Counselling Skills II

Counselling Skills II Course Outlines

Prerequisites: Counselling Skills 1

Content:
The content of this module is intended to build on, strengthen and further develop and refine the competencies gained in Counselling Skills I. In this module students are guided to engage in a process of critical reflection and self-examination to monitor their counselling behaviour and identify and address areas requiring further skill and knowledge development. The student learns how to manage a caseload and maintain counselling records, to accurately assess the counselling relationship; and to engage in professional supervision of their counselling practice.

• Demonstrate advanced counselling skill competencies; the skill of active listening; empathy, problem exploration, clarifying and reflecting, probing and confrontation
  Establish counselling goals and action plans: define the client’s goals, set realistic goals, plan a workable strategy, support action implementation, and evaluate the action plan with the client.
• Manage the counselling role: monitor case load and set appropriate limits, implement time management and stress management strategies, keep records, develop systems, policies and procedures, maintain confidentiality in record keeping systems, understand legal and ethical implications of record keeping
• Refer clients appropriately: identify potential referral agencies, support services and professional bodies, and develop processes and procedures for referral of clients
• Undertake professional supervision as a counsellor: understand the nature, purpose and benefits of supervision, organise to be supervised regularly, prepare for and attend supervision sessions, assess strengths and limitations within the counselling role, evaluate feedback from clients, peers and supervisor, assessment of self in terms of ethical and moral standards

Outcomes:

The learner will be able to:

1. Demonstrate advanced counselling skill competencies
2. Establish counselling goals and action plans
3. Manage the counselling role
4. Refer clients appropriately
5. Undertake professional supervision as a counsellor