Unit 01: Using Counselling Skills
This unit is designed to introduce learners to the core practical skills required in the counselling profession. It aims to cultivate fundamental abilities such as active listening, empathy, questioning, and reflection, essential for effective counselling interactions.
The unit emphasises the practical application of these skills in a variety of contexts. Learners will explore how to create a supportive, non-judgmental environment where clients feel heard and understood. This includes mastering verbal and non-verbal communication techniques to build rapport and trust.
Additionally, the unit covers the ethical frameworks and professional boundaries necessary for practising counselling skills responsibly. Learners will be guided on how to maintain confidentiality and manage the dynamics of the counsellor-client relationship appropriately.
Through a combination of theoretical knowledge and hands-on practice, Unit 01 ensures that learners gain confidence in applying counselling skills. They will engage in role-plays, case studies, and reflective exercises that simulate real-life counselling scenarios. This approach helps prepare learners for more complex aspects of counselling, forming a strong foundation for subsequent units in the course.
1. Know what core counselling skills are
- 1.1. Identify core counselling skills
- 1.2. Describe how core counselling skills can be used in a counselling relationship and in other helping activities
2. Know how to establish a helping relationship
- 2.1. Describe the boundaries that need to be taken into account when starting a new helping relationship
- 2.2. Describe how to agree objectives for a new helping relationship
3. Be able to use core counselling skills in a helping relationship
- 3.1. Demonstrate how to use core counselling skills in a helping relationship
- 3.2. Discuss how effective the use of core counselling skills have been in developing the helping relationship
4. Know how to conclude a helping interaction
