Whether you’re a manager, youth worker, carer, health professional or work in any profession that depends on building secure relationships, counselling skills are crucial. 

Our Certificate of Counselling Strategies and Techniques is ideal for anyone interested in counselling, psychology, healthcare, teaching or research. It will develop your understanding of counselling theories, approaches and therapies from influential practitioners.  

In this counselling skills course, you will learn about elements of personality, recent developments in psychoanalytical theory, and psychoanalytic techniques, approaches and counselling.

You’ll also discover humanistic approaches, including Gestalt techniques, person-centred counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy, and behavioural therapy. You’ll also develop strategies in solution-focused counselling are gain insight into the techniques you’d like to adopt in your work.

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking a counselling skills course include: 

· Explain the principal differences between Adlerian and Freudian theory, the fundamental concepts of Adlerian theory, and the four stages of the Adlerian counselling process.

• Understand the chief elements of the Gestalt approach, discuss resolution of problems and describe different effects and techniques of Gestalt therapy.
• Delineate the person-centred approach to counselling; to understand its principles, goals, assessment techniques and appropriate application.
• Discuss the differences between Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and REBT to define the main ‘cognitive distortions and to demonstrate an awareness of modifications to CBT
• Develop an appreciation of the characteristics of contemporary behavioural therapy and different problem-solving techniques adopted by behavioural therapists.
• Explain the role of solution-focused counselling in modern therapy and the strategies used to generate solutions.
• Explain the concept of dream analysis.
• Describe Erikson’s modification to traditional psychoanalytical theory.
• Explain an object-relations interpretation of the origin of ‘narcissistic’ and ‘borderline personality disorders.
• Explain the difference between Freudian and Adlerian theory.
• Define the key concepts of Adlerian theory, including personality, goals and lifestyle.
• Explain the concept of superiority v inferiority.
• Describe the four stages of the Adlerian counselling process
• Discuss the pros and cons of Adlerian therapy as applied to the counselling process.
• Define Gestalt therapy.
• Explain the importance of elements of human nature to the Gestalt approach.
• Discuss ways in which dilemmas can be resolved using the Gestalt approach.
• Explain the ‘effect of contact’ and the ‘effect of energy’.
• Discuss the use of confrontation.
• Describe different techniques of Gestalt therapy.
• Discuss the pros and cons of Gestalt therapy as applied to the counselling process.
• Define person-centred counselling.
• Outline the principles of the person-centred approach.
• Discuss how the impact of the counselling process is assessed and suitable areas of application.
• Define REBT.
• Explain Ellis’ views on human nature and the theory of personality.

And more … 

 

Paraphrasing in Counselling 

One of the most important counselling skills is listening actively, and that involves the micro skill of paraphrasing. 

Paraphrasing is a counselling skill that involves stating what a client has said back to them in your own words without changing the meaning of what was conveyed. It’s a way of demonstrating that you understand what they have said and to gain further clarity if necessary. 

How Does Paraphrasing Help Communication? 

Paraphrasing helps facilitate communication in many ways, including enhancing active listening, gaining clarity and building empathy with clients. 

Paraphrasing is crucial to active listening. It allows you to connect with the speaker, provide valuable feedback, and keep the conversation flowing. 

One of the most important ways paraphrasing helps communication is that it provides clarity. You can let the listener know that you understand, ask questions to gain further information and help the speaker gain clarity. 

Paraphrasing also builds empathy and facilitates emotional regulation. When a person feels understood, they are better able to share and process their emotions.

What is Gestalt Therapy?

Gestalt therapy is a person-centred approach to psychotherapy which emphasises personal responsibility and focuses on the present moment and challenges rather than delving into the past. It’s an approach to counselling that stresses the importance of understanding the context of a person’s circumstances without placing blame.

Fritz Perls developed Gestalt therapy with the help of his wife Laura ­– both were trained in psychoanalysis. They worked together to create a humanistic treatment to focus on the client and their individual experience.

Today, Gestalt therapy allows clients to partner with their therapist to gain personal awareness and overcome challenges holding them back or preventing healing.

What is Solution Focused Therapy? 

As the name suggests, solution-focused therapy emphasises discussing solutions that problems. As opposed to some forms of psychoanalysis, this form of therapy doesn’t require delving into a person’s childhood to understand current issues or circumstances. Instead, the counselling skills you employ will be solution-centric to allow clients to quickly find solutions that ease their suffering or change their life circumstances.  

5 Careers That Benefit from Counselling Skills 

 

1. Health professionals 

Whether you’re a nurse, doctor or allied health professional, working in health care puts you in close contact with people experiencing physical, emotional or mental health challenges. You are also in contact with the people supporting these people, including friends and family members. 

As such, developing counselling skills ­­– even just developing the micro-skills in counselling – will help you communicate and better support patients and those closest to them. You’ll also improve your communication in the workplace, manage your own emotions and challenges and improve your coping mechanisms in what can be a stressful and emotionally draining workplace. 

2. Educators 

Teachers are educators, but they’re also responsible for the well-being of many. As such, counselling skills help teaches to engage, connect with and motivate their students. If you’re a teacher, you might also find that developing counselling skills will give you the edge in your career when it comes to expanding into other areas of education, from administration to leadership roles or new teaching opportunities. 

3. Human Resources 

Human resource professionals need a comprehensive understanding of people and their ability to fit a role or a company’s culture. They are also vital in providing support and delivering mediation. Counselling skills will further develop insights into the needs, aspirations and challenges of employees and to be emphatic in communication with individuals. 

4. Manager or Supervisor 

Those in leadership roles will benefit from counselling skills to communicate with a team or individuals to achieve a common goal. Managers and supervisors are also vital in conflict management and resolution to ensure teams are happy, motivated and productive. 

5. Sports Coach 

Counselling skills will help sports coaches at any level, from children’s sport to professional teams, to provide leadership and guidance. The development of micro-skills in counselling will enhance a team’s performance as coaches will be better able to motivate, empathise and communicate. 

 

Gain counselling skills to enrich your professional practice and relationships with our Certificate of Counselling Strategies and Techniques.