations
and commitment to the counselling relationship
and confirm with clients

9. Counselling Goals
Identify indicators of client issues requiring referral and refer or report appropriately
Ensure own level of skill and knowledge of counselling methods and resources are appropriate to meet client needs

10. Counselling Goals
Develop a plan for counselling and contract with client as required to address disclosure and organisation / service requirements

11. References
Abuse findings questioned , online video, accessed 5 June, 2012.
American Counseling Association (1997)
Australian Government, Australian Institute of Family Studies (2010) Mandatory Reporting Site last updated: 3rd Jan 2012
Carl Rogers & Gloria Counselling part 2, online video. Accessed 3 June, 2012.
Carl Rogers & Gloria counselling, Part 3, online video, accessed 4 June, 2012.
Carl Rogers on Conditioning.wmv, online video, accessed 6 June, 2012.
Corey, G. (2009) Theory and Practice of Counselling and Psychotherapy 8th ed. Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning, California
Corey, G., Corey, M.S. & Callanan, P. (2011) Issues and Ethics in the Helping Professions, 8th ed. Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning, California
Counselling Modalities - Martin Hunter-Jones & Lyndall Briggs Pt 3/5 'Conversations With Robyn’, online video, accessed 5 June,
Still to update

12. References
Counselling Skills: a Five Minute Training Course from Richard Barton, online video, accessed 4 June,
Counselling Skills Lecture 3 Rapport, online video, accessed 6 June, 2012.
Egan, G. ( 2010) The Skilled Helper 9th ed. Brooks/Cole, California
George, R. L. & Cristiani, T. S. (1995) Counselling Theory and Practice Allyn and Bacon, Boston
How To Understand Psychodynamic Theory, online video, accessed 4 June,
Ivey, A.E., Ivey, M.B. & Zalaquett,C.P. (2010) Intentional Interviewing and Counselling, Facilitating Client Development in a Multicultural Society 7th ed. Brooks Cole, California
Pelling N., Bowers R. & Armstrong, P (2007)The Practice of Counselling. Thomson
Qualities needed to be a Psychotherapist or Counsellor! , online video, accessed 8 June,

13. References
Sheehy, A. ( ) What Is Counselling Site last updated: 1st Jan 2012
Summary of Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory , online video, accessed 3 June, 2012
The Counselling Process, online video, accessed 5 june,
The Little Albert Experiment, online video, accessed 5 June, 2012.
What is Counselling? Brisbane Counsellor at Integrating Awareness Counselling in Brisbane explains, online video, accessed June 4,
What is Modernism/Postmodernism? , online video, accessed 3 June,